Hatfield (HAT) ticket-buying at night

[Skimpot flyer]

Does anybody know if there are any TVM's at Hatfield station, that can be accessed after 9:30pm? I don't usually travel from there, but I understand that the station is currently being redeveloped and I may need to travel tomorrow night. Basically, I am worried I may be unable to purchase a ticket, if the ticket office closes earlier than 9:30 :roll:

 

[Rapidash]

It would appear you are in luck

 

[CatfordCat]

Must be about a year since I was there, but there were two TVM's then (in addition to one or two inside the building which is closed after the staff leave for the night.)

one at the front door of the station - the front door may be closed at night but the TVM is outside.

and one round the other side of the station building where the gate to the platforms that's left open at night time is.

 

[causton]

Indeed, one is outside the front door to the station building, the station building always seems to be open later into the evening though I've not had to go round the outside for a while! I know they have more staff now due to the lift needing someone present, but unsure what time they are there until!

 

[yorkie]

Basically, I am worried I may be unable to purchase a ticket...

Why are you worried?

If there are no ticket issuing facilities accepting your chosen payment method at your origin, you're entitled to board the train. If there's a ticket inspector on the train (unlikely in this case) you buy on board. If there isn't, you seek ticket purchasing facilities at your destination.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Why are you worried?

If there are no ticket issuing facilities accepting your chosen payment method at your origin, you're entitled to board the train. If there's a ticket inspector on the train (unlikely in this case) you buy on board. If there isn't, you seek ticket purchasing facilities at your destination.

I am worried because I have never travelled on any train without having bought a ticket first! Are there facilities to buy a ticket, that are inside the gateline at Kings Cross, for arriving passengers who are not in possesion of a ticket?? I don't recall seeing any such thing !

I feared the possibility of my having to approach a line of (closed) gates, with no valid means of exit, and no proof that I did not board the train much further afield than Hatfield! I'd rather not have the hassle associated with ticketless travel.

However, I now know there is a TVM located at the entrance to Hatfield station, so the possibility should not arise...

 

[Be3G]

I am worried because I have never travelled on any train without having bought a ticket first! Are there facilities to buy a ticket, that are inside the gateline at Kings Cross, for arriving passengers who are not in possesion of a ticket?? I don't recall seeing any such thing !

Whilst this is now moot, I thought I'd reassure you that there is indeed a ticket office within the gateline at Kings Cross; it's called an ‘excess fares office’, and you can see some photos of it here. It's located within the original station wall alongside platform 8.

 

[Skimble19]

Indeed, one is outside the front door to the station building, the station building always seems to be open later into the evening though I've not had to go round the outside for a while! I know they have more staff now due to the lift needing someone present, but unsure what time they are there until!

Platform staff are there 0600-0000

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Whilst this is now moot, I thought I'd reassure you that there is indeed a ticket office within the gateline at Kings Cross; it's called an ‘excess fares office’, and you can see some photos of it here. It's located within the original station wall alongside platform 8.

But if your train arrives into Platforms 9/10/11, how do you reach the Excess Fares Office on Platform 8, without having first to pass through the gateline ? hock:

 

[Mojo]

If the gates are in operation there is usually someone there with a portable ticket machine.

You can just about see the excess fares 'desk' by platform 11 in this picture: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_KGX/images/photos/800/o2248-0002206.jpg

 

[HowardGWR]

I thought all you had to do to prove you are not evading payment is to approach the guard (or whatever he/she classes him/herself) when boarding the train, thus establishing bona fide?

 

[Mojo]

I thought all you had to do to prove you are not evading payment is to approach the guard (or whatever he/she classes him/herself) when boarding the train, thus establishing bona fide?

All trains from Hatfield are Driver Only.

There is also no requirement to approach the guard or ticket examiner on a train that has them; you are merely required to pay at the first opportunity.

 

[Hadders]

But if your train arrives into Platforms 9/10/11, how do you reach the Excess Fares Office on Platform 8, without having first to pass through the gateline ? hock:

There's a passageway between platforms 8 and 9.

 

[jon0844]

Indeed, one is outside the front door to the station building, the station building always seems to be open later into the evening though I've not had to go round the outside for a while! I know they have more staff now due to the lift needing someone present, but unsure what time they are there until!

Midnight I believe, according to the poster that's now gone. The other benefit of this is that you no longer (well until after midnight) have to walk all the way down platform 1 to leave - or indeed, buy a ticket, then walk all the way down to the end of the platform to enter via the night entrance/exit-cum-fire exit.

There's a TVM at the front, which generally works okay. Then two more inside. The fourth one that was on the other side, near the original night gate, has gone and wasn't relocated anywhere.

Be warned, the TVM inside the ticket office - to the left of the windows - has a buggered touchscreen. It needs fixing or replacing. I reported it ages ago, but nobody cared. If you try to select a station via the A-Z you'll find it inserts spaces when you aren't near the screen, and selects twice or even three times when you enter a character.

Collecting a ticket you ordered online can take ages.

I'm amazed it hasn't been fixed in months. Basically, don't use it unless you're just going to select a ticket from the front page, don't have a railcard or need to select multiple passengers.

Whilst this is now moot, I thought I'd reassure you that there is indeed a ticket office within the gateline at Kings Cross; it's called an ‘excess fares office’, and you can see some photos of it here. It's located within the original station wall alongside platform 8.

But it's only open at certain times late at night isn't it? I don't recall seeing it open most times I've gone by.

All I see is the staff of the Harry Potter shop going into the nearby store room to bring out more merchandise. Maybe they can sell you a ticket if you say you arrived at platform 9 3/4?

 

[Be3G]

You could be right Jon, but I did notice in the NRE photos of the excess fares office that there's a ‘press for assistance’ button to the left of the window, so perhaps that's why it looks closed.

 

[jon0844]

I think it has the times actually written around the office? I will try and see what they are next time I go, if I remember (given I rarely pass it using FCC).

The original one in the old concourse had a button to call someone too. It was open all night, but someone didn't then have to sit there.

Always proved helpful. I think sometimes they were pleased to see someone, so possibly a good place to get those complicated tickets?!