During travel, to roving conductor

In this practice, the passenger can enter or exit through any door on the vehicle, although local conventions on the use of specific doors for entry or exit may exist. This discipline then encourages passengers to flow through the vehicle which in turn segregates boarding and alighting passengers and in consequence this reduces stop dwell times.

With this practice, the conductor has to carry the ticket-issuing machine or ticket stock as well as the cash collected. This can be arduous in extreme climates, and difficult to achieve on a crowded vehicle. There is also a security risk under these circumstances, but open theft is rare because of the presence of witnesses.

The conductor roves through the vehicle collecting cash payment from those who have not yet paid or to check for other valid travel documents. This practice relies heavily upon the conductor continuously roving the vehicle and being tenacious in identifying those who have not been checked previously for payment and to also check that passengers are not travelling beyond the distance that their ticket entitled them.

Roving conductors are more effective in preventing passenger over-riding than other on-board payment practices. However, there is reliance upon the initiative of the conductor to be vigilant and diligent in checking. If an inspection occurs, and instances of irregularities are discovered, the conductor may be subject to internal discipline for lack of diligence.