In an effort to cut down on fare evasion on the MBTA Commuter Rail Line, Keolis – the Commuter Rail operator – announced last week the opening of fare gates at South Station.

Passengers will now need to tap or scan their tickets or pass to exit and enter the track area at South Station, and conductors will still check tickets on trains to verify travel zones. Ticket methods include the mTicket app, CharlieCards and CharlieTickets with printed zones, $10 weekend paper tickets, Amtrak tickets, and active military IDs.

“The new fare gates at South Station – one of the busiest travel hubs in the Northeast – is another demonstration to our riders that we are committed to ensuring fares are collected and reinvested into the transit system to better serve the public,” said Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng in a press release. “Fare gates allow the T and its operating partner to more consistently collect fares and ensure our riders pay.”

Keolis General Manager and CEO John Killeen said this will help keep the commuter rail afloat.

“Combined with upgrades to on-board sales and record conductor scans, Keolis is collecting more Commuter rail revenue than ever before on behalf of the MBTA,” he said in a press release. “I would like to thank all of our crews who worked to get the fare gates installed and operational.”

Fare evasion is already an offense with a fine, with a first offense within a three-year period being a warning or $50 fine, $50 fine for first, second or third citation, and $100 for fourth and following citations.

However, Inspector General of Massachusetts Jeffrey Shapiro said back in September that since 2022, when new fare enforcement policies were enacted, the MBTA did not issue a single warning or citation, and had hired a team of 19 “fare engagement representatives” in October 2024 that cost the organization $2 million annually.

“Given the time and money already invested by the MBTA on fare enforcement, I urge the MBTA to fully commit to holding riders accountable by issuing warnings and citations for not paying fares,” IG Shapiro said. “I stress the importance of the MBTA prioritizing fare collection at the street-level stations where fare collection is the weakest and to hold its commuter rail operator to the contractual terms for fare collection.”

He pointed out that between 79-to-100 percent of morning commuters on the Green Line C and D branches simply do not pay a fare. If you’ve ever ridden on the Green Line in the morning, you might remember that the cars can be so crowded, it’s a feat of strength and agility to get one’s wallet out of one’s pocket to pay said fare.

Shapiro, back in September, admitted that only about 20 percent of the MBTA’s revenue comes from fares every year and this won’t make the biggest dent in its finances. That’s also one of the reasons Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she wants to make the T free for everyone through taxes, given the economic activity it supports throughout the Commonwealth.

“While fare revenue will not solve the MBTA’s financial challenges, a demonstrated effort to both collect and enforce fares on all modes and routes will provide the public with a greater level of assurance as to how the MBTA treats public dollars,” Shapiro said.