At the moment (early February, 2006), a CharlieTicket is also a plastic card of the same composition as last year’s monthly T passes, which can be slid through an old-style fare box sideways in the manner of the old passes, or can go into a new box vertically like New York’s Metro tickets.

I haven’t seen any paper CharlieTickets, any Charlie Cards, or any new fare boxes. But I want to believe in the smart cards…

1) A CharlieTicket is a paper ticket that goes in the new faregates (good for occasional riders or “one token” purchases). A CharlieCard is a contactless smart card that you wave in front of a reader and go but is NOT inserted. This can hold a pass or dollar value and is better for frequent riders.

2) The T has purchased 50 cash register systems that can sell the tickets/cards from a human.