Do you use ticket offices?

[185143]

Never found staff anything other than helpful when buying split tickets. Indeed, on occasion they've suggested further options.

Only time I've had issues buying a split ticket was with Merseyrail at South Parkway who weren't aware that NRCoC 19c was now NRCoT 14.2-the split wasn't valid previously (ranger+return on a non stop EMT to Widnes) but is now.

 

[Minilad]

I always use a ticket office if available as machines or the interweb don't sell PRIV

 

[SAPhil]

Once a year to buy my annual travelcard, then every other month or so to get it reprinted!

 

[stut]

Yes, on the frequent occasions that the appropriately-homophonic Scheidt & Bachmann TVMs at my local station are außer Betrieb...

Bring on KeyGo!

 

[A Challenge]

I use the ticket office at North Camp if I'm going from there and its open but from Woking its usually the TVM - I purchased a Themes Rover from Woking though on the day before in case North Camp's ticket office was shut.

The tine before that at Woking I wanted a split A to B and B to C and I got sold A to B twice and had to get them reissued!

 

[Tractor37]

I always use a ticket office as there isn't a PRIV option on a station ticket machine or the Internet.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

There has been a few times where I haven't prebooked and the queue has been shorter in the office than the machines. It's a good time saver in some situations as the staff are very efficient in my local office.

My local ticket office, Welwyn Garden City, has the opposite scenario on many occasions; hordes of people queueing at two windows (especially Saturday), the TVMs virtually deserted.
I never understand, when the semi-fast train to London is due within 7-8 minutes, why people take the risk of joining s big queue!

 

[High Dyke]

I use the ticket office for all journeys that I need to purchase a ticket for - I only have free travel on a couple of TOCs in my area. Equally having the Priv. means that I can't use the machine to purchase tickets. The other way for me is to buy from the guard on the train, thus helping their commission.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I'd have preferred to see the option of 'focal point on the station where passengers can buy a ticket and know there will be a member of staff' and 'unstaffed station'

 

[talldave]

I usually buy tickets the evening before, to avoid queueing on the day. I used to buy at the TVM, but since GTR Southern have replaced their machines with new ones that do not allow selecting a different origin station, that is no longer an option. Buying online is too fiddly on a phone for a simple walkup ticket - entering address and credit card details and being forced to choose an itinerary takes ages, especially around London Bridge station where data signal is virtually non-existent. As such I now almost always buy at the (Southeastern-run) ticket office.

So, for my purchasing habits, these new TVMs are helping keep ticket offices open!

FWIW the Hull Trains website lets you purchase tickets in the old fashioned way, without all the itinerary rubbish.

 

[robbeech]

I felt it necessary to put rarely although that might be being a little harsh.
I do use a ticket office where it is the most sensible approach, if there is a similar queue at machines i will always prefer to talk to someone than a machine* though my local station has a less than 12 month old ticket machine that is out of order most of the time (or not accepting cards, or cash, or something is wrong) and my nearest station with a ticket office is Worksop where SOME of the staff are unable to sell tickets. If i end up at Worksop i will always walk through the ticket office / waiting room on the Sheffield platform to see which member of staff is working, and then decide whether to buy a ticket there or from the machine or on board as quite frankly with some members of staff there, the first opportunity to purchase is actually on the train.

 

[156443]

I only tend to use ticket offices if buying tickets for a future journey somewhere as I use the machine on the platform if travelling on the same day as I buy a ticket.

 

[30909]

I don't have the time/patience to use the TVM unless the TO is closed and its off peak. There are three TVMs at my local station one in the main building close to the TO one outside by the main entrance, on the down side, which on sunny mornings is next to useless as the sun's reflection is blinding. The other on the upside is quite exposed and rather inhospitable in inclement weather.

 

[Railcar]

I use ticket offices where possible because of 'Use it or lose it'
but also
because ticket machines do not offer a choice of starting point. This is particularly relevant with a London Freedom Pass. If I want to go to Windsor (Riverside) then I need a return from Feltham (the FP boundary) to Windsor.
On other routes, say East Croydon to Eastbourne, a return for 'Boundary of Zone 6 to Eastbourne' is cheaper than 'East Croydon to Eastbourne'. Ticket machines don't seem to have an option of 'Boundary of Zone 6'. Using a ticket office saves money.

 

[Wombat]

I generally go for the TVMs because they're quicker (more so because they're contactless, which the payment terminals at the ticket office are not). On the negative side, this does mean that I typically end up picking up a couple of receipts that have been left behind by previous passengers. In an ideal world people would clear up after themselves; in a slightly less ideal world there would be a "Do you want a receipt?" prompt before dispensing the ticket.

 

[fowler9]

I tend to use the ticket office at West Allerton because the staff are really helpful and know their stuff and the TVM is out of order more often than not anyway. Plus I want to keep the ticket office staff in a job. At Liverpool South Parkway I'll use the TVM unless I am renewing a Trio ticket because the ticket office staff don't seem to know their stuff. It is also hit and miss being able to renew a Trio at Parkway as they just don't seem to renew their stock when they run out.

 

[satisnek]

Good heavens yes! But I voted 'Mostly' because I do use TVMs as well.

 

[TwistedMentat]

I generally go for the TVMs because they're quicker (more so because they're contactless, which the payment terminals at the ticket office are not). On the negative side, this does mean that I typically end up picking up a couple of receipts that have been left behind by previous passengers. In an ideal world people would clear up after themselves; in a slightly less ideal world there would be a "Do you want a receipt?" prompt before dispensing the ticket.

I came across a TVM at Staines that had just that prompt. Took me a moment after getting my tickets to realize I had clicked no so no receipt was coming.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

As a football supporter visiting multitudinous grounds around the country, I regularly visit Ellesmere Port or Hooton stations on a Friday morning to pick up a number of split-ticket day returns to get to my match the next day.

Life would be so much simpler if there were long-distance CDRs between every two stations in the country (or at least where the timetable permits a day return).

 

[96tommy]

I buy most advances now online but refuse to use mobile tickets. Half the time they don't seem to work when scanned and having a paper ticket means I don't need to worry about my phone running out of charge
Only time I use ticket machines is for travel on the day. For example when I come home I buy a advance from London to Doncaster and at Kings X will buy a Doncaster to Wakefield single depending if I am travelling onwards. I know this can be done using new VTEC machines but find this annoying as it asks you to choose certain trains even with an anytime ticket

 

[plcd1]

If travelling within the London zonal area then I'll use my priv PAYG Oyster card.
Sometimes I'll use a free box otherwise it has to be a ticket office to obtain a priv discount. However my trips by train are very limited as some TOC priv fares are not exactly cheap for those of us on tight budgets.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I prefer to use a ticket office (where there is one) so that I can purchase either a ranger / rover ticket but also to purchase any split ticketing. Where there isn't a ticket office and the ticket machine doesn't accept cash, then I'll purchase onboard.

 

[PHILIPE]

I prefer to use a ticket office (where there is one) so that I can purchase either a ranger / rover ticket but also to purchase any split ticketing. Where there isn't a ticket office and the ticket machine doesn't accept cash, then I'll purchase onboard.

You wouldn't be allowed to on ATW. If there are facilities for buying tickets at the station you are legally (by their interpretation) required to buy there, red line

 

[A Challenge]

Though if your paying by cash and there is only a card option on the TVM then you can as you haven't had an opportunity to pay. If that's not allowed...

 

[Master29]

Went for very rarely. Don`t have much choice down here in Cornwall plus at Cornish stations you spend a long time queueing I`ve found. When I have used them I always find staff very helpful however.

 

[talldave]

I came across a TVM at Staines that had just that prompt. Took me a moment after getting my tickets to realize I had clicked no so no receipt was coming.

The S&B machines at Gravesend are hopeless for receipts. The one I used this evening shows a "request additional receipt" button, which implies you're going to get a receipt and only need to press it if you want a second one. Of course, you get nothing!

 

[A Challenge]

The one at Woking gives you two if you say yes and none if you say no if I remember correctly

 

[route101]

Usually TVMs as the lines are too big in the office . But if i require a rover or plusbus its the ticket office . Plusbus should certainly be on the TVMS .

 

[Egg]

As mobile tickets and ticket machines become even more prevalent on the railway I was thinking about usage of ticket offices and their future especially as London Underground doesn't have any anymore.

Personally I haven't used a ticket office in a very long time as I always buy or collect tickets from machines or onboard. What about you?

I try, but often get rudely fobbed off and directed to a machine.

 

[joncombe]

I mostly only use tickets offices when buying tickets not available online, like railcards, car park seasons or photocards or when needing to pay with a Rail Travel Voucher (I still get them, despite asking for a cheque/cash).

The main reason is that I've had too many issues with difficult staff, such as:-

• Telling me the ticket I want to buy doesn't exist (a return from my local station to London Zone 1, which is cheaper than the Peak Travelcard they try to sell you - I only need a return not so a Zone 1 return is sufficient). The South Western Railway website will sell you such a ticket, as will the ticket machines. Just not the ticket office.
  
• Not selling tickets for tomorrow until after 3pm (yet I can buy a ticket for any day within the next 3 months from their website and immediately collect at the machine - so why not at the ticket office).
• Refusing to sell off peak tickets at peak times (even after you have explained you are not wanting to travel immediately, e.g. buying a ticket for travel after work on your morning commute)
• Making a fuss in selling tickets originating at another station - sometimes insisting on seeing other tickets (season) that I will use to get to the station I'm wanting to buy a ticket from before they will issue the ticket I asked for.
  
• Being unable to find the ticket I want (a particular problem seems to be tickets with PlusBus extensions)

Generally I buy online and collect at the machine.

On one memorable occasion when trying to claim void days on my season ticket, after much huffing and puffing I was handed a form and told to fill it in. But given no pen to fill it in with - I asked for a pen and was told he didn't have one (I had to borrow one from someone else in the queue).

In addition buying a ticket online usually means you can get some sort of discount or other incentive (e.g. Nectar points), which are not available when booking via a ticket office. You can also choose your seat on many websites which again most ticket offices don't seem to offer (usually ticket offices seem to be able to offer window, aisle, airline or table, but not a specific seat).

Generally when arriving at a station and wanting to travel immediately i'll use the machine unless there is a queue for the machine and none at the ticket office.