Continued use of self-print tickets

[All Line Rover]

Are there any TOCs, third-party retailers and/or call centres that continue to offer self-print tickets as a fulfilment method for certain journey + ticket type combinations?

By "self-print tickets", I'm referring to the older standard that prints on A4 paper, not newer e-tickets which do not require printing and can be easily displayed on digital devices.

If self-print tickets are still in limited circulation, why? Why have they not been phased out?

 

[TUC]

Why should they be phased out?

 

[island]

Not all travellers have a suitable portable digital device to display tickets from.

 

[Haywain]

Not all travellers have a suitable portable digital device to display tickets from.

E-tickets can be printed out.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why should they be phased out?

Because e-ticket is a better standard, and all other barcode-based ticket standards should be removed as a result.

 

[CrispyUK]

Why should they be phased out?

If they don’t offer anything over and above the newer e-ticket format (which can be printed or displayed on a device) then what is the point keeping them in circulation? Otherwise it just adds needless complexity to the system, it is another format of ticket to manage, another format of ticket to train staff on, another format for barriers to handle (or not, and require manual intervention from staff).

 

[Wallsendmag]

They're on their way out , official.

 

[All Line Rover]

If they don’t offer anything over and above the newer e-ticket format (which can be printed or displayed on a device) then what is the point keeping them in circulation? Otherwise it just adds needless complexity to the system, it is another format of ticket to manage, another format of ticket to train staff on, another format for barriers to handle (or not, and require manual intervention from staff).

Yes maybe I should have emboldened "require". e-tickets can still be printed and are better in every way.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2020 ==

They're on their way out , official.

Do you know who's still issuing them, though? Because I can't find any examples, apart from (potentially) CIV tickets issued at stations, which are niche.

 

[Bungle965]

Do you know who's still issuing them, though?

Fairly niche now but the last one I saw was a few weeks ago and was issued by a travel agent.
(If I remember correctly it was a foreign booking)

 

[island]

E-tickets can be printed out.

I think I may have misunderstood the OP then, ignore me.

 

[All Line Rover]

I think I may have misunderstood the OP then, ignore me.

Off topic, but, that's a great signature you've got.

 

[30907]

OT, but booking a visit to a Historic Scotland site currently gives you the choice of print-at-home or collect-on-arrival. Their barcode readers apparently get confused by reflections on smartphones so if you innocently decide to save paper (as with an e-ticket) the number has to be keyed in manually on arrival. I wasn't the only one!

 

[Wallsendmag]

Do you know who's still issuing them, though? Because I can't find any examples, apart from (potentially) CIV tickets issued at stations, which are niche.

Fairly niche now but the last one I saw was a few weeks ago and was issued by a travel agent.
(If I remember correctly it was a foreign booking)

There are a few TPRs still using them.

 

[thenorthern]

When flying I prefer print at home tickets over mobile tickets. I worry about battery life on my fine sure I have 3 phones that I carry around with me but I still worry.

I rarely use M tickets or print at home tickets so it's never been something I have thought about for the trains.

 

[AM9]

This is an interesting discussion but I am confused as to what a 'print-at-home' rail ticket looks like. Earlier this year (and several times before that) I have purchased tickets from Trainsplit which I printed, (on A4 because both of my printers only print that size). They have QR codes on them and they work on gatelines that have scanners.

 

[All Line Rover]

Along these lines: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127245740@N06/albums/72157648491135315

 

[AM9]

Along these lines: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127245740@N06/albums/72157648491135315

Thanks for the link. Apart from the attempt at watermarking, the actual travel details and its funtional elements are much the same as the image that I have attached below, i.e there is a QR code that gates can still read. Is there another reason why that self-print ticket has to be discontinued?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks for the link. Apart from the attempt at watermarking, the actual travel details and its funtional elements are much the same as the image that I have attached below, i.e there is a QR code that gates can still read. Is there another reason why that self-print ticket has to be discontinued?

Because it's confusing, and unnecessary, to have two barcoded PDF based ticketing standards, one of which you must print and one of which you need not.

There's little wrong with the e-ticket format, so for barcoded tickets it is the only one which should be used, with all others abolished.

 

[AM9]

Because it's confusing, and unnecessary, to have two barcoded PDF based ticketing standards, one of which you must print and one of which you need not.

There's little wrong with the e-ticket format, so for barcoded tickets it is the only one which should be used, with all others abolished.

I think I may have a problem with descriptions being used here. The image that I attached was a print-at-home or self-print ticket, it only differs from the linked flickr image types in its layout and the branding (including the watermarking). Anybody receiving the older type would immediately know that it needed to be printed so who would be confused, - the staff of the TOCs?

 

[Haywain]

I think I may have a problem with descriptions being used here. The image that I attached was a print-at-home or self-print ticket, it only differs from the linked flickr image types in its layout and the branding (including the watermarking). Anybody receiving the older type would immediately know that it needed to be printed so who would be confused, - the staff of the TOCs?

The image you attached is of an e-Ticket. If you wanted to print it, it is up to you but it wasn't, and isn't, necessary. Self-print tickets are in the format that @All Line Rover linked to - you will notice that the format of the tickets are different although both have a barcode.

 

[XAM2175]

there is a QR code that gates can still read

For the sake of accuracy, that's an Aztec code rather than a QR code.

 

[AM9]

For the sake of accuracy, that's an Aztec code rather than a QR code.

OK. My 'QR & Barcode' reader isn't that pedantic, it still reads it OK.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2020 ==

The image you attached is of an e-Ticket. If you wanted to print it, it is up to you but it wasn't, and isn't, necessary. Self-print tickets are in the format that @All Line Rover linked to - you will notice that the format of the tickets are different although both have a barcode.

OK, I've been informed. I'm quite happy to print them, especially when I'm travelling long distance asit is easier to pull a piece of paper out of my pocket than faff around with a phone whilst walking from train to barrier. It also avoids any problem of mobile malfunction.

 

[Haywain]

It also avoids any problem of mobile malfunction.

But also has the beauty of not being a problem if you lose the piece of paper!

 

[PeterC]

After trying to produce an email booking confirmation (not a rail ticket) a few days ago in an area with a poor signal I would always want the belt and braces option of a piece of paper in my hand plus a backup on my phone. At least until we get 100% mobile phone coverage for all networks.

 

[30907]

After trying to produce an email booking confirmation (not a rail ticket) a few days ago in an area with a poor signal I would always want the belt and braces option of a piece of paper in my hand plus a backup on my phone. At least until we get 100% mobile phone coverage for all networks.

I always download Pdfs to my phone rather than rely on retrieving them.

 

[Wallsendmag]

After trying to produce an email booking confirmation (not a rail ticket) a few days ago in an area with a poor signal I would always want the belt and braces option of a piece of paper in my hand plus a backup on my phone. At least until we get 100% mobile phone coverage for all networks.

which is exactly the beauty of eTickets you just do what you feel comfortable with.

 

[AM9]

But also has the beauty of not being a problem if you lose the piece of paper!

I don't think (as an adult) that I've ever lost a paper ticket, - given that they are the same size as a credit card. I despair at those who can't seem to keep something as simple, especially when the consequences of losing it can be so serious. It is quite easy to carry something else as well as a phone.
It's also just as easy to lose a mobile phone!

 

[FQTV]

Transpennine Express still issues self-print tickets. What they call e-tickets are actually m-tickets and, in my opinion, should be banned.

Because it's confusing, and unnecessary, to have two barcoded PDF based ticketing standards, one of which you must print and one of which you need not.

There's little wrong with the e-ticket format, so for barcoded tickets it is the only one which should be used, with all others abolished.

One of the current problems with e-tickets is that a certain Train Operating Company (or perhaps companies, I’m not sure) still lacks either the will or the competence, or both, to issue certain types of ticket competently in this format.

 

[mmh]

Transpennine Express still issues self-print tickets. What they call e-tickets are actually m-tickets and, in my opinion, should be banned.



One of the current problems with e-tickets is that a certain Train Operating Company (or perhaps companies, I’m not sure) still lacks either the will or the competence, or both, to issue certain types of ticket competently in this format.

Why the reticence? Who are you talking about?

 

[Wallsendmag]

I don't think (as an adult) that I've ever lost a paper ticket, - given that they are the same size as a credit card. I despair at those who can't seem to keep something as simple, specially when the consequences of losing it can be so serious. It is quite easy to carry something else as well as a phone.
It's also just as easy to lose a mobile phone!

You may not have but you’d be surprised how many people have done.