Freedom Pass Detector at Underground Stations

[Dr_Paul]

On one of the fare-dodging threads in the 'Fares and Prosecutions' section, someone wrote that ticket barriers at Underground stations have a detector that flashes up Freedom Passes so that barrier staff can assess the ticket-holder in order to see whether he or she looks sufficiently old to be holding such a ticket. I didn't know this; has this always been the case? Does this also apply to ticket barriers at Overground and National Rail stations in the London area? Although various people have said I don't look old enough to be an Old Age Pensioner, I've never been challenged at a ticket barrier since I've possessed a Freedom Pass. (Parenthetically, I must add that a friend of mine's wife was rather cheered when on a bus she showed a ticket inspector her Over-60 Oyster Card and he asked her why she was using her mother's card.)

 

[jfollows]

If you search this forum for "high value" you will probably find more background; I believe that gates can be set to flag up "high value" cards when they are used, which includes Freedom Passes but is not restricted to them alone. This then means that a human inspector can validate the use of the ticket.

 

[BJames]

This is correct, although I was not under the impression that they were necessarily stereotyping people on this - thought they just stopped anyone who had the light come on regardless of looks. The 'high value' card flag on the ticket barriers is a row of lights that flashes up when someone taps in their cards, and can be done at Overground and National Rail stations. While your Freedom Pass has your picture on it, a lot of high value cards have a photocard which the oyster must be accompanied with, else it is invalid.

I have a high value pass (and I am young, so I don't necessarily look like the kind of person who 'should' have one I suppose) - but I am entitled to it (nominee). Both my parents have passes (different ones - staff and 60+) and they are stopped just as regularly as me at Liverpool Street, going onto/coming off the Overground. Would note that this is, so far, the only station I have been stopped at to have my pass verified despite regular London travel (including to other terminals fairly regularly).

As I have this pass I notice a majority of gatelines I have passed through just have this setting turned on all the time now anyway. I don't really recall this from before but I guess I just wouldn't have noticed. (I think maybe some of the older gatelines don't do this?)

 

[MaidaVale]

This feature is enabled on most modern ticket gates across the UK (I believe some operators choose to not enable it or use it additionally for railcards). I've attached a (photoshopped) image of what it vaguely looks like, as I couldn't find any first-hand images, although its usually an amber/orange line of LEDs under the standard green entry ones that flashes up whenever a "high-value" pass that requires a photocard (such as a Staff Pass, Nominee Oyster, Freedom Pass, etc.) is used.

As far as I know, this has always been a feature on the most common modern 'cubic' gates that have been installed since the mid-2000s.

 

[matt_world2004]

It's not specifically a freedom pass detector but it would flag up any high value or concessionary pass for inspection so the same light might light up for a zip card as it would an freedom pass or an annual travelcard

 

[pitdiver]

It also flags up staff passes. This function has been available for a number of years. I often had my staff pass checked at Leicester Square when on the way to Covent Garden (by foot}

 

[ac-03]

This feature is enabled on most modern ticket gates across the UK (I believe some operators choose to not enable it or use it additionally for railcards). I've attached a (photoshopped) image of what it vaguely looks like, as I couldn't find any first-hand images, although its usually an amber/orange line of LEDs under the standard green entry ones that flashes up whenever a "high-value" pass that requires a photocard (such as a Staff Pass, Nominee Oyster, Freedom Pass, etc.) is used.

As far as I know, this has always been a feature on the most common modern 'cubic' gates that have been installed since the mid-2000s.

The old air gates that are still in use in zone one on London Underground also have this monitor feature. There are also different settings for DOCs Required, short season and child.

Another setting can also block monitored tickets/passes so the gate will not open.

 

[Meglos]

Does this also apply to ticket barriers at Overground and National Rail stations in the London area?

On the SWT Lines out of Waterloo, none of the following (Waterloo, Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Putney, Earlsfield, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Surbiton & Kingston) trigger the yellow lights when I use my Oyster 60+ card.
Of these Wimbledon is a bit surprising as it's a joint ticket gate line accessing both SWT and LUL services, whereas all the other stations are SWT only barriers. Southfields, East Putney and Putney Bridge all trigger the yellow lights, but that's what I would expect, with all being LUL ticket gate lines.

 

[MrJeeves]

Another setting can also block monitored tickets/passes so the gate will not open.

Waterloo enjoy doing this at peak times to prevent people, say, using a Network Railcard before 9:30am. This shows as error 136 on the small LCD display next to the green arrow.

Generic railcard blocks rather than time-based blocks will show as error 135.