New Scotrail/EMR TVMs that only print e-tickets

[kkong]

Mod note: Split from this thread about the - slightly different as they still also print CCSTs where needed, and not to e-ticket spec - Greater Anglia trial

ScotRail have put one (1) Cammax / SilverRail TVM Smart Kiosk of what appears to be the same type as used by EMR into service at Glasgow central.

This will have been planned when Abellio still had the ScotRail franchise.

It is said to be issuing tickets featuring "QR barcodes", however I assume it will be neither of those, but rather Aztec codes.

ScotRail is encouraging feedback on the machine.

ScotRail trials new Smart Kiosk ticket machine

Last updated: Tuesday, 5 March 2024

ScotRail is introducing a new ticket vending machine to the network in a trial that could lead to improved ticket options and clearer information for customers at stations across Scotland.

The new machine, called a Smart Kiosk, is much more advanced than regular ticket machines, giving customers additional options to plan their journey and choose a seat preference, as well as purchase tickets for the day of travel.

Customers can also plan for future travel and benefit from cheaper, advanced fares, where available.

With improved accessibility features, customers can change the Smart Kiosk user interface at the touch of a button, allowing the navigation screen to adapt to be more accessible for all users.

The smart ticket machine can also be used by two customers at once, allowing the main screen to provide ticket vending and information, while a companion screen to the side of the unit enables the loading of tickets onto Smartcards.

Better connectivity will allow the Smart Kiosk to offer live travel information, including train times and platform numbers.

Smart Kiosks can also distribute new paper tickets featuring QR barcodes, aligning with the new industry standard for paper tickets sold by most UK train operators.

Customers are now being encouraged to try the Smart Kiosk, currently located in Glasgow Central station, and provide feedback which could help improve the future of ticket retailing.

Customers using the trial Smart Kiosk are also being offered the chance to win a return ticket to anywhere in Scotland with ScotRail.

Claire Dickie, ScotRail Commercial Director, said:

"ScotRail is pleased to be able to trial the new Smart Kiosk, offering more advanced ticket options and information for our customers.

"Any feedback received can help ScotRail develop an even better journey experience across the network."

(The image shows the new ScotRail "Smart Kiosk" at Glasgow Central, alongside a conventional Scheidt & Bachmann TVM)

 

[Adam Williams]

ScotRail have put one (1) Cammax / SilverRail TVM Smart Kiosk of what appears to be the same type as used by EMR into service at Glasgow central.

Why is barcoded PRT okay for the TOC, but not E-Ticket fulfillment for an online retailer?

TOCs are printing PRTs literally to plain white paper now

 

[kkong]

Why is barcoded PRT okay for the TOC, but not E-Ticket fulfillment for an online retailer?

You should probably send that feedback to ScotRail... not that they have provided any means for doing so... or that it will have any impact.

 

[Gaelan]

ScotRail have put one (1) Cammax / SilverRail TVM Smart Kiosk of what appears to be the same type as used by EMR into service at Glasgow central.

This will have been planned when Abellio still had the ScotRail franchise.

It is said to be issuing tickets featuring "QR barcodes", however I assume it will be neither of those, but rather Aztec codes.

ScotRail is encouraging feedback on the machine.

(The image shows the new ScotRail "Smart Kiosk" at Glasgow Central, alongside a conventional Scheidt & Bachmann TVM)

Why is barcoded PRT okay for the TOC, but not E-Ticket fulfillment for an online retailer?

TOCs are printing PRTs literally to plain white paper now

View attachment 153670

Do we have any reason to believe these will be of the white paper type? Presumably it's just a matter of what kind of till roll is in the machine, so we won't know until the machine's on, no?

 

[kkong]

Do we have any reason to believe these will be of the white paper type? Presumably it's just a matter of what kind of till roll is in the machine, so we won't know until the machine's on, no?

The machine is apparently on now, so if you are local to GLC, could you kindly pop down and have a play?

 

[Adam Williams]

Do we have any reason to believe these will be of the white paper type?

My understanding from a colleague is that it literally just fulfils to E-Ticket on paper (i.e. not PRT) even on flows where this is prohibited for every other industry participant in RCS.

 

[trainJam]

I found a used and discarded ticket issued from Selly Oak on the new white National Rail barcode stock recently.

 

[transportphoto]

My understanding from a colleague is that it literally just fulfils to E-Ticket on paper (i.e. not PRT) even on flows where this is prohibited for every other industry participant in RCS.

It looks like the same model of machine as at some EMR locations. The EMR ones do indeed just print to what looks and feels a white receipt roll (no RSP number).

 

[TUC]

They're OK, as long as you don't want to travel via London or to Merseyside

I'd be tempted to buy one for a Merseyrail destination, just to confuse them.

 

[Benjwri]

Given this fairly rapidly paced change to this barcoded plain format, I have to wonder how long it will be before we see an attempt to introduce a gateline without CCST slots. Would certainly save on a significant amount of mechanical parts.

 

[Krokodil]

I'd be tempted to buy one for a Merseyrail destination, just to confuse them.

They'll be used to it because PRTs are still issued by onboard staff at other TOCs to destinations on Merseyside so plenty of people have to be waved through the side gate as it is. It's not like Maltese Cross tickets where neither e-ticket or PRT are options.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Mar 2024 ==

Given this fairly rapidly paced change to this barcoded plain format, I have to wonder how long it will be before we see an attempt to introduce a gateline without CCST slots. Would certainly save on a significant amount of mechanical parts.

I suppose that will be contingent on sorting out the cross-London issue. Once that's done the number of CCSTs will drop dramatically

 

[Bungle965]

Given this fairly rapidly paced change to this barcoded plain format, I have to wonder how long it will be before we see an attempt to introduce a gateline without CCST slots. Would certainly save on a significant amount of mechanical parts.

Already exists, Vix have some gates in Wales that don't have CCST

 

[Mike395]

Already exists, Vix have some gates in Wales that don't have CCST

Indeed - though AFAIK these Vix gates also have 'traditional' Cubic barrier arrays in the same gateline? I suspect there's still a significant-enough Wales-London demand that it's not tenable to replace an entire gateline with Vix gates yet.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed - though AFAIK these Vix gates also have 'traditional' Cubic barrier arrays in the same gateline? I suspect there's still a significant-enough Wales-London demand that it's not tenable to replace an entire gateline with Vix gates yet.

Though most Wales to London demand will be e-tickets to London Terminals, not cross London tickets or Travelcards.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I'm not sure Scotrail have any flows enabled for eTickets so this could be fun, Avanti,TPE and LNER flows only?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Mar 2024 ==

Already exists, Vix have some gates in Wales that don't have CCST

Only one or two gates though isn't it?

 

[OscarH]

I'm not sure Scotrail have any flows enabled for eTickets so this could be fun, Avanti,TPE and LNER flows only?

Nah, it's just non-compliant and issues them for ScotRail anyway

 

[AdamWW]

Indeed - though AFAIK these Vix gates also have 'traditional' Cubic barrier arrays in the same gateline? I suspect there's still a significant-enough Wales-London demand that it's not tenable to replace an entire gateline with Vix gates yet.

Yes it's just the odd gate.

I don't think travel to London has much to do with the need for their retention - more the fact that all the local TVMs and indeed ticket offices issue magnetic stripe tickets.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Yes it's just the odd gate.

I don't think travel to London has much to do with the need for their retention - more the fact that all the local TVMs and indeed ticket offices issue magnetic stripe tickets.

We're working on that

 

[Mag_seven]

We're working on that

Thread reopened to allow an update from @kkong

 

[kkong]

I purchased a sample ticket from the "Smart Kiosk" at Glasgow Central yesterday to see what it produced.

It spat out a long, relatively low quality, vertically printed e-ticket (it appears to be a render of the typical PDF e-ticket layout) on plain white roll paper.

There were no markings on the back of the paper.

A receipt was also issued; it contained a QR code linking to an (inactive) Qualtrics feedback survey.

The machine didn't accept American Express (accreditation failure?).

I've included photos of the ticket and receipt below.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Can't see much of an issue with that. It's a good idea to have the format consistent with PDF e-tickets, and anyone who would purchase that from a TVM probably is the same sort of person who would be carrying a wallet or purse in which it would fit (folded) in the notes section. Those who don't carry a wallet would likely be the sort of people who'd buy on their phone anyway.

I like the sample journey chosen, though maybe out of principle I'd have gone for Scotscalder to Altnabreac, and perhaps sought to actually make the journey to hack a certain couple off

 

[The exile]

I purchased a sample ticket from the "Smart Kiosk" at Glasgow Central yesterday to see what it produced.

It spat out a long, relatively low quality, vertically printed e-ticket (it appears to be a render of the typical PDF e-ticket layout) on plain white roll paper.

There were no markings on the back of the paper.

A receipt was also issued; it contained a QR code linking to an (inactive) Qualtrics feedback survey.

The machine didn't accept American Express (accreditation failure?).

I've included photos of the ticket and receipt below.

View attachment 198395

View attachment 198397

Interesting itinerary suggested!

 

[kkong]

Interesting itinerary suggested!

Line closure in the area yesterday, plus calls at Golf Street aren't exactly frequent in normal operation!

 

[Starmill]

Can't see much of an issue with that. It's a good idea to have the format consistent with PDF e-tickets, and anyone who would purchase that from a TVM probably is the same sort of person who would be carrying a wallet or purse in which it would fit (folded) in the notes section. Those who don't carry a wallet would likely be the sort of people who'd buy on their phone anyway.

I like the sample journey chosen, though maybe out of principle I'd have gone for Scotscalder to Altnabreac, and perhaps sought to actually make the journey to hack a certain couple off

Unfortunately the TPE ones produce awful quality print that is very difficult to scan at a ticket gate. It doesn't look like that's much better.

You'd have to be careful indeed if you booked this ticket on your phone, as it's not available as eticket. Many apps will offer you ToD only.

 

[py_megapixel]

The machine didn't accept American Express (accreditation failure?).

Not as much of an accreditation failure as printing e-tickets for flows that don't have e-tickets enabled! Assuming it's still the case that they do this, of course.

In any case I don't believe the TOCs are required to accept American Express, I know TPE for example explicitly say they don't (in their bizarre "exercepts from the NRCoT" posters that they display on their trains)

 

[LowLevel]

If they get damp they basically turn into mush. Paper quality is rubbish.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You'd have to be careful indeed if you booked this ticket on your phone, as it's not available as eticket. Many apps will offer you ToD only.

That's ScotRail's m-ticket nonsense, isn't it? Most people will use the ScotRail app or Trainline within Scotland, though, and both of those support m-tickets, bad though the format is. I just looked up that journey on Trainline and it does it as an m-ticket.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Feb 2026 ==

Not as much of an accreditation failure as printing e-tickets for flows that don't have e-tickets enabled! Assuming it's still the case that they do this, of course.

The flows do have m-tickets enabled, so issuing barcoded tickets for them isn't that much of an issue.

 

[Starmill]

That's ScotRail's m-ticket nonsense, isn't it? Most people will use the ScotRail app or Trainline within Scotland, though, and both of those support m-tickets, bad though the format is. I just looked up that journey on Trainline and it does it as an m-ticket.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Feb 2026 ==



The flows do have m-tickets enabled, so issuing barcoded tickets for them isn't that much of an issue.

Trainline based apps still do but I think the rest have disabled mtickets. Hence why they'll issue Flexi Seasons as etickets, even though you're not supposed to do that.

 

[kkong]

Not as much of an accreditation failure as printing e-tickets for flows that don't have e-tickets enabled! Assuming it's still the case that they do this, of course.

The vast majority of ScotRail flows are enabled for e-ticket fulfilment and have been for some time.

Including this Carnoustie to Golf Street example.

 

[Starmill]

The flows do have m-tickets enabled, so issuing barcoded tickets for them isn't that much of an issue.

I don't think they're implying that there's an actual problem. Just that it would be used as evidence against an independent retailer to treat them unfavourably if they were to do it.