Transport document

In the public transport, a transport document is a Document which makes it possible to the traveller to paiment justify paiment of its way. It is to some extent matérialisation of the Contract of carriage signed between the traveller and the conveyer. A transport document can be valid for a simple way, an outward journey and return or several ways. It can also be valid for one given period of time (chart of Abonnement). In general one speaks about “tickets” for transport in Railroad and the air transports and “tickets” in the urban transport (Métro, Autobus, Tramway…).

The transport document is generally bought while being presented to a counter of sale, for example in a station, an airport, a subway station, etc Souvent the counters are replaced by automats, the vending machines of transport documents. More recently, the sale of transport documents by Internet appeared, accompanied in certain cases by a dematerialization by the transport document.

The transport document is presented in various forms: paper tickets, possibly being able to include/understand several layers, tickets out of paperboards of reduced size, plasticized chart… They are often provided with tapes magnetic, sometimes of electronic chips, container various relative informations with the way, the period of validity, even with the identity of the traveller.

The transport document is in theory valid only after being validated, operation which can be done at the same time as the delivery of the title, or to be differed, the traveller in front of then presenting it to an employee or introducing it into an ad hoc apparatus (validor or dater) at the time when it begins his voyage.

The price of the transport documents depends on the formulas of tariffing employed. These prices can be a function of the distance and the class from transport. Often they are established contractually by line or section of line, or by zone of displacement. Reductions are generally proposed, that is to say on commercial criteria (subscription, tariffs of groups, offers tourist…) or according to social criteria (assistance with the disadvantaged people, whose cost is generally taken charges some by the communities).

The control of the transport documents is ensured by agents, either in the vehicles during displacement, or at the time of the loading. In certain cases, these controls are reinforced, voires substituted, by mechanical devices (for example of the swivels or wickets installed in certain subway stations). The surprised traveller without valid transport document is taxed with a contractual Amende, and in certain cases (repetition) can be subjected to legal proceedings.

It should be noted that the detention of a valid contract of carriage gives to the travellers legal guarantees. Indeed, the conveyer with the obligation to transport the traveller until his destination in full safety, except for him proving a fault of the traveller.

See too

• Contract of carriage
• Ile de France: Transport ticket • Integral Chart • Chart Imagine' R • Chart Amethyst • Ticket T+
• Plane ticket
• Vending machine of transport documents
• Ticket dating machine