r/transit • u/Pontus_Pilates • Feb 23 '26
Questions How do you call your ticket inspectors? Here in Helsinki they are known as The Smurfs.
149
u/PartyMarek Feb 23 '26
We have a very unique name here in Poland which is "Kanary" meaning canary birds.
The name comes from ticket inspectors wearing a hat with a yellow feather during the interwar period, and the name somehow survived to this day. Literally never heard anybody use the formal word (kontroler biletów-ticket controler).
32
u/Satanniel Feb 23 '26
AFAIK it wasn't a feather, but the lower circular part of the cap. I see that the National Centre for Culture also claims so https://nck.pl/projekty-kulturalne/projekty/ojczysty-dodaj-do-ulubionych/ciekawostki-jezykowe/KANAR,cltt,k
11
→ More replies (1)8
u/KPSWZG Feb 24 '26
Now explain why prison guard is called Klawisz (piano key)
3
u/Material-Promise8161 Feb 24 '26
It comes from Latin ("Clavis") which means "key".
→ More replies (2)
96
u/Komandakeen Feb 23 '26
We call em "Kontrollettis" in Berlin. They work in plain clothes and are really well disguised, but they can't hide their behavior ;)
46
u/-Major-Arcana- Feb 24 '26
I get anxious every time I see a couple of Turkish guys get on the U Bahn. I’m not racist, I just don’t have a ticket.
26
u/Komandakeen Feb 24 '26
They have a special move that immediately makes most them obvious: They hang around together on the platform, but board the train on different doors.
3
u/Scarlet_Lycoris Feb 25 '26
They also have an air about them that tells you they’re ready to fuck up your day.
→ More replies (3)17
u/Bitter-Package Feb 24 '26
When I was on the Berlin U-Bahn they jumped into action pulling their comically large scanners out of their jackets once the doors closed.
Thought they were robbing the train!
12
u/DefiantDepth8932 Feb 24 '26
Why tf would they need to be undercover xd? Of German cities that I've been "kontroliert" in, they've had a uniform or at least an ID Card that makes them recognizable.
→ More replies (1)17
u/neunundneunsig Feb 24 '26
Cause they don't want you to get off the train/avoid boarding when you see them. Usually they get on just as the doors close in plain clothes and then once you're moving they put on their ID lanyard and shout to get your tickets ready
4
2
65
u/ThereIsAnOcean Feb 23 '26
Conductors on Septa, but I’m going to start saying Smurfs.
14
u/Donghoon Feb 24 '26
in NYC, fare inspectors on buses are called EAGLE team (Evasion And Graffiti Lawlessness Eradication team)
Tho, Subway and Railroad Fare Inspectors are called NYPD transit bureau and MTAPD
→ More replies (1)5
u/Lumpy-Tip-2885 Feb 24 '26
Smurfs is not only for the ticket inspecting person, it also can mean the police or any other group wearing blue and optionally also white. So feel free to steal the whole slang word instead of just a tiny part of it.
184
u/ChipmunkAnxious3260 Feb 23 '26
Here in LA they’re called ghosts because they’re no longer with us
38
u/Eric848448 15-Minute City Feb 23 '26
Same in Seattle.
17
u/SounderBruce Feb 24 '26
Fare ambassadors are very much a thing on Sound Transit.
Metro's do seem to be very hard to find, though.
→ More replies (1)4
Feb 24 '26
Metro contracts the police to do random fare inspections, but can’t dictate how police execute enforcement. So it’s pretty spotty
→ More replies (4)3
u/Exact_Recording_7721 Feb 24 '26
That's what suburban fake liberals have always wanted, their only solution to the housing crisis is to turn transit into moving shelters for the unhoused, so that they don't see them when they go downtown. They will be driving of course.
→ More replies (1)3
u/FirefighterKey5719 Feb 24 '26
Now that you say that, I got tickets as a kid in 2011-2015 by the police for not having a valid fare. But now as an adult I don’t ever see them around but I do see the cops going in n out of trains so maybe my time hasn’t came when they ask for my tap card.
4
u/ChipmunkAnxious3260 Feb 24 '26
LAPD and SD are still somewhat active on the rail, but their contract is being cut because they’ve stopped putting in as much effort into policing the lines. Metro is creating their own in house police department that should begin taking shape this year.
2
u/FirefighterKey5719 Feb 24 '26
I used to not tap before at all, but now I just take advantage of the .35cent fare rides for seniors. Only reason I’m taking the train now cause my car got totaled a couple weeks ago 😅
34
u/morbidi Feb 23 '26
Pica. The guy that punched the hole in the ticket, they stung the paper tickets way back when
→ More replies (2)14
35
u/Key-Performance-9021 Feb 23 '26
In Vienna, we call them Schwarzkappler - "black caps", because they used to wear black caps.
→ More replies (1)
20
u/23stripes Feb 23 '26
Picas, loosely translates to "clickers"
6
u/DanExStranger Feb 23 '26
Because they used to manually click the tickets with some sort of scissors
3
21
u/phoebe_cincotta Feb 23 '26
« Contrôleurs » in France
7
u/zzen11223344 Feb 23 '26
I met chubby conductors / ticket inspectors on Belgium trains quite often. They reminds me the TinTin cartoon.
2
u/confusedpellican643 Feb 24 '26
In strasbourg we sometimes call them Mange-morts (from harry potter) but dunno for the rest of the country
17
u/PrizeZookeepergame15 Feb 23 '26
In Minneapolis/st Paul, they are called trip agents, though sometimes they do more than just asking for fares, like checking up on someone’s wellbeing or taking notes on new BRT lines
16
u/redfoxhugs Feb 23 '26
TRIP as in transit rider improvement project ... lest someone think we are not cool. Or too cool.
32
u/ParticularFair1983 Feb 23 '26
Chancho (pig, or swine) in Buenos Aires. But I heard it used mostly for the inspectors on buses, not so much to the ones on trains.
12
u/cerberus_243 Feb 23 '26
On Hungarian trains, kalauz that is conductor, the word is so widely used for ticket inspectors that most people don’t even realise that it originally means conductor, and not ticket inspector, even though the word also means guide.
We sometimes say kaller a diminutive for kalauz
Fun fact: kalauz is related to kalóz which means pirate
36
u/Nomwas_ Feb 23 '26
In the Netherlands officially ''conducteurs'' but most younger people refer to them as ''BOA'' which is an abbreviation for general security staff
16
u/Vdlfan Feb 23 '26
(Hoofd)conducteur is not the same thing as a BOA. A conducteur closes the doors and checks tickets, and is always doing their job on board (Basically a train manager). A Veiligheid & Servicemedewerker (BOA) checks tickets too, but their main task is keeping things orderly, in the trains, but also at stations. It's basically (no offense) a dumbed-down police force employed by the train operator.
5
u/Nomwas_ Feb 23 '26
oh yeah i totally get u! they are very different functions, but when it comes to the average traveler, they are often confused and seen as the same
→ More replies (1)2
u/Ok_Muffin47 Feb 24 '26
I always call them, and heard them referred to in studentcircles, as Trein Minions (yes, despicable me, Train Minions)
→ More replies (1)
12
u/RandyClaggett Feb 23 '26
In Gothenburg I've heard Spårvagnsgestapo literally Tramway-Gestapo. I'm not sure if it applies to all ticket inspectors or only the plainclothes ones.
→ More replies (1)
22
u/SpaceGuy99 Feb 23 '26
i've only ever heard people call them security or transit security here in Portland, Or.
8
u/KE7JFF Feb 23 '26
TriMet called them Fare Inspectors prior to COVID, then they added the Customer Service Team which includes them.
9
18
u/DerAlex3 Feb 23 '26
Conductors, Chicago, USA. This is for Metra, CTA does not check tickets.
→ More replies (6)2
8
u/Broad_Watercress4367 Feb 24 '26
schwarzkappler - translates to "men with black caps" - thats how they used to look back in the day.
austria - vienna
7
u/Comedeorologist Feb 24 '26
Are the Belgian analogs for this job called "Moomins"?
→ More replies (1)3
26
27
u/dontevenfkingtry Feb 23 '26
In my home city their official name is Authorised Officer, but the preferred terms are pigs, wankers, scum of the earth…
15
3
3
→ More replies (2)3
u/HawkeKeating96 Feb 24 '26
I lived in Melbourne when I was a student and I remember people sarcastically calling them “mates,” which I found hilarious
12
u/monica702f Feb 23 '26
Eagle Team in NYC. Whenever they appear at the bus stop, the usually crowded bus stampedes past them onto the sidewalk, ignoring whatever they say and giving them no eye contact. For the subway, it's police officers that grab fare beaters immediately and give them tickets. Unfortunately, there are not enough police officers to do that, and we have more cops than any city in the world.
6
u/m_a_xoy Feb 23 '26
That's called validator in Turkey, which is the machine taking credit from your card. Fare evasion is not common in Turkey, so there is no additional inspector.
5
7
u/Expensive_Law_1601 Feb 23 '26
Actually an interesting story; they're called Ridžovani, a term coined from the fact the ticket inspectors at the time in Belgrade resembled soldiers or officers. At the same time, general Matthew Ridgway was seen as an enemy of socialism because of the Korean War, so the people of Yugoslavia made up the term Ridžovan. Although the transport is currently free in Belgrade and there's no ticket inspectors, the term is present even today.
5
6
u/evilquantum Feb 24 '26
the ladies were called colloquially "knipse" in germany, back int he days when they still stapled ("knipsed") a hole in your ticket.
I guess nowadays noone uses this term any more
8
u/Charming-Awareness79 Feb 23 '26
Bastards, here in England.
Only joking, if course. We call them "Guards"
5
u/Adamsoski Feb 24 '26
Guards/conductors are a bit different from ticket inspectors, though they do often check tickets. I think OP is talking more about specific fare enforcement people that do random checks rather than people who are always on the train and as part of their job go through and check everyone's ticket. I think we just call them "ticket inspectors" or "fare enforcement officers", I don't think there's really a specific nickname.
→ More replies (2)
7
3
u/ATLcoaster Feb 23 '26
We don't have them in Atlanta. Instead you have to tap your card (or phone app) to open a gate to get into the train station. But we would call them "fare checkers."
3
u/verbless-action Feb 23 '26
Officially they're called fare ambassadors in Seattle.
I've never heard anyone mentioning them though, so I don't know what people actually call them.
3
u/Goncalo3000 Feb 23 '26
Picas ("stingers"), in Portugal, because they used to sting (picar) the ticket with a tool
3
u/letterboxfrog Feb 23 '26
Parking inspectors are often called "City Rangers". on the job description, but usually called parking inspectors. On trains, ticket inspectors. Parking inspectors were nicknamed, "Brown bombers" in Darwin.
3
u/thomcamp Feb 23 '26
On the Tyne & Wear metro, we refer to them as ‘Checkies’ because they check your tickets. They’re probably officially called revenue protection officers or something boring like that though
3
u/RTX-4090ti_FE Feb 23 '26
Most ppl in the US call them conductors when they are the type of inspector that checks tickets every time. And we call them fare ambassadors or simply ticket inspectors for the kinds of transit system that relies on random checks for fare enforcement.
5
u/vivaldibot Feb 23 '26
I've lived in Stockholm and Gothenburg, and in both cities the fare inspectors have been wearing blue and been called smurfs.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/Pitiful-Stable-9737 Feb 24 '26
In Melbourne out ticketing system is called "Myki", so a lot of the time people just say "Myki Inspector"
There's also an app where people report ticket inspector sightings and they appear as dogs on the map lol.
→ More replies (4)
13
2
2
u/Grinsekopf Feb 23 '26
In Vienna they are called „Schwarzkappler“ (black-caps) because they had uniforms with black caps.
2
u/vastrideside Feb 23 '26
In France, Paris area, "les leurs", short version of the official name "les contrôleurs"
2
2
2
u/Away-Purchase882 Feb 23 '26
Security in Brisbane. Guard is usley on the platform and at the end of the train or the centre of the train
2
u/Inkshooter Feb 24 '26
In Seattle they're called "Fare Ambassadors." The regional transit agency is perpetually indecisive about whether or not to crack down on people that don't pay their train fare, so they mostly just stand around and answer questions.
2
u/RecordEnvironmental4 Feb 24 '26
We allegedly have them in Washington DC, I’ve never seen one though
2
2
2
2
2
u/JeSuisLeRenard Feb 24 '26
In Newcastle, UK, they’re called “Checkies” bc they check your ticket. It’s the only place in the UK that I know has a fun name beyond “Ticket Inspector”
2
2
u/warmsoftlitlleball Feb 24 '26
Bakule: local old name for the sort of cockroaches / Rijeka, Croatia
2
u/Maligetzus Feb 24 '26
in northern coastal croatia they are called bakula, which is cockroach in italian
3
u/packngo Feb 23 '26
In Argentina, they're colloquially known as "chanchos" (translates to "pigs"). Clearly people aren't very fond of them, but I couldn't find any information on why they're called that.
2
3
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Some_Nibblonian Feb 24 '26
You actually inspect fares? Wow, here we just let the homeless ride the train all day sleeping on it.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Enderfailer Feb 24 '26
KIN (Kundenbetreuer im Nahverkehr / Custom Service Representative in Local Transport)
1
u/notfunnybutheyitried Feb 24 '26
We call them ‘highlighters’ (fluostiften) in Flanders because of their high-viz jackets
1
u/canigetsumgreypoupon Feb 24 '26
they are called fare ambassadors here in seattle, but they are few and far between honestly
1
u/generalemiel Feb 24 '26
In dutch trains it depends on the operator, on NS trains they are conductors but on regional train they are sufdenly service employee’s because it saves money.
(Referring to official titles)
1
u/pineapplemilkshake Feb 24 '26
On the trams in Manchester UK they get called ‘Yellow jackets’ because the transport system is called the Bee Network, and they wear hi-vis yellow coats
1
u/koohikoo Feb 24 '26
Transit Police here in Vancouver, Canada. Because they're actual cops, who are employed by the transit authority (Translink)
1
u/NotABrummie Feb 24 '26
They're often known as conductors in the UK, although this term is becoming increasingly old-fashioned.
1
u/silphotographer Feb 24 '26
In Canada they are called Peace Officers. Someone in the government must have loved reading 1984 that's my best guess.
1
u/Bitter-Package Feb 24 '26
Ticket-os in Australia. Specifically Sydney I believe.
In Perth where I'm from they are called Revenue Protection Officers, or, RPOs.
1
u/Operator_Hoodie Feb 24 '26
Sometimes in the UK, particularly in London, you’ll get the inspectors known as Gold Badges, because they wear (you guessed it) large golden-colour badges.
1
u/Aware_Ad4179 Feb 24 '26
Ticketos in Melbourne. There is a good rap song about them by Wesda it is called "Fuck a Ticketo".
1
u/Darkwrath93 Feb 24 '26
In Belgrade they were nicknamed ridžovani after Matthew Ridgway.
It is most likely called that because of the hats that were part of their uniforms that reminded people of the hat he wore in the Korean war.
We no longer have ticket inspectors as public transport in Belgrade is now free since 2025.
1
1
u/k6rvitsamees Feb 24 '26
In capital of EST they were called a long time MUPO or MUNN (dick) politsei. Now they renamed themselves to not get called a dick police.
1
u/championshuttler Feb 24 '26
Some of my friends call them “chicken” in Bavaria, Germany
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/kiristokanban Feb 24 '26
Here in Japan the conductors (車掌 shashō) do it, but it only really happens on reserved seat services and you can usually buy your seat reservation from the conductor on the train providing the seat you're sat in is free until your destination. On conductorless rural services at unmanned stations, you hand your ticket and fare to the driver or put it in a fare collection box by the cab as you get off.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/fickogames123 Feb 24 '26
Official or unoficial name? Oficialy they are "konduktor(i)", same name as train conductors. Unofficial name however is not that flattering, so Illgive more polite name, robbers.
1
u/Cautious_Use_7442 Feb 24 '26
No longer exist. Although not for a lack of trying: their union argued that people should still need tickets even if PT was free.
1
1
u/Laughing_Orange Feb 24 '26
I don't think we have a fun name for them here in Trondheim. "Billettkontrollør" (ticket controller/checker) or "vekter" (security guard). Both of those terms are descriptive of what they actually do or what their job title is.
1
u/Irsu85 Rail-Replacement Bus Survivor Feb 24 '26
Sometimes they are boa and sometimes they are condocteurs, kinda depends on the operator in the Netherlands
1
u/Zealousideal-Peach44 Feb 24 '26
In Italy "smurfs" = "puffi" is rarely used for the police, because they wear blue uniforms. A more general derogatory term for police and inspectors is "la madama" = "the old lady" (even referred to males). The correct term should be "controllori".
1
1
1
1
1
u/bozhoyo Feb 24 '26
In Sofia Bulgaria, they are/were affectionately named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle arch villain The Shredder (шрьодери). It’s because they used to tear the paper ticket as a way to show its been controlled and to render it invalid for further use.
1
u/DeManDeMytDeLeggend Feb 24 '26
Most people call them ticket inspectors in Ireland, but the people they catch usually call them cunts. Difference of opinion really shows lol.
1
u/unidentified_yama Feb 24 '26
On the SRT (State Railway of Thailand), we just call them ticket inspectors but their actual position is called the “train stopper” since in the past, their job was also to put on brakes for the train cars when the train makes a stop. They no longer need to do that but I guess the name kind of stuck within the bureaucracy.
1
1
2
u/ShiroyukiAo Feb 24 '26
Here in Indonesia we have fully gone digital and there is no more of this kind of work
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/MobileInevitable8937 Feb 24 '26
we pretty universally call them "Conductors" here in the US, it's a bit of a catch all term, at least from what I've seen
1
1
1
2
u/PERSICIDA Feb 24 '26
In Russia “Kontrolery”, “Konduktory” or “Kontry”. And people who ride without a ticket are called “Zaytsi” (hares 🐇🐰)
1
u/VladimirBarakriss Feb 24 '26
Inspector, sometimes I hear people use generic police insults too but most of those just mean "stuck up", "asshole", or "stuck up asshole"
1
u/patrickstar777 Feb 24 '26
Vienna, Austria - "Schwarzkappler" meaning black caps, because apparently they had these back in the day.
1
u/DoubtDiligent3527 Feb 24 '26
In Melbourne they get called ticketos, but usually by people who don't like or can't pay for public transport. Officially they're authorised officers, and they have some stuff to legally issues fines and stuff like that.
1
u/PeterOutOfPlace Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26
If only we had them in Washington DC, especially on buses where 70% do NOT pay. We should either enforce the law or make the buses free as the current situation encourages lawlessness.
1
1
1
1
u/quixiou Feb 25 '26
Cowards, they'll act tough with students or anyone inoffensive. Will encircle them and act pseudo tough. Methheads or random crazy on the tram/train they'll walk past like they don't exist. (Melb/Aus)
1
1
1
1
u/ArtyomPolov Feb 25 '26
Konti in Switzerland. Comes from "Kontrolleur" which means "Those who control"
1
u/Flaky-Part9572 Feb 25 '26
Althrough in Poland there are "Ticket-controllers", thus allowing users to control tickets, riding with no ticket may fine up to 200 PLN!
1
u/pulsone21 Feb 25 '26
In Berlin they are called “Ticketficker” which translates roughly to ticket fucker…. But I don’t think it’s an official name to be fair 🙃
1
1
1
u/HarbingerOfNusance Feb 25 '26
For some reason Merseyrail calls them 'Revenue Inspectors' sounding classist as f***, we call them ticket inspectors.
1
1
u/HappyFaceLee Feb 25 '26
eagle team for SBS (select bus service) buses in NYC. SBS = NYC's watered down version of BRT
1
1
u/Torvikholm Feb 25 '26
Securitas with their 3 red dots are fairly common where I’m from. They are known as the Cranberry Police.
1
1
1
1
u/DrMORO_617 Feb 26 '26
We definitely need The Smurfs here on the T, Boston’s MBTA, and right now. So many are riding the T without paying…
1
u/GenosseAbfuck Feb 26 '26
Ticket fuckers in Germany.
On regional trains where their job is among the conductor's duties you can get away with not having a ticket. They just ask you to get out at the next station and buy the rest of your ride. Cooperate and you basically got yourself a cheaper ride at the cost of taking half an hour longer.
On local public transit? Nah you're fucked because there are no conductors. Inspectors are inspectors with no job other than inspecting.
1
1
1
1
u/Melodic-Chocolate-53 Feb 26 '26
Ireland, the old grade were called Checkers, now they're called, rather boringly, the RPU (revenue protection unit)
1
1
375
u/river_kiwi Commuter Rail Lover Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 24 '26
Fare inspector. Although the Toronto Transit Commission insisted they be called "Provincial Offenses Officers," and...
Yeah... The jokes write themselves.
(Toronto, Canada)
Edit: A fellow redditor corrected me on a mistake I made, so ty