Avantix codes

[Drsatan]

Am I right in thinking not all guards use Avantix machines?

I was able to buy an all-zones Merseyrail Saveaway from the guard on an ATW service after I quoted the Avantix code to him. Yet, when I attempted to buy a West Midlands Day Ranger from the guard on an XC service, he was unable to find it, despite me looking on brfares.com to check the Avantix code.

In fact, the guard showed me an error message on the screen of his device saying the ticket I wanted didn't exist after he searched by the correct Avantix code.

So, am I right in thinking Avantix codes don't work for all devices?

 

[LowLevel]

You've not necessarily got the right code - there are two usually. I just search the first obvious letter of the rover or ranger and hope for the best, if you go in rover enquiry west mids day rangers are easy to find by inputting W.

 

[First class]

Those codes do not make a bit of difference for Avantix!

For point to point tickets they are fine, but ranger and rover tickets can only be found my text, not by inputting any codes!

ATW staff will know how to issue Saveaways because they sell plenty of them out of Chester and Shrewsbury depots, as they are valid on the Bidston services.

 

[156441]

The guard would need to be in the correct menu to issue a rover. It's a completely different screen to the normal ticket issue screen.

 

[Rover]

The guard would need to be in the correct menu to issue a rover. It's a completely different screen to the normal ticket issue screen.

But shouldn't the guard, in fact all guards, be aware of this?
Is it too simplistic just to have a separate menu for rovers/rangers where they are all listed and then just scroll down until you find it?

 

[andrewkeith5]

But shouldn't the guard, in fact all guards, be aware of this?
Is it too simplistic just to have a separate menu for rovers/rangers where they are all listed and then just scroll down until you find it?

There are so many things that all guards should know/be aware of/do...

Isn't that what people are saying is the case? A separate screen where they are all listed sounds like what the other posters have been describing...

 

[ainsworth74]

Is it too simplistic just to have a separate menu for rovers/rangers where they are all listed and then just scroll down until you find it?

It would be a very long list on a very small screen on a piece of equipment that is obsolete. I suppose it could work but I think it might be more useful to ensure that rover products are loaded into the system with the correct letter to search for being obvious.

 

[TheEdge]

But shouldn't the guard, in fact all guards, be aware of this?
Is it too simplistic just to have a separate menu for rovers/rangers where they are all listed and then just scroll down until you find it?

There is. The Avantix has two issuing screens. One is "Fare Enquiry", enter two CRS codes, get list of all tickets. This is where to use either the three letter codes or 4 figure codes.

There is then Rover Enquiry. Its a somewhat more complex one and it needs you to know either the code or the official name of rover. Some are obvious, Anglia Plus Day Ranger for example is AP1, some are less so. If neither the passenger or guard knows either the rover code or the official name the Avantix machines do have a full list but obviously that is a hell of a hunt.

To blur the lines some rover type tickets can also be issued as a normal tickets. The Anglia Plus "destination" for example can be issued using the code K285 as a destination. Somewhat different validity to the pure rover but still blurs the line.

 

[trentside]

You also have to realise that most guards don't have an encyclopaedic knowledge of ticketing outside of their local area, as they've simply no need to under normal circumstances. I like to think that I can find and issue most rovers and rangers, but especially when someone isn't familiar with a product, and the name is presented somewhat differently to the one a passenger is asking about, then they're going to struggle.

Hunting through the full list of rovers is no easy task when you've got loads of other passengers and door duties to do, trust me!

 

[alex17595]

You might be better downloading the Avantix traveller app from ATOC. May help more with the names.

 

[bb21]

Some people have covered part of what I wanted to say.

To summarise, there are two types of codes. Each Ranger/Rover fare has an NLC code and a Rover code. The NLC code can be entered on the main fares enquiry screen but not all of them have fares defined in this way so cannot always be sold this way.

The Rover code can be entered via the Ranger/Rover screen and all products can be sold in this way. BR Fares will give you the Rover code, which for Centro Daytripper is C1D, and Saveaway is MTE, for example. Less obvious ones include the Central Scotland Rover - FF7 - to give you an example. These will not work if entered via the main fares enquiry screen.

 

[bunnahabhain]

The other issue with some rovers is that on the ticket and avantix the full name isn't shown. Freedom of the North East is shown as FONE on both, unless you know that it would have to be a massive leap of faith to sell one to somebody if you're unfamiliar with it.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Lots of bits of information are reaching me from various sources, some reliable, some I am uncertain about, but reports are that technical, maintenance and software support for Avantix is being withdrawn nationally in 2016.

A new machine is currently in design, which it sounds like is essentially a tablet that will print bus ticket style paper tickets from a small printer. The options available to the users of these machines (and passengers who get tickets from users of them) will be vastly different to Avantix now, some better and some worse, apparently.

 

[bb21]

No mag stripe? That will be useful.

 

[ainsworth74]

I wonder how they'll operate all those barriers the DfT are so keen to put in? Perhaps QR codes printed on the tickets?

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I wonder how they'll operate all those barriers the DfT are so keen to put in? Perhaps QR codes printed on the tickets?

Yes. Small bus style paper tickets, apparently "about the same size as a current Thyron receipt", that will feature a QR code along with only brief details of the ticket printed in normal text.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Can't see bus style tickets being popular considering how easily damaged they would get! Maybe this is an attempt to push smart ticketing? Make paper tickets so rubbish that no one will use them!