Northern TVMs at Manchester O Rd

[island]

The ticket machines with huge screens outside Manchester Oxford Road station are a bit of a disaster.

The first machine was out of service and the second let me put in a destination before saying “sorry no tickets available”.

On the third –I was looking to buy a single to Stockport – it would only issue a standard class off-peak day single or first class anytime route TPE ONLY, which only covers one train per hour with a change at Manchester Piccadilly and potentially a 59-minute wait if getting the xx:16 from Oxford Road.

In the event whilst the ticket office was shut I was able to get a ticket at the excess window (which did not attempt to investigate which route I wanted but just automatically sold me an ANY PERMITTED fare).

What a disaster!

 

[lyndhurst25]

Mega fail for both the passenger, and for Northern in terms of revenue.

Think yourself lucky that you weren't travelling from Manchester Picadilly as you could be still there trying to decide which of the myriad of tickets you actually wanted to buy! Would they even fit on the screen of a TVM?

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/proliferation-of-variety-toc-only-tickets.164894/

 

[Merseysider]

In a similar vein, GWR’s range of fares between Exeter Central and St Davids are almost deliberately designed to confuse.

(Image shows a GWR TVM displaying 11 different fares to Exeter St Davids, none of which actually contain a word of English)

 

[Muzer]

In a similar vein, GWR’s range of fares between Exeter Central and St Davids are almost deliberately designed to confuse.

(Image shows a GWR TVM displaying 11 different fares to Exeter St Davids, none of which actually contain a word of English)

Seems to be showing season tickets. Does it show that even when you select singles/returns?

 

[Merseysider]

That comes before you get to pick single or return!

Upon entering the destination station, that’s the next screen

 

[Haywain]

(Image shows a GWR TVM displaying 11 different fares to Exeter St Davids, none of which actually contain a word of English)

Actually, it's showing routes, not fares but how the intending customer is supposed to know that they should select the "." option if they don't want a 'selected days only' season ticket is beyond me.

 

[Merseysider]

Actually, it's showing routes, not fares but how the intending customer is supposed to know that they should select the "." option if they don't want a 'selected days only' season ticket is beyond me.

Quite.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Actually, it's showing routes, not fares but how the intending customer is supposed to know that they should select the "." option if they don't want a 'selected days only' season ticket is beyond me.

I'd be very happy if i never saw that route again.

 

[Hadders]

On the GTR TVMs at Stevenage when you but a Stevenage - London Zones 1-6 travelcard you get presented with 3 options:

Any Permitted
VTEC Only
.

Press Any Permitted and it says no fares are available. VTEC only brings up the VTEC only fares. To get the actual ticket most people want you have to press .

I wonder how many people erroneously purchase a VTEC travelcard (which is a bit of a waste of time from Stevenage to be honest). Easy pickings for GTR RPIs I'd have thought...

 

[superalbs]

Actually, it's showing routes, not fares but how the intending customer is supposed to know that they should select the "." option if they don't want a 'selected days only' season ticket is beyond me.

Pressing any of the days of the week ticket seems to result in an error anyway.