Getting a CCST ticket instead of PRT ticket for Rover?

[VT 390]

In a couple of weeks I am planning on getting a 14 day first class All Line Rover ticket, I would much rather get a CCST (Credit Card Sized Ticket) style ticket than a PRT (Paper Roll Ticket) style ticket as I find these more durable for 2 weeks constant usage and easier to store/display with my railcard.

Previously I have always ordered through GWR for home delivery but this is no longer offered so will need to buy the ticket from a station ticket office.

I will be in London 2 days before starting the rover so will probably buy the ticket then, does anyone know if there are any ticket offices (anywhere is zones 1-6) where a CCST style ticket would be guaranteed?
I am aware many of the major zone 1 stations now print rover tickets PRT instead of CCST so would be happy to travel to any station in the London travel zones as I will have a day travelcard when in London.
From what I can see a C2C ticket office may be an option such as London Fenchurch Street or Upminster but any sources I can find for this are unofficial.
Any advice on where to buy the ticket from would be much appreciated.

 

[rcsn319]

London paddington the past couple of times has issued me CCST so i’d say there’s a high chance, however note that I have been given a PRT from there before.

alternatively any LO/EL run ticket office will be guaranteed CCST still.

GA i’m pretty sure hasn’t changed over yet either.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Don't try Kings Cross

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think Euston will do it - but you must specify you want CCST before starting the transaction.

 

[transportphoto]

St Pancras EMR (upstairs near Greggs) is solely CCST at the moment.

EMR are due to upgrade to a TIS which will also support PRT soon - not sure when the changeover is but should be good for the next couple of weeks.

 

[VT 390]

Thanks for the advise everyone, this gives me a good idea of where to try and I will make sure to ask before buying.

 

[Wallsendmag]

St Pancras EMR (upstairs near Greggs) is solely CCST at the moment.

EMR are due to upgrade to a TIS which will also support PRT soon - not sure when the changeover is but should be good for the next couple of weeks.

As are all other TOCs that don't already have that facility.

 

[Belperpete]

Doesn't an all line rover have to be issued on ccst, in the same way as cross London + tickets? Otherwise the holder is going to have trouble getting through LO barriers, Mersey rail, etc.

 

[transportphoto]

Doesn't an all line rover have to be issued on ccst, in the same way as cross London + tickets? Otherwise the holder is going to have trouble getting through LO barriers, Mersey rail, etc.

No, not at all.

 

[redreni]

Cannon Street should do it. Or London Bridge. Or any station with a Southeastern ticket office, I believe. (They tell me they'll be moving over to PRT "fairly soon", but they haven't yet.)

 

[Hadders]

Doesn't an all line rover have to be issued on ccst, in the same way as cross London + tickets? Otherwise the holder is going to have trouble getting through LO barriers, Mersey rail, etc.

No. I had an ALR issued on PRT a couple of years ago. It was fine.

In any case most barriers tend to reject ALRs, although I seem to remember that I had more success with PRT.

 

[saismee]

As are all other TOCs that don't already have that facility.

A Greggs?

 

[Wallsendmag]

A Greggs?

Not that I have anything againt the finest Geordie cuisine but what the ...? For anyone not in the know There are two and a half Ticket Office/onboard TIS options, Worldline mTIS, TTK Avocet (also known as DORIS in finer TOCs) and something that doesn't really exist yet from VIX. Fujitsu exit stage left on New Years Eve leaving several TOC to re-equip very quickly.

 

[saismee]

Not that I have anything againt the finest Geordie cuisine but what the ...?

transportphoto's message mentioned Greggs and you didn't specify which facility

St Pancras EMR (upstairs near Greggs) is solely CCST at the moment.

 

[stadler]

You could buy from a Southern Guard or Southern OBS if you want a CCST ticket. They are one of the very few TOCs left whose onboard staff still solely use Steatite CCST printers. You can find a Southern Guard on any London to Uckfield or Clapham to Watford or Eastbourne to Ashford train. You can find a Southern OBS on any London to Brighton / Eastbourne / Hastings / Ore / Portsmouth / Southampton / Worthing / Bognor Regis / Littlehampton / Chichester / Reigate / East Grinstead train. They can sell you an All Line Rover ticket onboard.

 

[yorksrob]

If only the DfT half-wits didn't force bog roll ticketing on everyone.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

You could buy from a Southern Guard or Southern OBS if you want a CCST ticket.

They can sell you an All Line Rover ticket onboard.

Decent commission as well, presumably? Likely don't sell many!

 

[stadler]

Decent commission as well, presumably? Likely don't sell many!

Depends who you buy it from. Southern Conductor get 5% commission. Southern OBS get a flat 50p per ticket. So a Southern Conductor would get a commission of £31.25 (7day std) or £47.45 (14day std) or £47.45 (7day 1st) or £72.50 (14day 1st) from an All Line Rover sale which is a huge amount. But a Southern OBS would get a commission of just 50p from an All Line Rover sale.

 

[izvor]

Depends who you buy it from. Southern Conductor get 5% commission. Southern OBS get a flat 50p per ticket. So a Southern Conductor would get a commission of £31.25 (7day std) or £47.45 (14day std) or £47.45 (7day 1st) or £72.50 (14day 1st) from an All Line Rover sale which is a huge amount. But a Southern OBS would get a commission of just 50p from an All Line Rover sale.

Wow, that's remarkable. Unlikely, but if I do fork out for an ALR I might just pop down to Ashford and buy it on an Eastbourne train!

 

[Alex365Dash]

You could buy from a Southern Guard or Southern OBS if you want a CCST ticket. They are one of the very few TOCs left whose onboard staff still solely use Steatite CCST printers. You can find a Southern Guard on any London to Uckfield or Clapham to Watford or Eastbourne to Ashford train. You can find a Southern OBS on any London to Brighton / Eastbourne / Hastings / Ore / Portsmouth / Southampton / Worthing / Bognor Regis / Littlehampton / Chichester / Reigate / East Grinstead train. They can sell you an All Line Rover ticket onboard.

Some OBS/Conductors may now print to PRT instead of CCST, as their printers are in the process of being swapped over. Whilst most I’ve seen have still had CCST printers, it’s something to definitely be aware of.

 

[APT618S]

GA i’m pretty sure hasn’t changed over yet either.

Just got a seat reservation at GA Liverpool St Stn and it was printed on CCST, so presumably they would print a rover on CCST.

 

[philthetube]

Bought tickets at Blackpool North yesterday, all on CCST.

 

[mmh]

I'm presuming all ticket offices actually still have credit card sized ticket printers, as they'll need them to print railcards?

 

[Alex365Dash]

I'm presuming all ticket offices actually still have credit card sized ticket printers, as they'll need them to print railcards?

Yes, as well as tickets which cannot be fulfilled to PRT i.e. Travelcards, cross-London tickets, and Train Tube tickets.

 

[Belperpete]

Bought tickets at Blackpool North yesterday, all on CCST.

I don't think that is in London zones 1-6.

 

[trainJam]

I think Euston will do it - but you must specify you want CCST before starting the transaction.

For the past few years Avanti have been happy to select CCST on request (WMR and Chiltern won't).

However, I was at Birmingham Avanti the other day. They said they are no longer allowed to choose CCST. I don't know about Euston.

 

[CyrusWuff]

For the past few years Avanti have been happy to select CCST on request (WMR and Chiltern won't).

The Ticket Issuing System WMT, Chiltern, GTR, LNER and SWR use in their Ticket Offices/Travel Centres doesn't allow staff to choose between PRT and CCST. If it's setup to allow PRT to be issued, it will follow whatever the rail industry data says when printing a ticket.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If it's setup to allow PRT to be issued, it will follow whatever the rail industry data says when printing a ticket.

What essentially does that mean? Paper Roll Tickets will invariably be issued with the possible exception of a journey requiring a Cross London transfer by London Underground?

 

[DelW]

In a couple of weeks I am planning on getting a 14 day first class All Line Rover ticket, I would much rather get a CCST (Credit Card Sized Ticket) style ticket than a PRT (Paper Roll Ticket) style ticket as I find these more durable for 2 weeks constant usage and easier to store/display with my railcard.

Obviously it's your choice, but I'd have thought a PRT might survive better, even though it's flimsier material. When I get one, I fold it into thirds, and put it into my ticket wallet with the 2D code facing out through the transparent window. That way I can scan it on the gate reader without removing it from the wallet. There's no magstripe to worry about demagnetising either.

I do prefer CCST for keeping as a record though!

 

[CyrusWuff]

What essentially does that mean? Paper Roll Tickets will invariably be issued with the possible exception of a journey requiring a Cross London transfer by London Underground?

Pretty much. Plus tickets to/from U-zones, London Overground stations (as their gates don't have barcode scanners) and jointly-served stations managed by LU (e.g. South Ruislip, West Ruislip and Met Line stations between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham.)