Ticket machine

The typical transaction consists of a user using the display interface to select the type and quantity of tickets and then choosing a payment method of either cash, credit/debit card or smartcard.

Some manufacturers are MicroFx, Almex, Setright, AEG, CAMP (Compagnie d'Ateliers Mecaniques de Precision), Gibson GFI Genfare, Parkeon, Xerox, Beckson and Corvia (Ticketer).

Nearly all American mass transit networks operating on the honor system expect their users to buy tickets immediately before use; regular riders can avoid that inconvenience by buying period passes in advance (often from the same machines that sell daily or one-time tickets).

Recently, however, a handful of commuter rail systems like Metrolink have adopted the use of validation machines for at least some ticket types.

Ticket machines that are out of service or accept 'exact change only' result in losses for transport providers.

Pushbutton and touch screen Deutsche Bahn ticket machines in Hinterzarten , Germany
In addition to ticket machines, most larger railway stations also feature staffed ticket counters. Pictured: Ticket counters at the Nyugati Railway Station in Budapest , Hungary
A handheld ticket machine used in BEST buses in Mumbai