Accidentally booked e-tickets including Southport departure

[trainophile]

I just booked a load of tickets through Trainsplit, but realised too late that I forgot to change the default e-tickets to paper tickets, and one of them is departing from Southport, which I don't believe (unless things have changed) accepts e-tickets on the barriers, although obviously Trainsplit did let me include this one and has issued blanket e-tickets for the whole order.

I tried to cancel within the one hour time period but it only lets me select one, and then wants to know details of the replacement ticket I've bought, so I couldn't proceed that route.

Ideally I would like to cancel the whole order and start again but ironically my laptop for some reason dislikes all the servers I have (I'm on my other one, away from home) so I don't even know whether the email I drafted has reached Trainsplit. I will try emailing again on my phone but this is rather urgent as you only get an hour to cancel. HELP!

Edit: I tweeted Merseyrail and apparently the barrier staff at Southport will accept being shown the e-ticket if it's for a Northern train. Phew!

 

[Benjwri]

The barriers may now accept e tickets anyways. They’ve replaced them with Vix barriers which do have scanners.

Regardless you have a valid ticket for travel. Even if it was for Merseyrail they should be accepting it, and in my experience are fairly good at doing so. It’s people attempting to travel on collection references the big issue was about.

 

[trainophile]

The barriers may now accept e tickets anyways. They’ve replaced them with Vix barriers which do have scanners.

Regardless you have a valid ticket for travel. Even if it was for Merseyrail they should be accepting it, and in my experience are fairly good at doing so. It’s people attempting to travel on collection references the big issue was about.

Oh okay, cheers. If anyone from Trainsplit is reading this please ignore my frantic emails, I can cope it's just that I was so annoyed with myself!

 

[gray1404]

Are you boarding a Merseyrail or Northern service at Southport?

 

[trainophile]

Are you boarding a Merseyrail or Northern service at Southport?

Northern, which is why it's presumably okay.

 

[Bungle965]

They’ve replaced them with Vix barriers which do have scanners.

Do Merseyrail now have an eTVD supplier?

 

[Benjwri]

Do Merseyrail now have an eTVD supplier?

Yeah I’m not sure. I haven’t had the chance to try and see if they would open. Was just suggesting they might.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I’ve used Liverpool Stations e-tickets to travel on lime street and Chester services to James Street

 

[gray1404]

Northern, which is why it's presumably okay.

In that case you will not have any problems getting through the barrier at Southport to board the Northern service. I've done this many times at Southport and never had an issues being let through.

 

[yorkie]

Edit: I tweeted Merseyrail and apparently the barrier staff at Southport will accept being shown the e-ticket if it's for a Northern train. Phew!

They have to accept them for any journey for which they are issued.

 

[trainophile]

Well to wrap up the saga, the lovely team at Trainsplit did receive my email, and replied offering to change the tickets to paper ones. I hadn’t added them to my wallet so that was the perfect solution, tickets collected today at Lancaster station.

 

[TUC]

I do think as many people as possible should select e-tickets for Merseyrail stations where they are offered during booking. Constant pressure is needed to make them change their ways.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I have travelled on e-tickets from Southport in the past. I recall when Northern had a sale on, and they weren't offering to fulfil them as paper. Just showed them at the barrier. But I usually opt for CCSTs and collect them from the MerseyRail ticket desk.

 

[yorkie]

Well to wrap up the saga, the lovely team at Trainsplit did receive my email, and replied offering to change the tickets to paper ones. I hadn’t added them to my wallet so that was the perfect solution, tickets collected today at Lancaster station.

Don't let the bullies win.

I do think as many people as possible should select e-tickets for Merseyrail stations where they are offered during booking. Constant pressure is needed to make them change their ways.

I completely agree.

That said, according to recent reports from forum members, they have already changed their ways and no longer quibble over e-tickets. But I agree that people should get them wherever possible and put this to the test. If Merseyrail staff are up to no good, then the matter needs to be reported, escalated and dealt with. People should not feel intimidated by gateline staff who don't know how to behave.

 

[trainophile]

It wasn’t just the Southport possible complication, I’m afraid I’m one of those dinosaurs who still prefer CCST tickets regardless. Not least because of the risk of dropping my phone while fumbling about with luggage at the barriers.

Spotted a new poster today in the platform 3 waiting room at Lancaster, depicting someone showing a phone with zero battery and saying “my phone just died“, overwritten with a large warning “£100 fine, you MUST have a valid ticket”. Hardly gives you a warm glow about e-tickets.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Spotted a new poster today in the platform 3 waiting room at Lancaster, depicting someone showing a phone with zero battery and saying “my phone just died“, overwritten with a large warning “£100 fine, you MUST have a valid ticket”. Hardly gives you a warm glow about e-tickets.

I think my TOC should display some of these posters where I work because we frequently get chancers kicking off when ticket barrier staff correctly refuse to let them leave the Station when they claim they have an electronic ticket but their phone has conveniently run out of battery.

 

[yorkie]

It wasn’t just the Southport possible complication, I’m afraid I’m one of those dinosaurs who still prefer CCST tickets regardless. Not least because of the risk of dropping my phone while fumbling about with luggage at the barriers.

Spotted a new poster today in the platform 3 waiting room at Lancaster, depicting someone showing a phone with zero battery and saying “my phone just died“, overwritten with a large warning “£100 fine, you MUST have a valid ticket”. Hardly gives you a warm glow about e-tickets.

I will reply to these fallacies in the appropriate thread.