Best pen for carnet

[kamb1ng]

Hi all, new here and I'm going to start using carnet in January after being on annual season ticket for 4 years. However I'm now quite scared after I started reading about all the prosecutions to passengers because they used the wrong pen on the carnet ticket and ended up being accused for fare dodging.

One question: what brand/model pen should I use so that I avoid getting into the situation above?

Many thanks!

 

[radamfi]

Don't use carnet under any circumstances. Simply not worth the risk no matter how cheap.

 

[gazthomas]

I often wonder why the ticket can't just be validated when first used, as happens on the continent and other places

 

[Hadders]

I believe GTR Stations will give you a suitable pen if you ask.

 

[radamfi]

This sort of ticket is ideal for smartcards or mobile use. I thought all tickets were supposed to be available on smartcard or mobile by the end of the year, which is only 2 days away.

 

[trainmania100]

Definitely not one of those pens with an eraser

 

[BluePenguin]

I would say a biro as the ink is impossible to rub off. A felt tip pen is as easy to remove as licking your finger so avoid them

 

[Hadders]

This sort of ticket is ideal for smartcards or mobile use. I thought all tickets were supposed to be available on smartcard or mobile by the end of the year, which is only 2 days away.

There is absolutely no way all tickets are available on smart cards from 1 Jan 2019.

 

[Wallsendmag]

This sort of ticket is ideal for smartcards or mobile use. I thought all tickets were supposed to be available on smartcard or mobile by the end of the year, which is only 2 days away.

In theory but not in practise

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I would say a biro as the ink is impossible to rub off. A felt tip pen is as easy to remove as licking your finger so avoid them

One of these, in the attached picture, is ideal. Fine tip for smooth small easy writing. Dries instantly on shiny tickets. Available from all good stationery shops. Get a Fine tip not medium as they get too fat.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I find just an ordinary biro works fine. You can't leave it to the last minute as it takes a few minutes to completely dry so it won't smudge, thus somewhat defeating the point of carnets, but it's by far the most reliable.

It's worked fine for several self-date rovers I've used.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would say a biro as the ink is impossible to rub off. A felt tip pen is as easy to remove as licking your finger so avoid them

Problem is that a biro sometimes doesn't write properly and if you go over again you'll end up accused of re-use.

A fine-tipped permanent marker is the only sensible option other than "don't". And if you stuff one up, bin it. And date it the day before and leave it out to dry, don't date it then put in your wallet as it'll smudge and you'll be accused of re-use.

Actually, best answer, just don't.

 

[hooverboy]

I often wonder why the ticket can't just be validated when first used, as happens on the continent and other places

indeed.

in germany they have stamping machines,so you validate each section of the carnet as and when you travel.simple but effective.

 

[717001]

I believe GTR Stations will give you a suitable pen if you ask.

I’ve seen this happen - gateline staff. Also possibly useful to have one of those in case of a later issue.

 

[Joe Paxton]

indeed.

in germany they have stamping machines,so you validate each section of the carnet as and when you travel.simple but effective.

We've gone down the smartcard route, so a mechanical stamper ('composteur' in France) would be considered old hat.

Of course, we haven't actually managed to get smartcard carnet ticketing a working reality yet...

 

[Mojo]

One of these, in the attached picture, is ideal. Fine tip for smooth small easy writing. Dries instantly on shiny tickets. Available from all good stationery shops. Get a Fine tip not medium as they get too fat.

The ticket office at St Pancras gave me one of these pens for free back in Capital Connect days; there were adverts on the station saying that they will give free pens to Carnet customers. Later pens were branded Capital Connect and looked different but wrote the same.

I would say a biro as the ink is impossible to rub off. A felt tip pen is as easy to remove as licking your finger so avoid them

Definitely not good advice! Many of the problems customers on here have had in the past have been connected with a biro because they don't seem to get it right first time.

 

[maniacmartin]

Do not use a Biro