Are Platform tickets still issued?

[Lockwood]

So it is possible to get a ticket printed that would never be valid? I can see why some of the systems are not set up to allow that.


Do platform tickets count towards usage stats?

 

[Falcon1200]

Cannot understand the point of issuing platform tickets for unstaffed, and therefore unbarriered stations, where access is available 24/7 without any form of ticket! Nor can the 60 minute time limit possibly be enforced. Mind you, it was never in my experience enforced 'Back in the Day', when for spotting purposes a platform ticket could last all day; As long as we weren't causing a problem no-one was bothered.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

If I bring my own pre-decimalisation penny, can I get a ticket for 1d?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Apr 2025 ==

I'm afraid not, although it's a nice idea!

We do, though, have a lot of people who, when they see our collection of old 1d coins, say "We've got some of them!".

 

[infobleep]

Cannot understand the point of issuing platform tickets for unstaffed, and therefore unbarriered stations, where access is available 24/7 without any form of ticket! Nor can the 60 minute time limit possibly be enforced. Mind you, it was never in my experience enforced 'Back in the Day', when for spotting purposes a platform ticket could last all day; As long as we weren't causing a problem no-one was bothered.

I'm surprised a ticket clerk would even be prepared to issue such a thing. Some of course are very nice and might enjoy doing something unusual.

 

[Haywain]

Why would one want to do that?

Because there is no requirement to be able to issue platform tickets.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Daft question... Technical question...

When would the ticket become invalid when a member of staff instructs you to leave?

I know the ticket itself won't magically become invalid from a gate point of view, but could a member of staff make an annoying person have a very bad day?

Leave the station.
I don't want to.
Leave now. Your platform ticket is no longer valid.
Stupid jobsworth. Fine. I'll go.
Let me see your ticket... That's invalid. Give me your details for a report.

(This is hypothetical)

Only, presumably, in a compulsory ticket area, of which there are very few.

 

[Ducatist4]

It took about four weeks and multiple people being involved but EMR finally told they don't issue platform tickets any more. I've never had an issue just asking to be let though barriers if there are any or even being let past a revenue block on a couple of occasions.

 

[island]

From my experience the vast majority of gateline assistants will just let you through if you say you want to meet someone off the train or do some trainspotting etc.

There's always the issue that you could encounter a different assistant on the way back out though, which could lead to accusations of impropriety.

 

[SteveP29]

There's always the issue that you could encounter a different assistant on the way back out though, which could lead to accusations of impropriety.

That was what I was afraid of in my post on page 1, which is why I asked if a platform ticket could be issued.

 

[rmHawk765]

Thanks for that. But do I then not have the hassle of trying to get a refund?
Also how do you prove you haven’t made a journey. I would have, of course touched out, in, and out.
I’ll look again but the link you gave me says nothing about 3 hours.

Apologies, that link was incorrect - use this:
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay...-as-you-go/touching-in-and-out#on-this-page-5

It will refund automatically in some cases, I recommend you read the page (section titled 'Same station exits'). The page will also answer your question about same station exits and how the system knows what you've done. It is time based as I said.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

We often read threads in Disputes & Prosecutions about someone buying a ticket from, for example, Luton to Luton Airport Parkway just to get through the barriers, then travelling to a station in London to tap-in with Oyster or Contactless.
Could a platform ticket be abused in the same way? Obviously it couldn’t be done on a regular basis!

 

[ChoirBoy144]

Whatever system that Southeastern ticket offices currently use can certainly issue platform tickets for any station.

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I presume that all other TOCs who use the same system as Southeastern also have the same ability to do so.

Thanks @stadler this means I can by a platform ticket for Llanfair PG

 

[ChoirBoy144]

You'll need one to get on platforms at Glasgow Queen Street unless of course you have a ticket to travel. 10p and valid for an hour but they are not bothered how long you stay.

Usually when I go train spotting at my local station they still sell it to me even when I actually don't need it

 

[ChoirBoy144]

Usually when I go train spotting at my local station they still sell it to me even when I actually don't need it

Oh and they don't work through the gateline

 

[ChoirBoy144]

We often read threads in Disputes & Prosecutions about someone buying a ticket from, for example, Luton to Luton Airport Parkway just to get through the barriers, then travelling to a station in London to tap-in with Oyster or Contactless.
Could a platform ticket be abused in the same way? Obviously it couldn’t be done on a regular basis!

no as they don't work through the barrierrs

 

[The exile]

no as they don't work through the barrierrs

If you get let in through the barriers by staff (not much point in issuing platform tickets if they don’t) there is nothing to stop you doughnutting with one of them any more than with a ticket to the cheapest station. If you’re spotted boarding a train by station staff they might remember and tip off staff elsewhere, of course.

 

[styles]

Whatever system that Southeastern ticket offices currently use can certainly issue platform tickets for any station.

View attachment 178208

View attachment 178209

View attachment 178210

I presume that all other TOCs who use the same system as Southeastern also have the same ability to do so.

Out of interest, you said you got one for Altnabreac. Given that it's at least half a station with a ticket office, where did you buy it? Also short of being a collectible, what is the purpose of staff selling this? After all if we say it was bought at Thurso 5 minutes before the train left, by the time you got to Altnabreac it would only have 25 minutes of usefulness, but realistically having just alighted from a train you have a ticket for, hanging around to sort luggage and get maps up etc for 25 minutes would be fine anyway. Not to mention that the station doesn't have a gateline. Well, it has a gate, guarded by some quite demanding individuals, but not in the same way!

 

[Haywain]

not much point in issuing platform tickets if they don’t

I'm not convinced that a platform ticket sold by a Southeastern ticket office gives any authority to gain access to platforms at a station many miles away where platform tickets are not issued.

 

[Belperpete]

Whatever system that Southeastern ticket offices currently use can certainly issue platform tickets for any station.

Do you specify the date and time you want it valid for, or are they valid for one hour from time of issue? Little point in buying a ticket that is only valid for 1 hour if it is going to take you longer than that to get there.

 

[Belperpete]

There are a few stations where the footbridge is a public right of way such as Nottingham.

The council contributed to the funding of the footbridge extension at Derby, giving a second entrance to the station on the Pride Park side. So there was a fuss when EMR put in barriers, blocking use of the footbridge. They had to issue footbridge tickets to allow people such as myself who had previously used the footbridge to access Pride Park to continue to do so. They weren't platform tickets, as they had wording on them that they weren't to be used to access the platforms, and I seem to recall that I had to sign a form agreeing to the conditions of use. The last I heard, they were renewing tickets held by existing holders, but only issuing new ones to students of the college based in the old roundhouse. I let mine lapse when I started buying a season ticket to Derby.

In practice, if you said that you were going to or from Pride Park, unless there was a revenue block on, the staff would just wave you through. I don't know what the current situation is.