LM's ticket inspections and Oyster readers

[Envy123]

I boarded the LM train from Harrow to Euston today. A staff member asked for tickets/passes, so I got out my Oyster card, only to have it not read by an Oyster reader. While ticket inspectors on operators, like GN, read your Oyster.

Why was this the case?

 

[pethadine82]

This happened to me as well, the guard said "oh ok" and moved on.

 

[Clip]

Can you clarify - did they not read your Oyster or did they read it with their new machines which look vastly different from the old readers

 

[Mojo]

l don't think London Midland guards have readers for Oyster cards or CPCs. l have been checked numerous times by their guards between Watford and Euston and it has never been read with an electronic device.

 

[AlterEgo]

London Midland definitely haven't invested in the readers.

 

[Envy123]

Can you clarify - did they not read your Oyster or did they read it with their new machines which look vastly different from the old readers

They didn't read the Oyster. Instead, they saw my Oyster, said "OK" and moved on.

l don't think London Midland guards have readers for Oyster cards or CPCs. l have been checked numerous times by their guards between Watford and Euston and it has never been read with an electronic device.

The guard did hold a device of some sort while they did the inspection. Maybe the device doesn't read Oyster cards or CPCs as you said.

I just think it is a bit weird just to see an Oyster and accept it without reading it.

 

[TEW]

Could well be a device for reading ITSO smartcards. London Midland offer 'The Key' I believe. There are readers that read ITSO cards, Oyster Cards and CPCs but I suspect they're more expensive, as you see less of them around. Quite frequent to encounter a similar check on Southeastern between London and Orpington, where they are unable to read any Oyster Cards.