Guard scribbles on train ticket - Rejected at barriers

[Saint Sophie]

I've had this problem almost every time I travel from Carmarthen station to subsequent stations - which I have to do fairly often.

The ticket attendants at Carmarthen always scribbles a little biro mark on my ticket when checking it. I've noticed they always make the scribble right across the date strip and more often that not, my ticket gets rejected at the barriers thereafter. Does the date strip get read by the barrier?

Does anyone else have this problem with train guards scribbling on tickets, and then the barrier rejecting it because of this?

 

[westv]

I've often had the guard scribble on my tickets but I've never had the barrier reject it.

 

[island]

The barriers only read the magnetic stripe on the back.

Next time please see if you can note the two- or three-digit code displayed on the barrier, as we know what most of the codes stand for and can tell you what the particular issue is.

 

[Parallel]

If I purchase my ticket on the train from the guard (when no facilities are available before hand) and get off at a station with barriers, more often than not my ticket gets rejected by the barrier despite being valid. I wonder if FGW's stock for their portable ticket machines are dodgy, or if it takes a little while to activate? It's happened at least 5 times now.

 

[MyFriendMary]

Depends on the error code when it is rejected. It's likely a 09 display that means it has failed to read the magnetic strip, pretty common and all sorts can cause it. Faulty stock, Avantax issue or it being need mobile phones etc.

 

[abbo1234]

Same happens at the unmanned Euxton balshaw lane.If purchased on the train the ticket gets rejected at the barriers,however 9 times out of ten i have to buy the ticket at Blackpool north because no one ever comes down the train.

 

[Chapeltom]

Mobile phones can easily make tickets unreadable. I always seem to have this issue, yet persist with putting my railcard wallet (which I use as a wallet) in the same pocket as my Blackberry

 

[43167]

I think its really poor that conductors have had to resort to using a pen to mark tickets as checked. Conductors on Northern & TPE have to use this practice.

To me it looks unprofessional & would much prefer to see them use a proper pair of clippers.

 

[Parallel]

I think its really poor that conductors have had to resort to using a pen to mark tickets as checked. Conductors on Northern & TPE have to use this practice.

To me it looks unprofessional & would much prefer to see them use a proper pair of clippers.

I've seen a whole range of stuff be used - from date stamps, to pen, to something which takes a bite out of the ticket, sometimes nothing is used. I've even had a guard use a hole punch once. - I think the stamps are best but I'm not really bothered, as long as they know I have a ticket!

 

[507 001]

I think its really poor that conductors have had to resort to using a pen to mark tickets as checked. Conductors on Northern & TPE have to use this practice.

To me it looks unprofessional & would much prefer to see them use a proper pair of clippers.

I've seen a whole range of stuff be used - from date stamps, to pen, to something which takes a bite out of the ticket, sometimes nothing is used. I've even had a guard use a hole punch once. - I think the stamps are best but I'm not really bothered, as long as they know I have a ticket!

The stamps take an age to dry so you either get ink all over your had or all over the inside of your railcard wallet :mad:

 

[Anvil1984]

A Zifa stamper which Intercity TOCS use cost at least £100 each so Northern aren't gonna spend at least 50k on ticket stampers if they don't have to

In the case of open returns a biro is capable of making more endorsements than a single hole punch and can't damage the magnetic strip like a punch can so whilst it doesn't look professional it's the best low cost alternative at present

 

[marks87]

A Biro seems to be the implement of choice for most ScotRail conductors - if they bother marking the ticket at all (my experience of those in the former Strathclyde PTE area is they just look and move on).

What does marking a ticket with a squiggle show anyway? Is it for the conductors themselves, in case they forget they've checked? Because plenty of tickets now allow a break of journey so it presumably isn't to "invalidate" it.

 

[causton]

The stamps take an age to dry so you either get ink all over your had or all over the inside of your railcard wallet :mad:

Yes, I have a leather semi-expensive ticket wallet which now has a line of ink up the middle, this has the added advantage of making every ticket look like it's already been used unless I take it out

 

[PermitToTravel]

A Zifa stamper which Intercity TOCS use cost at least £100 each so Northern aren't gonna spend at least 50k on ticket stampers if they don't have to

In the case of open returns a biro is capable of making more endorsements than a single hole punch and can't damage the magnetic strip like a punch can so whilst it doesn't look professional it's the best low cost alternative at present

I wonder why on earth they're so expensive! Is someone's cousin pocketing the lion's share?

A Biro seems to be the implement of choice for most ScotRail conductors - if they bother marking the ticket at all (my experience of those in the former Strathclyde PTE area is they just look and move on).

What does marking a ticket with a squiggle show anyway? Is it for the conductors themselves, in case they forget they've checked? Because plenty of tickets now allow a break of journey so it presumably isn't to "invalidate" it.

They prevent you from returning a ticket as unused and claiming a refund

 

[marks87]

They prevent you from returning a ticket as unused and claiming a refund

Fair point - makes sense now!

 

[colchesterken]

I have had this problem at Colchester there is a ticket office on each side of the station, One is not always manned so they have an inspector selling tickets with a mobile machine. looks OK but often (no always) will not work in L T gates so a day in london on the OAP savers can be a pain having to explain to the underground ticket people at every station

 

[Anvil1984]

Fair point - makes sense now!

Also it helps to prevent a passenger from trying to use an open return as a season ticket. A break of journey is allowed but not trying to use again it another day right from the origin of ticket.

 

[323235]

but does it really? someone could easily try to claim that a friend or child or even themselves testing a pen scribbled on it. Whilst I fully understand the logic in reality, surely if one wanted to argue against saying it had been used in the absense of CCTV or someone proving they did actually get on a train they could make a good case against it.

 

[LowLevel]

I wonder why on earth they're so expensive! Is someone's cousin pocketing the lion's share?

They prevent you from returning a ticket as unused and claiming a refund

They are actually fairly complicated little beasties so I'm not surprised they cost a bit.

I believe FGW have it in their franchise contract they have to use Zifa stampers, I personally have been issued with a bog standard stationery co hole punch but prefer to use a pen if I mark the ticket.

I know some guards have complained of repetitive strain injuries from using ticket stampers before.

 

[AndrewR232]

I know of one ScotRail conductor who writes the headcode on tickets.

 

[BurtonM]

I've seen all sorts - black Sharpie, blue Sharpie, biro, Christmas tree punch, crescent moon punch, star punch, circular punch, date stamp, felt pen... And for marks, anything from a circled date (usually on open returns) to just a squiggle, signature, dated circled date (on open returns again), and so on...
I've only ever known tickets to fail thanks to magnets in things though.

 

[Bantamzen]

If I purchase my ticket on the train from the guard (when no facilities are available before hand) and get off at a station with barriers, more often than not my ticket gets rejected by the barrier despite being valid. I wonder if FGW's stock for their portable ticket machines are dodgy, or if it takes a little while to activate? It's happened at least 5 times now.

I don't think it's just FGW, I've noticed that the fail rate of the tickets issued from the mobile ticket machines is a lot higher than those issued at ticket offices regardless of operator.

 

[Essexman]

Ticket's from Upminster's booking office to most slightly unusual destinations (ie anything off the C2C route) usually fail to open the barriers at Upminster, but do open them at all other stations on the journey. It is frustrating and I've missed trains as a result. Staff are aware but no one seems bothered to do anything about it - reprogramming the gates?

 

[island]

I wonder why on earth they're so expensive! Is someone's cousin pocketing the lion's share?

They are quite complex inside. Ten characters have to be changeable, and it needs an ink pad or roller, plus incredibly high reliability and durability.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

but does it really? someone could easily try to claim that a friend or child or even themselves testing a pen scribbled on it. Whilst I fully understand the logic in reality, surely if one wanted to argue against saying it had been used in the absense of CCTV or someone proving they did actually get on a train they could make a good case against it.

True, but (1) a ticket that has been defaced or damaged is invalid per the NRCoC and (2) a guard's scribble discourages casual/opportunistic reuse of tickets; someone who is determined to try it on won't be put off but someone who thinks "hey my ticket wasn't marked I can use it again" will.

 

[Essexman]

What is wrong with using the old style clippers that make a hole in the ticket? - obviously avoiding the magnetic strip.

A couple of years ago I took my young nephew on a Javelin train on HS1 and the guard brought out a steam engine shaped stamp for his ticket. Nephew was very pleased to have it stamped with a special train stamp.

 

[David Goddard]

Zifas are great, as long as the TM uses the correct Headcode. We came back from Glasgow on Monday and the VT one had the correct code but FGW's stamp was nothing like the train we were on- they stamped 1X83 when we were on 1C87!

 

[Michael.Y]

Probably because some idiot has complained about the floor being covered with millions of orange didcots.

 

[thelongestroad]

From personal experience Zifas are a PITA if you have lots of trains because changing the headcode is fiddley and cumbersome. Secondly the ink was not designed for the ticket stock.. it's rubs off and doesn't properly mark the ticket.

I try to use them where possible but sometimes it's easier to use a permanent marker.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

What is wrong with using the old style clippers that make a hole in the ticket? - obviously avoiding the magnetic strip.

A couple of years ago I took my young nephew on a Javelin train on HS1 and the guard brought out a steam engine shaped stamp for his ticket. Nephew was very pleased to have it stamped with a special train stamp.

I use a few different ones. Puts a smile on Passengers faces young and old

 

[455driver]

Is the OP sure its the pen mark which is effecting the ticket and not something in their pocket effecting the magnetic strip?