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But there still needs to be some sort of validator that you need to use, doesn't it? I've been to two cities with a similar system where you're trusted, Helsinki and Berlin. In Helsinki there are validators that people tap some kind of multiple-trip card on. In Berlin there are very analog paper tickets that you have to put into a "Drucker" on the platform, it stamps it with the date, time, and station name.

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It depends if the tickets are trip based or time based, for time based system you don't always need validator.

I have visited Prague in 2019 and their subway had no barriers, ticket machines were tucked somewhere in the corner so that I had to actively look around. Interestingly the metal poles where sticking out of the floor up to waist height with a spacing like that they used to have validators on them before.

Since I had a 3 day ticket and I validated it on the bus when going from the airport I didn't need a validator. Their trams and buses had validators in usual places, so subway probably has them too but not in an obvious place or the ticket machines already print ticket with time on it so you don't need to validate it.

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