I've been riding the commuter rail from Quincy Center > South Station > Ruggles and back for work while the red line slow zones have enabled me to do so without additional fare, twice a week. Today a conductor told me that was soon ending (which left me speechless because the red line does NOT seem like it's getting better anytime soon...). I've decided I can't go back to the subway, it's just too slow compared to the commuter rail, even with the transfer at South Station.
A Zone 1 pass is too expensive ($214) for just going into the city and back twice a week, so I was trying to determine other options.
I get a monthly stipend from work to spend on commuting ($100) that I hadn't used for March, so I went into the CR app and purchased a bunch of one-way tickets for Zones 1 and 1A so I can use these when they start making me pay, and so I can utilize the March stipend without wasting it. The tickets don't expire until June, so I stocked up on 12 tickets each for QC > SS and SS > Ruggles.
But then I realized I bought them only in that direction. I assume I can use a SS > Ruggles (and same for Quincy) ticket if I ride from Ruggles to SS, correct? At least I'm hoping I'm correct... If not, I can use my April stipend to buy for the reverse direction.
Anyone else trying to find ways to change from the subway to the commuter rail without going broke?
CarefulEggshell t1_je1k9vy wrote
Yes, what matters is the zone of the m Ticket, not the direction. I think the app to purchase tickets is set up like that (select start and end stop) to make it easier for people, but when you activate the ticket it only shows the zone. You’ll be fine!