NathanPrior
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Just wondering this question.
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Do TVM's accept Rail Vouchers?
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R
RailUK Forums
No they don't. If the ticket office is closed and you need to use a RTV, then you would have to pay either on board (if your train has a commercial guard) or at the interchange station (if applicable and if time permits) or at your destination.
Also note that if your RTVs are issued by Southern, you can exchange them for cash at any Southern ticket office, if this helps you.
185143
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Northern guards won't accept RTV's on board and IIRC FTPE guards don't either.
185143
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What's the point of an RTV being issued then? Or can they only be exchanged if you are unable to purchase a ticket with them?
Southern are required to offer cash under their franchise agreement. See the Payment heading on this page
It is presumably to do it this way as they do not have to pay any banking fees, and it gets rid of cash they'd otherwise have to cart away from the stations
It is presumably to do it this way as they do not have to pay any banking fees, and it gets rid of cash they'd otherwise have to cart away from the stations
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greatkingrat
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Is that in any other franchise agreements, or just Southern?
323235
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That's news to me, twice i've paid by travel vouchers onboard Northern services in the past.
I have in front of me a Northern RTV which reads quite clearly on the back
"You can use this voucher on-train when boarding at unstaffed stations"
What he really means is some won't take them. I guess for some guards, if they have loads of fares to collect, they may not want the hassle of a complex transaction, so direct the customer to use the ticket office at their destination instead.
I am not sure what you mean by that?
The point is that the TOCs are not actually giving away money as compensation. The customer is entitled to use an RTV, but it may not be possible to use an RTV at their origin station, and may not be possible on the train either, so it may not be until they reach their destination station that they are able to purchase their ticket.
The TOCs are obviously happy for this arrangement, otherwise their machines would accept RTVs... or they'd give us cash instead!
RJ
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It's not their decision to refuse them if no previous opportunity existed to purchase a ticket. I had issues with EMT's management claiming their staff on board didn't accept RTVs until I compelled them to stop talking out of their rear end.
Methods of payment on the railways are tightly regulated and certain means must be accepted by all retailers at stations and on board where tickets are offered for sale, including Rail Travel Vouchers and National Transport Tokens.
bb21
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I am not aware that this is a franchise requirement. I thought Southern offered this as a customer friendly gesture.
RTVs are of nominal value (until redeemed) and cost very little to handle. Cash, cheques and card payments all cost much more to process. Many people are happy to use RTVs so there is no reason for Southern to start posting out cheques and/or cash and increase their own costs.
AFAIK just Southern, as it was introduced quite recently into the agreements. Hopefully as other franchises come up for renewal, this requirement will be incorporated into them too.
Why? Just treat them as warrants. A sale is a sale. To be fair though, they can be a slitter esp. if the pax has a lot of low value vouchers as they have to be input individually.
bb21
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Any pointer as to where to find it so I know where to watch out as new franchises are awarded? It is not clear on the Southern website.
RJ
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I paid for £200 worth of tickets on a Southeastern High Speed service a couple of days ago, all with RTVs. This wasn't a problem at all. The OBM was friendly, pity they don't get any commission on sales, although the conductors on the classic lines do.
On Southern trains, we will accept these vouchers, but can issue no change, so dont buy a 2.50 ticket with a £10 voucher. We get so few due to the cash exchange in ticket offices, that when you do its a pain to remember how to process them on the advantix.
One morning, Southern must have sent out a load of vouchers, as the ticket office at Seaford was almost cleaned out of cash due to refunding the vouchers.
One morning, Southern must have sent out a load of vouchers, as the ticket office at Seaford was almost cleaned out of cash due to refunding the vouchers.
Saw one Northern guard accept an RTV last week.
There is a slight difference between 'Not accepted on board' and 'I don't want to accept this onboard as it is a pain in the backside and gives me more paperwork to fill out'.
I'd say in some respects it was better that way - means less cash is carried (although such large amounts would be paid in cash normally anyway)
As far as I know, from what I have been told, you can't get change from RTV's, period. That's why one hopes that large amounts are paid in smaller parts
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