Farringdon station: Changing from National Rail/exiting

[DoubleCeiling]

I regularly commute to Farringdon and change to the Elizabeth Line and find myself getting annoyed at how little signage the oyster tap in machine gets. It's right near the stairs to the Underground, but I only found out when doing a Google search and prior, I was charged maximum TFL fee since it had no idea where I was coming from. Unless you tap in as soon as you get off a Thameslink train, you have no option to do so, unless you exit the station via ticket hall and tap in and out. When I worked near Farringdon, I struggled with exiting as some times there were no staff around to check my ticket to let me out so I'd have to tap in and spend extra money when I already had a valid ticket. There is no ability to place a paper ticket if you have one either. This isn't the case at St Pancras.

Are any other stations like this?

 

[Surreytraveller]

It was altered to provide tap - in readers between the Thameslink and Elizabeth Line some time ago. There's a big notice there, and surely you'd realise you'd need a valid ticket before entering the TfL system?
Don't know why TfL didn't think it was necessary originally not to provide Oystercard readers, as it was obvious they'd be plenty of people changing there from National Rail to TfL ticketing

 

[MrJeeves]

When I worked near Farringdon, I struggled with exiting as some times there were no staff around to check my ticket to let me out so I'd have to tap in and spend extra money when I already had a valid ticket.

TfL gatelines should always be staffed, and Farringdon is no exception to that (and has always been staffed when I've passed through).

There is no ability to place a paper ticket if you have one either. This isn't the case at St Pancras.

What do you mean by this? All TfL ticket barriers have paper ticket slots.

 

[DoubleCeiling]

It was altered to provide tap - in readers between the Thameslink and Elizabeth Line some time ago. There's a big notice there, and surely you'd realise you'd need a valid ticket before entering the TfL system?
Don't know why TfL didn't think it was necessary originally not to provide Oystercard readers, as it was obvious they'd be plenty of people changing there from National Rail to TfL ticketing

Yes in hindsight I should have noticed, however it isn't always clear where it is, if you haven't travelled on that service before given, it can be confusing as you're going against traffic. It should really be on both ends of the platforms, near the lift and stairs too.

TfL gatelines should always be staffed, and Farringdon is no exception to that (and has always been staffed when I've passed through).


What do you mean by this? All TfL ticket barriers have paper ticket slots.

Farringdon hasn't always been 100% staffed, I've been through several times when its been quiet. In some instances, it can be hard to wait for someone to let me in without a pile of traffic behind. My apologies, there are paper ticket slots but no QR code, that's where a lot of the issues lie.

 

[Mike395]

If a gateline isn't staffed (even for just a few minutes), either a single gate or the entire set must always be left open. Definitely get onto TfL if you ever notice this not being the case.

 

[Surreytraveller]

I think the main barrier lines are staffed, but aren't there some quiet out of the way barriers as well, where there probably aren't always staff lurking?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2024 ==

If a gateline isn't staffed (even for just a few minutes), either a single gate or the entire set must always be left open. Definitely get onto TfL if you ever notice this not being the case.

What must happen, and what happens in reality, are two different things. Numerous times I've been to LU gatelines and there've been no staff about

 

[Mike395]

What must happen, and what happens in reality, are two different things. Numerous times I've been to LU gatelines and there've been no staff about

I don't dispute that, but TfL are particularly hot on this and do act on customer complaints if there are locations where this frequently is reported as happening.

 

[Edvid]

My apologies, there are paper ticket slots but no QR code, that's where a lot of the issues lie.

Yeah, that goes for all stations within TfL's portfolio; Farringdon is LU-managed.

The absence of fixed barcode readers on any gateline within TfL stations is based primarily on two things AIUI - implied* concerns over slower passenger throughput compared to Oyster / contactless (a safety-critical matter at major LU stations) and, more explicitly, disagreements between the Rail Delivery Group & TfL on back-office arrangements.

A trial with handheld barcode readers at some LU/NR interchanges (including Farringdon) commenced in June,^ though it obviously requires staff to be present...

[* Discussed at length on this forum, but not mentioned in any TfL documentation/correspondence that isn't restricted (that I know of, at least)]
[^ Progress as of late August - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/e-tickets-availability.250402/post-6963737]

 

[ngood77]

Hi. Slightly off topic but can anybody confirm what are the opening times and flow direction for the Turnmill St entrance/exit at Farringdon ? Can’t find it online. Thanks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Apr 2025 ==

For those interested below is the answer I got from TfL. Which is wrong as I used the gateline outside of those hours last week.