BOSTON – The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services, the T’s operating and maintenance partner for the Commuter Rail, announced today that the installation of the Commuter Rail fare gates at South Station has been completed and fare gates will begin to be phased into operation on Tuesday, December 30. Passengers will need to tap or scan their ticket or pass to exit and to enter the track area at South Station. Conductors will still check tickets on board trains to verify travel zones.

Passengers can use the following types of tickets to exit and enter the gates: the mTicket app, CharlieCards and CharlieTickets with printed zones, $10 weekend paper tickets, Amtrak tickets, and active military IDs. Reduced fare passengers must still buy a ticket or pass (at a reduced rate). Stored value CharlieCards used for the bus and subway are not accepted at Commuter Rail fare gates.

“Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll and with support from the Legislature, we have been improving and delivering improved, safe, and more reliable service. 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. “Fare gates allow the T and its operating partner to more consistently collect fares and ensure our riders pay. Thank you to the MBTA and Keolis employees for bringing this project to completion, and to our South Station riders for their patience and willingness to validate their fare in a new way.”

“The debut of the fare gates at South Station is another major step forward in transforming Commuter Rail fare collection,” said Keolis General Manager and CEO John Killeen. “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. I would like to thank all of our crews who worked to get the fare gates installed and operational.”

The South Station fare gates layout includes 40 gates installed around the concourse area, including 11 wider, accessible gates that allow sufficient room for wheelchairs, scooters, bicycles, luggage, and strollers.

The gates will improve fare collection, replace platform ticket checks, and create a more consistent fare-paying experience for passengers. The design and configuration of the fare gates was developed to align with recent station improvements and builds on the successful implementation of gates at North Station where passengers have tapped tickets or passes 14 million times since those gates opened in 2022. The design also follows industry standards and global best practices in fare collection.

Fare gates are also planned to open at Back Bay Station and Ruggles Station in 2026.

Customer service staff at South Station are available to assist passengers with questions about the fare gates. Project details and more information are posted online at MBTA.com/CRgates, including a how-to video.

As a reminder, fares on all MBTA modes, including the Commuter Rail, will be free on New Year’s Eve, December 31, with the fare gates open for entry and exit. Passengers can find more information at MBTA.com/holidays.

For more information, visit MBTA.com/CRGates or connect with the T on X @MBTA and @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.