Automatic Ticket Barriers

[saismee]

That is to say you spend 5 minutes frantically waiving the QR code at the knee-height scanner, before trying to find a member of the gateline staff to let you through.

Hold it still about an inch or two away. Paper tickets you should press down flat on the glass. Keep in mind that there are also black borders around the glass and the code needs to be between them. I find screens scan more easily than the actual tickets.

 

[JRT]

By travelling on a train other than the one booked.

Customers arriving or departing BDQ often buy the cheapest ticket available (advance single, must be purchased at least 15 minutes beforehand) but don't check the time on the ticket just attempt to board the first convenient train available.

 

[RailWonderer]

I get the 'seek assistance' message most of the time at Liverpool St yet if I've printed my ticket from my local ticket office, for all advances but even some of my off-peaks around 10am tend to not go through either. Once, my ticket worked and revenue inspection asked to see my railcard, and I asked how they knew I was using one and they said the ticket barrier blinked a light to them.

 

[JRT]

Interestingly when I used to live in Baildon, I would often travel Baildon to Warrington Bank Quay via Forster Square & Interchange. Forster square would always accept my ticket, the Interchange never did.

For ticketing purposes, Forster Square and Interchange are classed as the same station (so the CDR to/from Leeds can be used on either route), this means you pass through 'Bradford Stns' twice (multiple use at same station is not allowed, it's to stop two people using the same ticket)

 

[Craig1122]

There is no doubt a significant difference between what gateline staff can/will do about possible ticketing irregularities and the fantasy certain management types believe. But no matter, it is better that a thousand passengers get irritated than one manager has to admit reality.

Common at Waterloo for certain tickets to be blocked. I think only once have the agency staff actually looked at them when letting me through, they usually just stare off into the distance with a blank look!

The one time I was checked it was a member of SWR revenue staff as opposed to agency, they seemed positively disappointed everything was in order.

 

[Bantamzen]

For ticketing purposes, Forster Square and Interchange are classed as the same station (so the CDR to/from Leeds can be used on either route), this means you pass through 'Bradford Stns' twice (multiple use at same station is not allowed, it's to stop two people using the same ticket)

Ah right, that would explain it. Cheers.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Once, my ticket worked and revenue inspection asked to see my railcard, and I asked how they knew I was using one and they said the ticket barrier blinked a light to them.

Also barrier gates make different noises.

 

[saismee]

Also barrier gates make different noises.

One quick beep for valid e-tickets and smartcards, two or three longer beeps for a rejected ticket, rapid beeps for child/monitored tickets.

 

[fandroid]

Northern issue Advance tickets for many short journeys that other TOCs wouldn't bother with. That creates far more opportunities for deliberately or accidentally breaking the rules. That means the staff then have to be a lot more vigilant to ensure that fare abuse doesn't get out of hand. There are differences of opinion as to whether this policy makes sense!

I use the term "Advance" advisedly as these tickets are often bought a short while before boarding the train. In many cases, passengers just board the train, then buy an "Advance" ticket online for the next service (cos it's the cheapest on offer). Many a Penalty Fare has been issued in such circumstances!

 

[Sonic1234]

This is GTR's policy to reject Advance tickets at their gatelines. This was confirmed to me in a complaint I made to Southern (there are some GTR gates which haven't had the block applied). It is a frustrating policy.

It actually makes revenue protection worse. If gates reject a good proportion of tickets, you'll get let through with any flash of orange, not helped by the fact a lot of GTR stations are in areas where conflict avoidance is key.

 

[Chriso]

Even worse considering all the unstaffed remote controlled gatelines on TLGN

 

[Sonic1234]

Even worse considering all the unstaffed remote controlled gatelines on TLGN

You feel like a mug standing at the intercom with your Advance waiting for an answer while the local "yoofs" just push through. And also, when they do open the gate to let you out, several fare dodgers come through too.

It dates from the days of Advances being a novelty ticket. Says a lot about the culture within GTR - it's stuck in the days where it's all seasons and on the day sales, with this new fangled "online" thing being niche (see also GTR's mess with enabling e-tickets).

 

[Efini92]

At least at Manchester Victoria they've devised a system where most tickets are equally treated. That is to say you spend 5 minutes frantically waiving the QR code at the knee-height scanner, before trying to find a member of the gateline staff to let you through*. It always annoys me when I see the bloke on the Northern TV advert just slide effortlessly through them, it's like how does he manage the impossible....?

(*I must admit however I've just about got the hang of exactly how far from the scanners the phone screen needs to be, though it seems it's not an exact science )

When they first installed those barriers, they accepted anything. I’m sure someone used an Alton towers ticket.

 

[Chriso]

Yeah I totally agree

You feel like a mug standing at the intercom with your Advance waiting for an answer while the local "yoofs" just push through. And also, when they do open the gate to let you out, several fare dodgers come through too.

It dates from the days of Advances being a novelty ticket. Says a lot about the culture within GTR - it's stuck in the days where it's all seasons and on the day sales, with this new fangled "online" thing being niche (see also GTR's mess with enabling e-tickets).

totally agree with this. They really need to get there act together. I was stuck at Merstham once with all gates working and no staff to be seen in the end I had to barge through the wide gate

 

[JordR]

When barriers are configured to accept advances, do they validate the day only and not the time? So would they, for example, let someone through several hours before their train or several hours after it has gone?

 

[DelW]

When barriers are configured to accept advances, do they validate the day only and not the time? So would they, for example, let someone through several hours before their train or several hours after it has gone?

I was wondering that too. I suspect it depends on the type of ticket since AIUI tickets with 2D codes can include much more information than CCST with mag-stripes can. If so, it should be possible to programme the gates to accept barcoded advances at appropriate times (only) and reduce the number of rejections.

I also wish the industry would start to issue machine readable railcards (either ITSO or 2D coded), which could be read by gatelines when checks are wanted. SWR, and no doubt others, regularly set barriers to reject all railcard discounted tickets, which is another passenger-unfriendly annoyance. You block the people behind you, you have to back out and go and find a gateline attendant, who then often barely glances at the ticket (or asks to see the railcard) anyway. And yet again the passenger is made to feel they've done something wrong, especially if they meet the other sort of gateline attendant, who thinks anyone whose ticket is rejected by the barrier must be a fare-dodging criminal.

It would take a little while for people to get used to having their railcard ready at the barrier as well as their ticket, but if the message said "scan railcard" rather than "seek assistance", it could work more quickly and not make the passenger feel in the wrong.

 

[saismee]

When barriers are configured to accept advances, do they validate the day only and not the time? So would they, for example, let someone through several hours before their train or several hours after it has gone?

Yes. Although it accepts long after the train has departed too.

 

[sheff1]

They really need to get there act together. I was stuck at Merstham once with all gates working and no staff to be seen in the end I had to barge through the wide gate

I had the same at Merstham. After trying the call point with no reply I pushed through. Miraculously, as soon as i had done that a staff member appeared on the opposite platform and began shouting at me.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Just got off the train at Forster Square and my LDS to BDQ advance has once again been rejected forcing me to have it inspected by the gateline staff.

It is all very frustrating and time-consuming.

 

[317 forever]

At least at Manchester Victoria they've devised a system where most tickets are equally treated. That is to say you spend 5 minutes frantically waiving the QR code at the knee-height scanner, before trying to find a member of the gateline staff to let you through*. It always annoys me when I see the bloke on the Northern TV advert just slide effortlessly through them, it's like how does he manage the impossible....?

(*I must admit however I've just about got the hang of exactly how far from the scanners the phone screen needs to be, though it seems it's not an exact science )

Those vertical scanners at Manchester Victoria are horrendous. When attempting to scan our e-ticket on our phone we could easily drop and even damage our phone.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Those vertical scanners at Manchester Victoria are horrendous. When attempting to scan our e-ticket on our phone we could easily drop and even damage our phone

Almost like a crystal maze challenge.

 

[trainophile]

It really depends on the competence of whoever is programming the barriers. I did at one point think that the ones at Birmingham New St would open for any ticket, so I purchased a single from Scotscalder to Altnabreac to try that and it didn't, so someone has clearly spent some time programming those ones to allow through pretty much anything that even might be valid that way (mainly to ensure people aren't delayed if they interchange at the A end, presumably).

At New Street my (paper) WMR tickets to Liverpool always go through no problem, but my Avanti tickets to Wigan invariably beep and I have to be let through. No difference whichever end A or B I'm at, and to add insult to injury if I exit at the A end to access the B end it gets rejected twice.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Nov 2025 ==

Those vertical scanners at Manchester Victoria are horrendous. When attempting to scan our e-ticket on our phone we could easily drop and even damage our phone.

The main reason I don't use e-tickets unless unavoidable.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Sanderstead to Luton early on a Saturday. Ticket bought from a human at Sanderstead with Network Railcard. Rejected at Sanderstead: let through without a railcard check (understandably as the person had seen me purchasing ticket). Rejected at Luton, let through no railcard check. Back from Luton also rejected. Let through after, politely and rightly, being asked to show railcard.

Break of return journey at West Hampstead. Let through. Rejected at Sanderstead - let through no railcard check.

 

[1D54]

I hold a Senior Railcard and I'd totally support this at every station on the entire network. Sure it can cause inconvenience but it would save what must be a small fortune on the major problem of fraudulently purchased tickets online.

 

[styles]

I hold a Senior Railcard and I'd totally support this at every station on the entire network. Sure it can cause inconvenience but it would save what must be a small fortune on the major problem of fraudulently purchased tickets online.

It's simply not going to be practical, or in some cases safe, to do this at some stations.

 

[Sonic1234]

Sanderstead to Luton early on a Saturday.

The Southern stations not served by Thameslink don't like Thameslink's Weekend Super Off Peaks. That's probably the reason for the rejection at Sanderstead, not the railcard.

The thing with railcard checks is so many tickets are sold with a railcard discount. I've noticed guards taken aback when scanning e-tickets and it doesn't make the discounted ticket noise - almost as if it is suspicious to have a full price ticket!

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Maybe, though having bought the ticket at Sanderstead I doubt it was a Thameslink super off peak ticket. And Sanderstead is served by Thameslink, albeit not on a Saturday.

 

[Haywain]

The Southern stations not served by Thameslink don't like Thameslink's Weekend Super Off Peaks. That's probably the reason for the rejection at Sanderstead, not the railcard.

That wouldn't explain it being rejected at Luton. It seems more likely to me that the magnetic strip wasn't encoded correctly.

 

[Snow1964]

Whenever GTR are feeling bored they set the ticket barriers to reject Railcard tickets. However it's quite rare for staff to actually check your Railcard and most just let you through regardless

That's joined up thinking railway style.

Set them so railcards need inspection, but then choose not to check them

 

[kento]

Merseyrail stations in Liverpool have new barriers installed this week which don't accept tickets with Railcard discounts, but when you go over to the manned barrier and explain the staff insist you try your ticket again in front of them, frustrating and I find it insulting to be disbelieved.