Any quick ways to replace a faded annual season?

[stut]

My season ticket is fading... An RPI at the KGX barriers spotted this this evening, took the ticket and stamped it, giving me a week to get it replaced.

This is a bit of a pain in the arse, as the only time I can really get it done is in the rush hour at KGX, and am not overly enthralled about missing my train home (and maybe the next as well).

Is there any quick or online way to do this? From past experience, the online-bought tickets cause all sorts of problems too.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Does your home station have a ticket office that's a bit quieter? Any ticket office operated by the same TOC that sold the ticket will be able to do it

 

[stut]

It does have a ticket office, but it closes at 2, and is queued out in the morning (and I think only does tickets for immediate travel at that time anyway).

 

[westv]

Maybe one day there will be a season ticket for travelling into London from outside the Oyster area that doesn't wear out before it expires.

 

[RJ]

It does have a ticket office, but it closes at 2, and is queued out in the morning (and I think only does tickets for immediate travel at that time anyway).

Which ticket office is that? They should be able to do any transaction at that time of day, though they may have a right to refuse any transactions requiring reservations until after the morning peak. Is the ticket still legible?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....This is a bit of a pain in the arse, as the only time I can really get it done is in the rush hour at KGX, and am not overly enthralled about missing my train home (and maybe the next as well)....

An encode exchange should be possible at ANY station ticket office, though those of a different TOC may take a little longer due to form filling and possibly clerk knowledge.

 

[stut]

The ticket office is Biggleswade. I suspect I could persuade them to do it in the morning. However, I've no idea how early to turn up - I know people who've missed a train despite arriving 15 minutes early. And they have a habit of disappearing leaving "please use ticket machines" signs in the window.

As for other TOCs and stations, but I simply don't go near any of them.

The ticket is just legible, and does definitely need replaced. If I knew I could do it in 5 minutes by dropping into a station on my way to work or home, there'd be no problem.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The ticket is just legible, and does definitely need replaced. If I knew I could do it in 5 minutes by dropping into a station on my way to work or home, there'd be no problem.

Can you take an earlier train in and do it at Kings X? London terminal ticket offices seem fairly quiet in the morning peak as the vast number of passengers are arriving, not departing.

Neil

 

[westv]

The last time I had a season ticket replaced it took less than two minutes as far as I remember - at the station I got it from.

 

[Hadders]

Why not try the Thamselink ticket office at St Pancras. It usually seems reasonable quiet compared to Kings Cross and is the same TOC as Biggleswade (GTR) whereas Kings Cross is East Coast.

 

[stut]

Can you take an earlier train in and do it at Kings X? London terminal ticket offices seem fairly quiet in the morning peak as the vast number of passengers are arriving, not departing.

Neil

I could catch the train 50 minutes earlier, yes. Would rather not.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Why not try the Thamselink ticket office at St Pancras. It usually seems reasonable quiet compared to Kings Cross and is the same TOC as Biggleswade (GTR) whereas Kings Cross is East Coast.

I can give it a go. Last time I tried to use it, though, to excess an off-peak to a peak, they took so long to figure out how to do it (after insisting they couldn't), it was no longer necessary.

 

[Abpj17]

Sounds like an excuse to go out for a drink or two after work and do at Kings X at the tail end of rush hour

 

[paul1609]

I have to get an exchange about every 4 months on average. Takes the ticket office at my home station (Headcorn) less than 30 secs. Scan the bar code pn my photo card couple of clicks drop a new ticket blank in the printer thank you sir

 

[Greenback]

The last time I had to change my season because of fading it was pretty quick. If I was you, stut, I'd do it at Kings Cross after work. Even if Kings Cross looks busy, in my experience the lines move pretty fast.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

When I had a similar problem a couple of years ago, the booking office I spoke to were quite adamant that only the issuing office could replace a faded season ticket.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=64229

As you can see some other forum members disagreed so it would seem pot luck as to what mood the person at the ticket window is in!

Edit: Just checked at http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions/tickets-faqs/ and it looks like any Great Northern or Thameslink ticket office can issue a replacement. Which presumably excludes KGX.

"Damaged tickets

If your ticket is faded or damaged, or doesn't work in automatic ticket barriers, you can return it to any Great Northern or Thameslink ticket office where we will replace it free of charge"

 

[Tetchytyke]

Any ticket office can do it, but generally speaking it is easier if you go to a ticket office run by the TOC you bought it from. It makes the paperwork a lot quicker as they have access to the database to issue you the new ticket.

I've had to replace mine twice since May last year, neither time at the issuing station (Hemel Hempstead). First time Euston (LM office) screwed it up, issuing it as a duplicate not a replacement, but second time Apsley had it done in literally 90 seconds.

I'd recommend you avoid Kings Cross as their ticket office is operated by East Coast. Depending on where you work you will depend how easy it is to get it done, you could always think outside the box and try somewhere like Essex Road.

 

[Greenback]

I did make the mistake of assuming that the season was issued at Kings Cross. I wouldn't count on another TOC's station being willing and able to do it, I have sometimes met a reluctance and downright refusal to have it done by a station run by the same TOC that wasn't the issuing point. You have to be pretty assertive and stay polite to insist of them doing it.

 

[SAPhil]

Why not try the Thamselink ticket office at St Pancras. It usually seems reasonable quiet compared to Kings Cross and is the same TOC as Biggleswade (GTR) whereas Kings Cross is East Coast.

I wouldn't bother wasting your time there! Last time I tried to replace a season ticket there that was originally issued at St Albans I was told it wasn't possible. I insisted that it was but the ticket staff member insisted otherwise, showed me something on their terminal screen that seemed to confirm this and told me I had to go to the issuing station! I knew this was rubbish and eventually got the ticket replaced with no hassle at Farringdon instead. Granted there has been a change of TOC since then but I doubt whether the staff are any better trained.

 

[Chrisgr31]

Maybe one day there will be a season ticket for travelling into London from outside the Oyster area that doesn't wear out before it expires.

There is! Or at least there is for Southern passengers, its called The Key.

My paper ticket is issued by Abellio and my local Southern ticket office has always changed it when faded or it stopped working through the barriers.

I know have it transferred on to my Key, which is just as well as the new ticket issued by Abellio for the current year failed to operate the barriers on my first journey! However Southern have no transferred it to the Key.

I believe that the Key has added benefits, in that it can be disabled if lost, and therefore the same rules on replacement as paper tickets dont apply if you lose it.

Obviously no good to other TOCs that dont issue this type of product yet, but it might be worth asking them why they don't.

 

[stut]

Didn't the TSGN franchise agreement include the extension of smart ticketing northwards? Would be very welcome from my perspective, as my work pattern is becoming less predictable.

The ticket was issued by TheTrainline, as it was bought online via FCC. It's always been a hassle in the past to get it replaced, even at FCC (as was) - bad enough that you used to be able to download a sheet giving instructions to the agent as to how to do it (and insisting that it could be done at *any* station on *any* TOC). But there's no sign of that now (have checked my order history on the rump FCC website).

Essex Road isn't a bad idea - I can divert my cycle back to KX that way. May try that if I can get away a little early one day this week.

Biggleswade would likely replace it just fine (they're really good in there) but it's closed by the time I get home, and queued out in the morning (and I won't be around this weekend).

 

[Haywain]

If the ticket is faded to the extent that it is unreadable, then the holder should always be referred to the issuing office for a replacement. However, if all the details are still readable by someone who doesn't already know what they say (not the ticket holder!) then most offices will do the replacement. I am confident that Kings Cross will do so in the latter situation, but it may take a little longer than using an office of the issuing TOC because of getting the details on the season database.

 

[DelayRepay]

I wouldn't bother wasting your time there! Last time I tried to replace a season ticket there that was originally issued at St Albans I was told it wasn't possible. I insisted that it was but the ticket staff member insisted otherwise, showed me something on their terminal screen that seemed to confirm this and told me I had to go to the issuing station! I knew this was rubbish and eventually got the ticket replaced with no hassle at Farringdon instead. Granted there has been a change of TOC since then but I doubt whether the staff are any better trained.

Just to add balance, St Pancras (FCC) were happy to re-issue my season ticket (originally purchased at St Albans) when City Thameslink refused. I guess it's the luck of the draw...

 

[stut]

Well, went to City Thameslink on the way home, but the Holborn Viaduct ticket office (which I pass) was unexpectedly shut, so I carried on. Went to St Pancras, but there was a queue 10 deep, so I headed back to KX and was in time for the 1740 fast, so hopped on that to Hitchin.

Turned out there was enough time between that and the 1743 catching it up to get the season replaced at Hitchin (old school agent - used a lighter to get the old ticket to show up...) Will remember this trick in the future!

 

[Haywain]

Well, went to City Thameslink on the way home, but the Holborn Viaduct ticket office (which I pass) was unexpectedly shut, so I carried on. Went to St Pancras, but there was a queue 10 deep, so I headed back to KX and was in time for the 1740 fast, so hopped on that to Hitchin.

Turned out there was enough time between that and the 1743 catching it up to get the season replaced at Hitchin (old school agent - used a lighter to get the old ticket to show up...) Will remember this trick in the future!

Please don't. Staff shouldn't really be doing that, but use it as a short cut. If you do it, it can be seen as defacing the ticket and could prove very expensive. The best thing to do is to get the ticket exchanged before it gets so badly faded in future - and I appreciate that causes inconvenience but slighty less for all concerned.

 

[stut]

Please don't. Staff shouldn't really be doing that, but use it as a short cut. If you do it, it can be seen as defacing the ticket and could prove very expensive. The best thing to do is to get the ticket exchanged before it gets so badly faded in future - and I appreciate that causes inconvenience but slighty less for all concerned.

Perhaps I should have been clearer.

I will remember the trick of taking the fast train to Hitchin, and using the time for the semi-fast to catch up with it to exchange tickets or visit the handy Tesco Express.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Just quickly to add that the lighter trick only works once on each ticket, once it has been done it needs to be changed before it fades again.

....when City Thameslink refused....

Sad times. When I worked there (about ten years ago now) everyone knew how to do it and they all did it reasonably quickly. I happen to know the Booking Office Manager there still so I might have a word....