Can You Use the Same Route Twice in Ticket to Ride?

The short, direct answer is: no, you cannot use the same route twice in Ticket to Ride. Once a route between two cities has been claimed by a player, it is permanently closed to all other players for the remainder of the game. This is a fundamental mechanic of the game that drives strategy and competition.

Understanding Route Claiming in Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a board game where players collect and play matching train car cards to claim railway routes across a map. These routes are represented by colored lines between cities, and a player claims a route by playing a number of matching colored cards that correspond to the route’s length. However, what happens after you claim a route is crucial.

One-Time Claim Rule

The most important thing to remember is that each route, whether it’s a single or double route between the same cities, is only claimable once during the game. If, for example, the route from New York to Montreal is taken by one player, no other player can claim that specific route. The first player to complete that route effectively eliminates that connection from the game. This core rule promotes tactical thinking and planning.

Double Routes and Blocking

Many locations in the game feature double routes, meaning two parallel tracks between the same two cities. These routes offer more options. You are only ever allowed to claim one of the two routes between the two cities with your trains. Once one of these routes is claimed, the other route is still available for others to claim. However, if another player uses their turn to claim the second route, then neither can be claimed again by anyone. This rule can often lead to strategic blocking, where a player may purposely claim one route to prevent others from completing important connections in their own networks.

Strategic Implications of the Single Route Rule

The inability to claim the same route twice has significant strategic implications:

• Competition: The game becomes a race to claim crucial routes necessary to complete your Destination Tickets. Knowing this, players often seek to claim routes that are needed by other players as well.
• Planning: Players must carefully plan their networks, sometimes needing to secure alternative routes in case their desired paths are blocked. This often means evaluating destination tickets carefully before starting to place trains.
• Blocking: Blocking routes is a key tactic in Ticket to Ride. Strategically cutting off an opponent’s potential path can disrupt their plans and help secure your own victory.
• Adaptability: The single route rule forces players to be flexible and willing to change their plans as the game progresses. This requires quick thinking and strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 FAQs designed to provide further insights into the route claiming mechanics and other related rules in Ticket to Ride:

General Rules and Game Play

1. Can you claim two routes between the same cities? Yes, but only if the route has double tracks. You can claim only one of the two routes available. Once you or another player claims the double route, the other is off-limits for the rest of the game.
2. What are the gray routes in Ticket to Ride? Gray routes can be claimed using a set of cards of any one color. This provides flexibility and is often useful when you don’t have enough cards of a specific color for other colored routes.
3. How many train pieces do you have in Ticket to Ride? Each player starts with a set of 45 colored train pieces.
4. What triggers the end of the game? The game ends when one player has only two or fewer train pieces left.
5. How many cards do you draw per turn? On your turn, you may choose to either draw two train cards or claim a route. If drawing cards, you draw two cards, though locomotives still count as two card draws. You may draw one card and one locomotive per turn.
6. Who goes first in Ticket to Ride? The most experienced traveler or, by random selection, the most experienced player will begin the game, and then play goes clockwise around the table.
7. What is the longest continuous route and how does the TransAmerica Express card work? The player with the longest continuous path of train routes at the end of the game wins the Trans America Express card and is awarded 10 points. Stations don’t count toward longest route.
8. Do stations count for longest train Ticket to Ride? No, stations do not count for the purpose of computing paths and claiming the longest route. Stations offer route borrowing, but not route connection.
9. What do train stations do? Your 3 stations let you borrow one route at the end of your turn. By paying 1 of any color to place the first station, 2 of the same color for the second, and 3 of the same color for the third, you can place stations on cities to complete train routes.

Destination Tickets

10. How many Destination Tickets should you keep? You must keep at least one long route Destination Ticket. Failing to complete a long route could hinder your chance of victory.
11. Can you discard destination cards once you have chosen them? No, you cannot discard a Destination Ticket card once you have chosen to keep it. Only during the initial deal may a player discard destination cards.
12. Is there any benefit to having longer destination tickets in ticket to ride? Destination tickets offer bonus points at the end of the game if the routes are completed. Longer routes often provide more points than shorter routes, which means that a longer route can swing your score. If you have a 10-point destination, you gain 10 points for completing the route, or lose 10 points if you do not.

Game Variations and Strategy

13. What is the fastest version of Ticket to Ride? Ticket to Ride: Legendary Asia is known for its fast gameplay due to the mountain routes, which force players to lose train pieces.
14. How can I speed up Ticket to Ride game? Some house rules to speed up the game include drawing three cards, rather than two, for each normal draw, claiming a route after each draw, and using 3 of any color cards in place of a single locomotive when building, and playing with 7 face-up train cards at a time.
15. Is Ticket to Ride easy to learn? Yes, Ticket to Ride is renowned for being easy to learn, making it a great intro game for new players while also providing strategic depth for experienced gamers. It is a popular game due to its balance of simple rules and interesting strategy.

Final Thoughts

The inability to use the same route twice in Ticket to Ride is a core mechanic that drives competition, strategic planning, and tactical decision-making throughout the game. Understanding this rule, and the rules surrounding route selection and train placement, is essential for success. By considering these factors, players can enhance their gameplay and aim for victory in this popular board game.