Why don't ticket machines take the 3 letter CRS codes?

[The exile]

This is equally an argument for listing destinations in order of popularity from that origin rather than alphabetically.

For a very select number of destinations to be “sticky”, yes. For the rest, no. If listed alphabetically, “duplicate” station names (eg Whitchurch) are listed together, so people are more likely to spot that they’ve got to be careful to get the right one.

 

[stadler]

I reckon that less than 1% of passengers know any CRS codes. These are only really known by staff and enthusiasts. I am a railway enthusuast and a former railway staff member and even i am struggling to remember a single CRS code off the top of my head. So i am not sure that getting TVMs to recognise CRS codes is a priority.

 

[AdamWW]

I reckon that less than 1% of passengers know any CRS codes. These are only really known by staff and enthusiasts. I am a railway enthusuast and a former railway staff member and even i am struggling to remember a single CRS code off the top of my head. So i am not sure that getting TVMs to recognise CRS codes is a priority.

And yet the codes usually work on web systems where the user is less likely to be time-pressured and isn't having to batttle a dodgy touch screen with the keyboard for some bizarre reason laid out alphabetically.

And often the codes are shown when the user types in the station name, giving them a chance to learn them.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think that even without any interest in railways it's something I would have picked up on and taken advantage of.

I'm fairly sure if, for example, I used National Express frequently and it came up with a short code for stops I cimmonly used, I'd spot that and start using them myself

 

[mmh]

For a very select number of destinations to be “sticky”, yes. For the rest, no. If listed alphabetically, “duplicate” station names (eg Whitchurch) are listed together, so people are more likely to spot that they’ve got to be careful to get the right one.

I also wouldn't want the stations presented to be different from one day to the next just because an unusual amount were bought to a "rare" destination yesterday.

What you possibly want is a fixed list of popular destinations, determined by a human using their common sense backed up by historical sales stats, rather than a computer.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I also wouldn't want the stations presented to be different from one day to the next just because an unusual amount were bought to a "rare" destination yesterday.

What you possibly want is a fixed list of popular destinations, determined by a human using their common sense backed up by historical sales stats, rather than a computer.

Correct

Updated once a year perhaps, or as a one-off if there's a significant change like a station opening

 

[pokemonsuper9]

What you possibly want is a fixed list of popular destinations, determined by a human using their common sense backed up by historical sales stats, rather than a computer.

Done individually for each of Northern's over 500 stations?
The computer could easy just run on a long timescale.

I'm not sure how the already existing quick buy destinations are chosen on Northern's machines



I don't know if Northern's accept CRS codes, the only non-rover I bought from them recently was for Crewe, which has no difference in CRS code to the start of its name.

I know probably upwards of 50-100 CRS codes and usually input them without thinking.

 

[Ian Hardy]

And yet the codes usually work on web systems where the user is less likely to be time-pressured and isn't having to batttle a dodgy touch screen with the keyboard for some bizarre reason laid out alphabetically.

And often the codes are shown when the user types in the station name, giving them a chance to learn them.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think that even without any interest in railways it's something I would have picked up on and taken advantage of.

I'm fairly sure if, for example, I used National Express frequently and it came up with a short code for stops I cimmonly used, I'd spot that and start using them myself

Yes, it is a lot easier to type WAT than having to type LONDON W to get London Waterloo to appear.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

How many people actually use ticket machines vs that ubiquitous mobile app, though? There's very rarely anyone using the bank of machines at my local station, that's for sure. And of that group of people, how many of those are people familiar with the codes? I think this is one of those "enthusiasts would like it but most people couldn't give a fig" situations.

 

[blimmo]

How many people actually use ticket machines vs that ubiquitous mobile app, though? There's very rarely anyone using the bank of machines at my local station, that's for sure. And of that group of people, how many of those are people familiar with the codes? I think this is one of those "enthusiasts would like it but most people couldn't give a fig" situations.

People that regularly need a ticket that can only be fulfilled to CCST. No point using an app to buy a ticket then getting ToD code when you could just buy from the machine in the first place.

If you do this every day I think even the least interested person would learn the 3 letters they can type to make the ticket come up quicker.

 

[Harratt4]

with the keyboard for some bizarre reason laid out alphabetically.

THIS! This throws me every time and no idea why someone thought it was a good idea. I wondered if it was maybe a relic of the machines predating most people using QWERTY keyboards, but surely QWERTY keyboard familiarity predates TVMs!

Glad it isn't just me!

 

[AdamWW]

I think this is one of those "enthusiasts would like it but most people couldn't give a fig" situations.

Quite possibly, but someone has gone to the effort of making it work on apps and web interfaces and it's not immediately clear what's so different about ticket machines other than that they are already more of a pain to use.

I also wouldn't want the stations presented to be different from one day to the next just because an unusual amount were bought to a "rare" destination yesterday.

Could be worse - there could be a list of "sponsored results" first...

 

[FrontSideBus]

I'm pretty sure the machines that Northern use accept codes.

 

[xotGD]

No point using an app to buy a ticket then getting ToD code when you could just buy from the machine in the first place.

There is if you want an Advance

 

[Russel]

I reckon that less than 1% of passengers know any CRS codes. These are only really known by staff and enthusiasts. I am a railway enthusuast and a former railway staff member and even i am struggling to remember a single CRS code off the top of my head. So i am not sure that getting TVMs to recognise CRS codes is a priority.

Every ticket purchasing app I've used has accepted CRS codes, which would suggest there is a need for them to be there.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I'm pretty sure the machines that Northern use accept codes.

All Arrive TVMs (Northern LNER and Chiltern ) accept CRS codes

 

[spp]

I think a lot of enthusiasts overestimate how well know CRS codes outside of enthusiast and industry (or at least certain parts of the industry and, to be fair, enthusiast) circles. Sure I'd find it very handy to be able to type in three letter codes for some stations but I reckon 99% of TVM users won't have a clue that three letter codes even exist.

This, sometimes I think a lot on here forget 99% of the public aren’t as interested as trains and the workings of the system as we are.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

And often the codes are shown when the user types in the station name, giving them a chance to learn them.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think that even without any interest in railways it's something I would have picked up on and taken advantage of.

Exactly my case too. I would never have learnt any of the codes - and might not have known about them at all - if it were not that the LNER app shows them alongside station names. It doesn't actually suggest using the codes - I just thought "they must be there for a reason", and found them useful (e.g. I can get to Dundee more quickly (in the list) by typing DEE rather than DUN). The National Rail Live Trains app shows codes and actually invites the user to use them.

 

[Russel]

This, sometimes I think a lot on here forget 99% of the public aren’t as interested as trains and the workings of the system as we are.

Again, every app accepts CRS codes and as demonstrated in this thread, even certain types of TVM accept them, so there is clearly a demand there...

 

[saismee]

This, sometimes I think a lot on here forget 99% of the public aren’t as interested as trains and the workings of the system as we are.

Fare dodgers take a bit of an interest for when they forge tickets

Caught someone out with a forged ticket recently because the destination was CET (Colchester Town) rather than CCL (Colchester/Colchester Town). A scan revealed that it was COL (Colchester North) to CET, rather than from a much further station. They forgot to edit the date at the top of the screenshot too.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

How many people actually use ticket machines vs that ubiquitous mobile app, though? There's very rarely anyone using the bank of machines at my local station, that's for sure. And of that group of people, how many of those are people familiar with the codes?

Probably depends on the station. At my local station, the two ticket machines seem to be in almost constant use - and that's even with a staffed ticket office right next to them (also well used).

I'd expect someone buying at a ticket machine is more likely to be in a hurry than someone purchasing online (at the station with their train due vs buying at home), so I can see the benefit of anything that might speed up the process. Also, even if only a minority use the CRS codes, if that enables them to buy their tickets faster, that translates into shorter queues at the machines, which then benefits everyone else.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Most apps accept them so even if the public don't use it, it doesn't harm them for the option to exist.

Related to this, to my surprise I have this morning just seen a disruption warning, at West Croydon, using only the CRS codes... Photo below. It did not scroll to give the full station names.

 

[AdamWW]

Related to this, to my surprise I have this morning just seen a disruption warning, at West Croydon, using only the CRS codes... Photo below. It did not scroll to give the full station names.

And the Transport for Wales journey planner went through a brief phase this morning of using just codes instead of station names.
But 5 letter versions that are new to me, all starting with "GB".

 

[starlight73]

As we are talking about journey planners using these codes - the National Rail disruption WhatsApp alerts use CRS codes. These are ones that are set up through the nationalrail.co.uk journey planner
I imagine it would baffle anyone who isn’t particularly into trains though And is presumably an oversight

Alert!

Your train on 2025-11-28 from BFR at 11:44, arriving GNW at 12:08 has been reinstated.
Call [number] for more info.
Reply STOP [number] to Stop this alert or STOP_ALL to Stop All Alerts

 

[duffield]

As we are talking about journey planners using these codes - the National Rail disruption WhatsApp alerts use CRS codes. These are ones that are set up through the nationalrail.co.uk journey planner
I imagine it would baffle anyone who isn’t particularly into trains though And is presumably an oversight

If they were just random CRS codes they probably would baffle the general public, but as they're codes for the train you actually travel on, in this case I expect you could easily guess they were Blackfriars and Greenwich.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

And the Transport for Wales journey planner went through a brief phase this morning of using just codes instead of station names.
But 5 letter versions that are new to me, all starting with "GB".

So they're spending time and money fixing something that isn't broken by adding GB in front of them all presumably for purely political reasons?

NB This is a reply to #52 but the quote failed to appear - I'll edit that in when I get home tonight.

 

[AdamWW]

So they're spending time and money fixing something that isn't broken by adding GB in front of them all presumably for purely political reasons?

NB This is a reply to #52 but the quote failed to appear - I'll edit that in when I get home tonight.

I don't think they were supposed to be shown - they appeared instead of station names in search results.

I can't think of a political reason to add GB to the codes. Possibly it's part of some scheme that can also represent stations outside Great Britain.

 

[CyrusWuff]

And the Transport for Wales journey planner went through a brief phase this morning of using just codes instead of station names.
But 5 letter versions that are new to me, all starting with "GB".

That's standard for SilverRail, who provide the backend for TfW's web TIS. It's more visible on the Chiltern, CrossCountry and Grand Central websites as the codes are exposed in the search URLs.

It looks to be based on a standard Travel Agency backend, as it uses IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes for stations rather than CRS ones where they're available. For example, a search for a journey from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly gives the following:

origin=GBQQU&destination=GBQQM

 

[AdamWW]

That's standard for SilverRail, who provide the backend for TfW's web TIS. It's more visible on the Chiltern, CrossCountry and Grand Central websites as the codes are exposed in the search URLs.

It looks to be based on a standard Travel Agency backend, as it uses IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes for stations rather than CRS ones where they're available. For example, a search for a journey from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly gives the following:

origin=GBQQU&destination=GBQQM

Fascinating, given that of course codes like QQM don't need additional letters to show which country they relate to.

 

[etr221]

One problem with IATA codes is that a complete list is not published and readily available (or at least, not one I've found without having to pay IATA a large sum - has anybody succeeded?), only various incomplete ones that I have doubts over; and another that - particularly as railway stations have been squeezed in - they are very much non-obvious and unintuitive.

 

[RUK]

c2c’s ticket machines take the CRS codes - they’re listed in brackets after the station name when searching for stations.