I really don't understand the logic of the ticketing system of the LRT.I had this experience that almost led me being trapped inside the station and the staff won't let me out, but not too serious.
I don't usually take LRT but I do buy Stored Value cards just in case i need to take one. One time, I'm on my way to Makati so i have to take the LRT from the office in Manila. When I came to the station, I inserted my ticket to the gate then I entered. I was hoping to get into the train as early as possible but unfortunately it was too crowded and the interval of the passing trains was so long compared to the usual time intervals... I wasn't able to take the 4 trains who passed by because it was already full and the station is getting crowded more.
After an hour of waiting for nothing, i then decided to take the taxi instead but when I was to go out of the station, the machines won't accept my ticket/card anymore. It displays an error or something so i have to report to the booth. I told the woman in the booth that I'll just go out because my card isn't working. Then she told me to wait longer but I cant because I'm gonna be late to where I am going.
The lady explained that if I leave without using the ticket, the process will be reversed so next time I use the ticket, I will be unable to get out again. But still, she let me out.
After a few days, some colleagues told me that the system will reset the next day so the reverse thing won't happen to me so i tried again to take the LRT. Too bad I cant enter the station because the machine won't accept my card and it displays the same error last time i used it. I went to the ticketing booth to ask for assistance.
The LRT staff told me that I didn't use the card when I went out the last time I used it (I was surprised it knows the date and time when was the last time I used it). Well just to avoid any problems I gave him 15 Pesos and he took my card and did something to it. When I inserted it to the machine it was accepted. Too bad the station was once again so crowded that I have to take the bus. When I was about to go out and inserted the card into the machine, I was expecting it the same error but no it didn't. It accepted my card and charged my another 9 Pesos.
Duh! What was wrong with the system. It was supposed to be just as easy as that... No reversed thing... Anyway, I'm not sure if I'm gonna take the train again but I'll keep the ticket just in case I'll be using it in the future.
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