Who goes first?
From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Ticket to Ride?

North America base game · English 2015 reprint

Ticket to Ride publisher rulebook cover

The most experienced traveler takes the first turn.

Rule details

Turns proceed clockwise after the starting player. This instruction belongs to the North America base game; it does not establish the rule for other Ticket to Ride titles.

Our interpretation

The starting instruction does not define a scoring system for travel experience. Agree together rather than treating a particular measure as an official rule.

Source & edition

All 15 Days of Wonder starting rules

Image: © Days of Wonder (publisher of the cited rules; cover art may have additional creators or rights holders) · Days of Wonder

If there’s a tie

The rulebook doesn’t say.

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