Sold an invalid ticket from Blackfriars?

[BW]

I bought a single ticket to Welwyn North yesterday evening, using a ticket machine at Blackfriars Station. The barriers were open at Blackfriars, and the ticket didn't work in the barriers at St. Pancras but I was waved through anyway.

Looking more closely at the ticket once I got onto the train at Kings Cross, I realised it was a London Terminals to Welwyn North ticket.

Presumably this ticket was technically invalid for the journey between Blackfriars and St Pancras. Why would the ticket machine even sell it, and what would have happened if the person on the gate had decided it was invalid?

 

[sheff1]

I started a thread on a similar thing, in the opposite direction, back in 2010 - http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36552

A reply in that thread linked back to another thread which highlighted that the issue dated back to 2008, at least, and involved an 'error'.

It would appear that, 5 years on, things remain the same.

 

[yorkie]

I assume this is done so FCC can occasionally get extra revenue by catching people out?

Occasionally FCC pick on the wrong person and lose in court, though I would like to see a case like this go to court bit I suspect FCC would not take it that far for fear of yet another embarrassing defeat to add to the growing pile

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I assume this is done so FCC can occasionally get extra revenue by catching people out?

Occasionally FCC pick on the wrong person and lose in court, though I would like to see a case like this go to court bit I suspect FCC would not take it that far for fear of yet another embarrassing defeat to add to the growing pile

The problem predates FCC by some years... But if it's inconvenient to your agenda you could always forget I posted this.

 

[bb21]

FCC have had years to rectify the problem however.

 

[jon0844]

Presumably this ticket was technically invalid for the journey between Blackfriars and St Pancras. Why would the ticket machine even sell it, and what would have happened if the person on the gate had decided it was invalid?

Who knows what would have happened? Perhaps some RPIs might be aware of the problem, but others would be going straight for the MG11 form.

However, surely FCC wouldn't dream of prosecuting once it established that the ticket was issued and printed at Blackfriars and you'd selected a ticket from there (and not selecting to start from another station) to Welwyn North.

NOBODY would expect to get a ticket that wasn't valid from the station where the TVM sold a ticket, so absolutely nothing should happen to the person besides being waved through and a promise to get it seen to.

Talking of which, given FCCs new MD seems to be a bit more proactive than the others before him, and Twitter is usually quite good at responding, it might be worth trying to contact FCC and alert them to this - even if it's an age old problem. People may have long since left and the new people unaware, even if they shouldn't be.

I think you might find asking on Twitter (to @FirstCC) might be a very quick and easy first move, but do so on Monday so the right people can be alerted when they're in the office. The Twitter team are based at Hertford House, Old Street.

 

[Eagle]

The problem predates FCC by some years... But if it's inconvenient to your agenda you could always forget I posted this.

And additionally it's not confined to FCC either; it happens at most ticket machines at London terminals (e.g. try and buy a ticket to Ipswich from the machine at Waterloo).

 

[DelayRepay]

Here is another recent thread highlighting the same problem from London Bridge.

 

[causton]

And additionally it's not confined to FCC either; it happens at most ticket machines at London terminals (e.g. try and buy a ticket to Ipswich from the machine at Waterloo).

SWT's machines normally pop up a message saying the ticket is invalid for travel from that station actually!

And it's a bit different when the TOC provides the 'invalid' service you're about to get onto e.g. FCC heading north from Blackfriars!

 

[jon0844]

No TVM should sell a ticket that's invalid from that station, unless you are using the option to buy a ticket from another origin.

By default, only tickets you could use to travel there and then should be sold.

Exceptions might be where your ticket is only usable via a certain route, but not invalid entirely.

 

[34D]

Surely FCC have entered into a contract to take him from Blackfriars to Welwyn?

 

[rdwarr]

Blackfriars barriers are open far too much of the time as well. I'd estimate about 60% of the time I use the station (arrive 9am, depart 6pm). This reduces the chance of an invalid ticket being detected before it is used.
Were "London Terminals" tickets from the GN line OK to use at Blackfriars then I could save a few hundred quid a year on my season. But they're not and you'd never get through the barriers at St Pancras - that can be challenge even if your ticket is fine!