Point and method of ticket sale

The agents may be sited near the transport system or distant from it. The ticket sales contract between the agency and the operator or regulator will govern the processes to be undertaken in issuing fare products, the documentation and recording of transactions and, with more modern ticket issuing applications, the use of ticketing issuing equipment. Any such equipment will be leased by the agent for the duration of the agency sales contract.

The system will require the secure possession of unissued ticket stocks for issue to the passengers as well as secure methods for the system operator to distribute the stocks to the sales agent. Dependent upon the system, the stocks may be numbered, either on the ticket face or digitally when being transacted by electronic media.

Automated ticket vending machines to issue transport tickets are used by some operators. They can include simple machines for the issue of single-ride adult tickets, often placed at the transport stops. These tickets are usually timed for validation within an hour of issue and are a simple way to enable occasional users and visitors to access a transport system where the use of stored value pre-paid media is more common. Often the purchase cost of these single-use tickets is higher than the equivalent value of the same ride transacted by the user of a stored value ticket.

More comprehensive automated vending machines can be available that issue a wide range of tickets, including those valid for unlimited use within a given time period and usually across the entire transport network, although they can be restricted to use on a specific mode of transport or on one or two specific routes and for a specified time period.
The scope and facilities of automated vending machines can also include payment by coins, or credit or debit card, and sometimes by currency notes. The more sophisticated machines with an array of payment and ticket product options require greater familiarity with the purchase processes than when using simple machines and thus the time taken to issue the required travel products may vary. They are also larger in physical size, though some transport systems still manage to place such equipment on board the vehicle.

All automated vending machines need regular replenishment with blank ticket stocks and regular emptying of coins and currency notes. Those machines that are situated in isolated, unsupervised or poorly illuminated environments may also be more exposed to vandalism and targeted theft.