MYB to HWY contactless did my card register?

[Tallguy]

Went contactless from MYB to High Wycombe tonight. Wycombe gates (new, different style) were open. I tapped on the gate reader but it didn’t seem to register - no green light. How can I resolve/check this please?

 

[Adam Williams]

Hilariously, I didn't think the fancy new gates they had purchased and installed at HWY actually supported contactless (yet).

I think there's a separate validator you're supposed to use.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Hilariously, I didn't think the fancy new gates they had purchased and installed at HWY actually supported contactless (yet).

I think there's a separate validator you're supposed to use.

Correct. There are two validators (one on the unpaid side and one on the paid side) by each gateline, though the ones on the Platform 1 & 2 side are less obvious than those on the Platform 3 side.

Given the OP's description of what they did, it's likely they'll incur an incomplete journey charge for not touching out. It may be possible to resolve that on a self-service basis on the TfL website from tomorrow (go to https://contactless.tfl.gov.uk/ and sign up for an account if you don't already have one) or by calling TfL Customer Services on 03432221234. Again, they'll need to wait until tomorrow as charges are processed overnight.

 

[TUC]

Can you write the stations' names in full please.

 

[Wallsendmag]

So the company that operates the contactless scheme introduces a new gate that doesn't support said scheme ???? WTAF

 

[Tallguy]

Can you write the stations' names in full please.

Marylebone to High Wycombe.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Sep 2026 ==

Correct. There are two validators (one on the unpaid side and one on the paid side) by each gateline, though the ones on the Platform 1 & 2 side are less obvious than those on the Platform 3 side.

Given the OP's description of what they did, it's likely they'll incur an incomplete journey charge for not touching out. It may be possible to resolve that on a self-service basis on the TfL website from tomorrow (go to https://contactless.tfl.gov.uk/ and sign up for an account if you don't already have one) or by calling TfL Customer Services on 03432221234. Again, they'll need to wait until tomorrow as charges are processed overnight.

I will do that. Thank you.

 

[rmHawk765]

Is there even any signage at High Wycombe that indicates what you are supposed to do?

 

[Vexed]

Is there even any signage at High Wycombe that indicates what you are supposed to do?

I can't recall any. There are blank readers on the gates (no contactless/PAYG icon) with a red light at the top left, where a working older gateline would show an orange light. It would be tacky but helpful to stick a temporary sign on the readers saying not to use them.

However, every time I've been at High Wycombe recently nearly everyone seems to know the deal and taps on the standalone validators. But it's not obvious if there's no one around to follow what they're doing.

 

[robbeech]

So the company that operates the contactless scheme introduces a new gate that doesn't support said scheme ???? WTAF

The Railway.

 

[tatitiliti]

So the company that operates the contactless scheme introduces a new gate that doesn't support said scheme ???? WTAF

That sounds about right and just another day at Chiltern.

 

[OscarH]

So the company that operates the contactless scheme introduces a new gate that doesn't support said scheme ???? WTAF

Well Cubic weren't gonna pass on an opportunity to charge another bucket load down the line for basic functionality that any decent company would include from the start. It wouldn't be Cubic if you got a usable product

 

[Bletchleyite]

How on earth were readers not part of the spec from day one when these were ordered?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Given High Wycombe is in the Project Oval area, Transport for London will also be involved.

Logically it should have simply been a case of removing the readers from the old gates and installing them in the new ones, but clearly something's prevented that from happening.

As Cubic presumably want TOCs to specify FEnX gates instead of E2 gates for new projects, I doubt they'd deliberately scupper themselves!

 

[Edvid]

I'm guessing these FEnX gates were designed primarily for compatibility with next-generation readers, which through Project Hina will eventually replace existing readers across TfL's rail estate (i.e. the CPAY area) once all on-bus readers have been replaced.* Come 20 September it may be worth asking through FoI what the holdup is and if it's because High Wycombe is waiting for the 'Hina' readers.

Some of the above may be relevant to Wickford station (Greater Anglia) as well.

[* As per TfL papers from March 2026 'Hina' readers are still in the software development phase and testing will start by the end of this business year (~March 2027). On-bus reader replacement won't commence until after that.]

 

[Wallsendmag]

Well Cubic weren't gonna pass on an opportunity to charge another bucket load down the line for basic functionality that any decent company would include from the start. It wouldn't be Cubic if you got a usable product

You're not wrong there

 

[MikeWh]

Given the OP's description of what they did, it's likely they'll incur an incomplete journey charge for not touching out. It may be possible to resolve that on a self-service basis on the TfL website from tomorrow (go to https://contactless.tfl.gov.uk/ and sign up for an account if you don't already have one) or by calling TfL Customer Services on 03432221234. Again, they'll need to wait until tomorrow as charges are processed overnight.

As it was Marylebone, one of the London stations taking part in the trial, I don't think it will be resolveable online. I would be very interested to know how much the incomplete journey charge actually was and what questions you had to answer to get it adjusted.

 

[Edvid]

Chiltern Railways got back to me on the FEnX gates today; funnily enough I was actually at High Wycombe station when their notification of their reply appeared in my inbox.

The wide-aisle gates were kept open but the others were in normal operation (still magstripe / barcode tickets only).

The new Cubic FEnX gates at High Wycombe have been installed and are currently processing traditional magnetic-stripe tickets and barcode tickets. However, the contactless pay as you go and ITSO functionality is not yet active.

Before these reader functions can be brought into service, the relevant components must complete the required industry assurance and accreditation process. This is a detailed, multi-stage process involving several organisations and has taken longer than originally anticipated.

Rather than keep the entire gateline out of operation while the remaining assurance work is completed, Chiltern Railways activated the functions that were ready so that customers could begin benefiting from the new infrastructure.

Chiltern Railways and Cubic are continuing to work with the other organisations involved to support completion of the remaining assurance steps. We appreciate that the delay to the contactless and ITSO functionality may be frustrating, and the functionality will be brought into service once the required assurance and accreditation process has been completed.

 

[Watershed]

Chiltern Railways got back to me on the FEnX gates today; funnily enough I was actually at High Wycombe station when their notification of their reply appeared in my inbox.

The wide-aisle gates were kept open but the others were in normal operation (still magstripe / barcode tickets only).

I feel like there's more to see there; an FoI for any internal correspondence might turn up some more than they are sharing.