Train Metaphor for Salvation

I recently stumbled across the following train metaphor used by some Christians to describe how they believe the Christian doctrine of salvation works:

We have, Jesus, Jesus' mate (the Holy Spirit), and God, in a train station. In this train station there are no ticket booths. Just a bunch of people wandering around living their lives. Now you are standing there with no ticket and Jesus' mate comes up and tells you to jump on an express train which has the most expensive ticket price. You ask for the ticket so you don't get kicked off train after its left the station. Jesus' mate tells you you don't need one, just get on the train and not to worry about the ticket, it's been covered. So now you have a choice, either stick around the train station, or jump on the train without a ticket. 

If you stick around the train station, Jesus' mate may or may not come back and tell you to jump on another train. Until that happens you're left in your old life, in that train station. You may or may not be happy with this, doesn't matter. Now if you decide to jump on the train you'll grab a seat and wait for the ticket master, God, to come along and kick you off. Instead, the ticket master comes along and gives you the ticket that has been fully paid by Jesus. Now all you need to do is stay on the train and ride it to the end, where you'll get a bunch of stuff you never deserved. And you'll live with the two guys who built the station, the railroad, the train, and paid for your ticket. If you take this option your life will change and your old life will be left behind at that station. 

You can get off the train at any time by jumping off (express trains don't stop), but then you'll find yourself back in the train station with everyone else who hasn't taken up Jesus' mate's offer of the train ride. 

Jesus has paid for everyone's tickets and at some point you'll be asked to get on the train without a ticket. When God decides to shut down the train station, everyone who hasn't made the trip or boarded a train is stuck. Then the railroad is demolished soon after. (Anonymous Internet Christian)

Issues With This Metaphor

I find much with which to take issue in this metaphor. While my original intent was to write a line by line refutation of its many problematic assertions, upon finding that exercise too ponderous to hold my interest, I instead offer-up three observations:

• "So now you have a choice" - if salvation comes to those who are dead in trespasses and in sins (Ephesians 2:1), and who are therefore incapable of making spiritual choices (Romans 8:7), and if salvation is not of him that willeth (Romans 9:16), then we can be absolutely certain that one's eternal salvation is not the result of anyone's choice to hop aboard the Salvation Express.

• "You can get off the train at any time by jumping off" - This bears no resemblance to the salvation described by the Lord Jesus Christ who gives unto his sheep eternal life and they shall never perish (John 10:28).  Indeed, who can separate us from the Love of God? (Romans 8:38-39)

• "Jesus has paid for everyone's tickets" - Jesus testimony is that he gave His life to purchase tickets for the sheep, not for the goats. (John 10:11,26, Matthew 25:41)

TETH's Attempt

If I were to use a short train metaphor to represent the salvation taught in the scriptures, I believe I would put it this way:

• There's a dead man in the train station. (Ephesians 2:1) 
• God the Father purposed to deliver that man along with a host of other dead men to a blessed final destination via the train. (Ephesians 1:4-5) 
• God did not purpose to deliver ALL dead men to this same blessed destination by the train (John 10:11,26) neither was he obliged to do so. (Exodus 33:19)
• Jesus made a covenant promise to deliver the man along with a host of others, and he will do it without losing one. (John 17:2)
• Jesus bought the dead man's ticket and put him on the train. (Romans 5:6) 
• The Holy Spirit resurrects the man. (Galatians 4:6) 
• Once on the train, the man will be delivered to his destination along with all of the others on the train and nothing can prevent them from reaching their destination. (Romans 8:38-39) 
• During the journey the man along with some of the passengers are blessed to hear the story of how and why they were put on the train by God. (Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 10:14)
• By the time the man believes what Jesus has done for him he has ALREADY passed from death unto life (John 5:24), else he would still be dead, still be in the train station, and still be incapable of receiving the such truth (I Corinthians 2:14). 
• His believing is an evidence of an existing state of grace as a current passenger who is already on the train (Hebrews 11:1) not a prerequisite required for boarding the train to obtain grace. (I John 5:1)

While all metaphors have their limitations, I believe this train metaphor accurately depicts the way in which sinners are saved according to the scriptures, and avoids the crass decisionism of some more popular attempts that I have encountered.