Barriers and rejecting discount tickets

[asylumxl]

Hi all!

All of this week on my way to and from work I've found that FCC TL stations seem to have their barriers set to reject discounted tickets both in and out.

It's been set like that morning, afternoon, every direction, every day for a whole week now. And I'm finding it quite irritating.

Is there rules on this? I was under the impression there was.

Any help on the subject would be appreciated!

 

[Mike395]

Bedford have been doing this for a month or more now - I've sent a carefully worded letter to FCC expressing my objection to this, but havent yet had a response.

Sadly, I'm not sure its against any rules, as its effectively a permanent revenue block

 

[SS4]

Bedford have been doing this for a month or more now - I've sent a carefully worded letter to FCC expressing my objection to this, but havent yet had a response.

Sadly, I'm not sure its against any rules, as its effectively a permanent revenue block

Would you be able to cite age discrimination as it appears that FCC are accusing the young and old of fare dodging by (legitimately) not paying full fare? I'd be interested to see their response but I can't see you getting anything off them. Perhaps you should go with an angle of "old man accused of fare dodging"? After all the media aren't known for telling the truth

 

[First class]

Would you be able to cite age discrimination as it appears that FCC are accusing the young and old of fare dodging by (legitimately) not paying full fare? I'd be interested to see their response but I can't see you getting anything off them. Perhaps you should go with an angle of "old man accused of fare dodging"? After all the media aren't known for telling the truth

Discrimination, really?

You must be able to present the railcard or supporting document at all times when requested by an authorised person.

The gates rejecting tickets mean you should show the authorised person any supporting documentation.

-Railway Byelaw and NRCoC.

 

[SS4]

Discrimination, really?

You must be able to present the railcard or supporting document at all times when requested by an authorised person.

The gates rejecting tickets mean you should show the authorised person any supporting documentation.

-Railway Byelaw and NRCoC.

Perhaps you're right but I was thinking of the assumption that people travelling on discounted tickets are fare dodgers.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not fare-dodging, but given that a discounted ticket must, in almost all cases, be presented with some additional documentation, isn't their action understandable?

I'm not sure I agree with rejecting ALL discounted tickets, however.

I'm yet to have a Priv ticket rejected anywhere, although the sale of those tickets is more tightly regulated.

 

[Mike395]

Bear in mind that FCC is DOO and hardly ever has ticket checks - so perhaps they've decided it's the best way of checking railcards? I do think however that they should only have the barriers set up for rejection in one direction though - if this policy is applied uniformly it is still effective (for the most part, Im aware a few stations still are unbarriered or open their barriers earlier in the evening)

My main complaint is not with the practice, but the way it slows down people entering/exiting the platforms, with the barrier staff having to check people in both directions.

 

[RJ]

Would you be able to cite age discrimination as it appears that FCC are accusing the young and old of fare dodging by (legitimately) not paying full fare? I'd be interested to see their response but I can't see you getting anything off them. Perhaps you should go with an angle of "old man accused of fare dodging"? After all the media aren't known for telling the truth

Desperate and ridiculous.

 

[Greenback]

There can be no discrimination on the grounds of age if all railcards are rejected, including those such as HM Forces, Network Cards, F&F and Two Together. Indeed, as 16-25 cards are available to mature full time students even that one fails to be discriminatory.

There may be a case to describe barriers rejecting Senior Railcards only as age discrimination, but that is about the best I can say!

 

[AlterEgo]

There can be no discrimination on the grounds of age if all railcards are rejected, including those such as HM Forces, Network Cards, F&F and Two Together. Indeed, as 16-25 cards are available to mature full time students even that one fails to be discriminatory.

There may be a case to describe barriers rejecting Senior Railcards only as age discrimination, but that is about the best I can say!

I was waiting for someone to play the Disabled Card!

 

[Greenback]

Perhaps they still will!

 

[barrykas]

I'm yet to have a Priv ticket rejected anywhere, although the sale of those tickets is more tightly regulated.

Last time I travelled on Southeastern Highspeed, the barriers at St Pancras and Ebbsfleet rejected my PRIV Day Return. But in general, yes, barriers won't reject a PRIV.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[sheff1]

Not fare-dodging, but given that a discounted ticket must, in almost all cases, be presented with some additional documentation, isn't their action understandable?

In a way, yes .... but if they really want to check the additional documentation in all cases, why not direct passengers with such tickets to a manned gate at the outset, thus cutting down delays at the automatic barriers.

I know from personal experience how annoyed fellow travellers can get, especially in the London area, if your ticket doesn't work the barrier and you delay them for a few seconds ! Even better though when you try your ticket again in case you inserted it incorrectly the first time

 

[wintonian]

In a way, yes .... but if they really want to check the additional documentation in all cases, why not direct passengers with such tickets to a manned gate at the outset, thus cutting down delays at the automatic barriers.

I know from personal experience how annoyed fellow travellers can get, especially in the London area, if your ticket doesn't work the barrier and you delay them for a few seconds ! Even better though when you try your ticket again in case you inserted it incorrectly the first time

They could direct people to manned gate but I suspect they will still insist you put in the barrier first.

Sent from my HTC Desire S

 

[sheff1]

They could direct people to manned gate but I suspect they will still insist you put in the barrier first.

I don't doubt that you are correct. On many occasions I have been told to put a ticket though a barrier even though I know it won't work, which is why I have approached the manned gate in the first place

 

[Chris999999]

In such situations it is best to try your ticket by inserting it in all 4 possible ways, and then repeating this again in case you made a mistake with the original 4 choices. Repeat this at every available barrier.

The crowds of delayed commuters will give encouragement!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

In such situations it is best to try your ticket by inserting it in all 4 possible ways, and then repeating this again in case you made a mistake with the original 4 choices. Repeat this at every available barrier.

The crowds of delayed commuters will give encouragement!

I must try that!

 

[craigwilson]

Last time I travelled on Southeastern Highspeed, the barriers at St Pancras and Ebbsfleet rejected my PRIV Day Return. But in general, yes, barriers won't reject a PRIV.

St Pancras seems to reject anything that isn't a "To: LONDON TERMINALS" route "PLUS HIGH SPEED". Sometimes the odd onward Off-Peak ticket works it, but I've never had an Advance open the gate. I always just go straight for the gate staff now!!

It's strange because the Victoria barriers (the other station I tend to use for journeys into/via London) have never rejected anything.

 

[bb21]

It's strange because the Victoria barriers (the other station I tend to use for journeys into/via London) have never rejected anything.

My experience at Victoria says that the barriers in front of Platform 15-19 reject Route Southern Only Advances and gateline staff insist on seeing the reservation coupon too.

 

[causton]

My experience at Victoria says that the barriers in front of Platform 15-19 reject Route Southern Only Advances and gateline staff insist on seeing the reservation coupon too.

Was fun with the Southern 90% off advances - just about every single gate was jammed with the advance tickets stuck inside - cue one very embarrassed gateline attendant having to retrieve them all!

 

[wintonian]

St Pancras seems to reject anything that isn't a "To: LONDON TERMINALS" route "PLUS HIGH SPEED". Sometimes the odd onward Off-Peak ticket works it, but I've never had an Advance open the gate. I always just go straight for the gate staff now!!

Well tickets to Calais work the barriers (route any permitted) even though they arnt valid on HS1 according to Southeastern Trains.

Or are you talking about the EMT platform's in perticular?

Sent from my HTC Desire S

 

[asylumxl]

Like Mike said, it's not so much about having to present my railcard. It's the fact that there is a huge crowd of people behind you that whinge and moan because you didn't go through, but then have their tickets rejected too.

I think the code that comes up on the barriers is 135. It's obviously a TL wide thing.

 

[craigwilson]

My experience at Victoria says that the barriers in front of Platform 15-19 reject Route Southern Only Advances and gateline staff insist on seeing the reservation coupon too.

My experience with Victoria is with the Southeastern platforms....I've only ever used Oyster on the Southern platforms.

 

[philjo]

The FCC GN route stations in Hertfordshire will not accept the tickets sold with the 50% discount given to holders of a Hertfordshire senior bus pass.
I gather this is due to the ticket type not being programmed into the barriers.

They used to reject any advance tickets booked via East Coast but this seems to have been fixed now.

 

[Paul Kelly]

In such situations it is best to try your ticket by inserting it in all 4 possible ways, and then repeating this again in case you made a mistake with the original 4 choices. Repeat this at every available barrier.

I thought the reason for a magnetic stripe in the centre (rather than offset, as on credit cards), was that there were only two possible ways of inserting it (facing up or facing down). It actually seems to me a better design than credit cards have, but I suppose there must be a reason for the stripe being offset that I'm not aware of.

 

[LexyBoy]

I thought the reason for a magnetic stripe in the centre (rather than offset, as on credit cards), was that there were only two possible ways of inserting it (facing up or facing down). It actually seems to me a better design than credit cards have, but I suppose there must be a reason for the stripe being offset that I'm not aware of.

I thought it was so that the card is easy to hold when swiping by hand - the older readers were quite bulky.

 

[island]

I thought the reason for a magnetic stripe in the centre (rather than offset, as on credit cards), was that there were only two possible ways of inserting it (facing up or facing down). It actually seems to me a better design than credit cards have, but I suppose there must be a reason for the stripe being offset that I'm not aware of.

I very strongly suspect that Chris999999 was joking.

I less strongly suspect that the credit card stripe in on one side because that's how the first person who made a magnetic stripe card decided to do it. It could also be because the readers don't need to be as large.