New Ticket Design Launched

[Paul Kelly]

This specific ticket may solve a long-running mystery that has appeared in other threads.
Does 'NOT VIA LONDON' mean not via London Terminals or not via London Routeing Group.

From this picture, it would seem the industry believe it is Not via London Terminals.

I will give a contrary view and say that's just a mistake made by someone designing the new ticket formats who didn't fully investigate the issue!

 

[andrewkeith5]

I will give a contrary view and say that's just a mistake made by someone designing the new ticket formats who didn't fully investigate the issue!

Didn't foresee that TOCs would be so cheap as to skimp on rubbish printers instead of spending money making they had good quality equipment for the most important part of their retail business? Surely not?!

 

[hassaanhc]

London Marylebone machines were issuing in the new format yesterday (6 November). When I last used the station, back in August, it was just the ticket office that used the new format.
Don't think the Avantix portable machines are being updated to the new format are they?

 

[kieron]

I got a mixture of old and new style from one of the ticket machines in Chester last week. As the new descriptions dosn't seem to be part of the fare database, it may be that they don't have new versions of all of the text on the London-Bedford one.

 

[jon0844]

Spotted a mistake on the first ticket. It says 'ask staff' which we all know can be a problem if you're asking at, say, the Paddington station gateline!

 

[JaJaWa]

I got a mixture of old and new style from one of the ticket machines in Chester last week. As the new descriptions dosn't seem to be part of the fare database, it may be that they don't have new versions of all of the text on the London-Bedford one.

It's because that Thameslink one is a Super Off Peak Day Return.

 

[Starmill]

And before any does I'm going to ask them not to do it as there are other thread for such a discussion to take place

I wouldn't enjoy being someone trying to point out that Thameslink isn't a TOC either

 

[rosschap]

The Southeastern TVM at Maidstone East platform 1 is spitting these out now, at least for walk-ups.
Interestingly, the brand new card-only TVM at Barming still only issues the old style of ticket. Southeastern have been replacing all of the Permit to Travel machines across their network with these new card-only TVMs.

This has probably already been answered, but is the new design being used with seasons?

 

[kieron]

It's because that Thameslink one is a Super Off Peak Day Return.

Thanks. With hundreds of ticket types available, I suppose it's easy to miss one.

 

[yorksrob]

These are coming from the machines in Leeds at the moment. Lettering seems far too small.

 

[387star]

I have noticed many of these have typed over text which is very poor and crammed tiny writing not good..

 

[387star]

amended

 

[Clip]

I am still waiting for the first report of an FGW Advance being printed in new format.

I think Ive got some at home that my friends used with their 2together.

Its a mess and its overprinted on what railcard it is so you cant tell lol

ETA: I see ml has already posted one.

 

[jon0844]

I think the printers need to be updated on the ones that clearly can't make small text that's legible (and of course, fixing the overwriting issue).

I got one today that has loads of lines not printing making it near impossible to read the origin station. Now, as I have a railcard discount and that means I usually get 'seek assistance' at the gates - unreadable tickets can cause unnecessary hassle for me AND staff.

The printers that print an 'image', rather than what looks similar to an old dot matrix printer, are far better. Printers can't be THAT expensive, and must pay for themselves if it makes the job of staff easier.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I think the printers need to be updated on the ones that clearly can't make small text that's legible (and of course, fixing the overwriting issue).

I got one today that has loads of lines not printing making it near impossible to read the origin station. Now, as I have a railcard discount and that means I usually get 'seek assistance' at the gates - unreadable tickets can cause unnecessary hassle for me AND staff.

The printers that print an 'image', rather than what looks similar to an old dot matrix printer, are far better. Printers can't be THAT expensive, and must pay for themselves if it makes the job of staff easier.

You'd be surprised and with two printers in most machines the cost soon adds up.

 

[Reason077]

These are coming from the machines in Leeds at the moment. Lettering seems far too small.

Doesn't look like that barcode would be readable by anything either, since it's missing a chunk of lines due to the printer being faulty (or low on toner?)

 

[najaB]

Doesn't look like that barcode would be readable by anything either, since it's missing a chunk of lines due to the printer being faulty (or low on toner?)

I'd need to try it again on an in-focus photo but it didn't read with my phone's barcode scanner.

 

[jon0844]

You'd be surprised and with two printers in most machines the cost soon adds up.

But it's a rather essential part of running a railway. Almost as important as having trains and platforms!

I have never understood how things like the provision to give customers information on train running, or machines to sell tickets (and tickets that are readable) are somehow considered optional extras.

I know supermarket analogies rarely work, but let's imagine if a Tesco set up a new megastore and thought it only necessary to install 2 checkouts.

As it happens, I also think they should be upgrading TVMs from time to time - not just the software but the hardware too.

Newer TVMs from the same manufacturer are MUCH quicker to respond, making them quicker to use and reducing or even eliminating errors. Older ones chug along and play catch up, and when you make an error, it takes ages to correct or cancel and start over.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I understand that moves are underway to improve the printing and layout , hopefully they will improve very shortly

 

[swt_passenger]

I'd need to try it again on an in-focus photo but it didn't read with my phone's barcode scanner.

That'll probably be because it is a secure 'Aztec code'. If anyone could read it that would be something of an own goal...

 

[najaB]

That'll probably be because it is a secure 'Aztec code'. If anyone could read it that would be something of an own goal...

Why? Being able to read it wouldn't cause a problem any more than being able to read the English words printed on the ticket.

 

[swt_passenger]

Why? Being able to read it wouldn't cause a problem any more than being able to read the English words printed on the ticket.

I don't know what the policy reasoning is, I'm just providing the explanation that has been given here earlier as to why people's QR readers don't read it.

 

[najaB]

I don't know what the policy reasoning is, I'm just providing the explanation that has been given here earlier as to why people's QR readers don't read it.

It can read other Aztec codes (e.g. from the TrainLine app). The risk isn't from reading the codes, it comes from being able to generate valid ones.

 

[Dent]

You'd be surprised and with two printers in most machines the cost soon adds up.

Is there any good reason each machine actually needs two ticket printers?

 

[ainsworth74]

Is there any good reason each machine actually needs two ticket printers?

Speed.

 

[northwichcat]

Printers can't be THAT expensive, and must pay for themselves if it makes the job of staff easier.

Printers are sold for a lot less than what it costs to make. The reason being manufacturers think you're more likely to buy a £50 printer and £10 ink refills than a £150 printer and £2.50 ink refills, so the printer is seen as a loss leader.

Manufacturers have made newer printers so that they recognise individual ink cartridges. That means if you get your old empty one refilled it'll still say "Replace cartridge" and refuse to print until you've done that, although if you get a refilled cartridge previously used in another printer you can probably use it without that issue.

 

[jon0844]

I hope commercial printers aren't sold like that!

 

[button_boxer]

Doesn't look like that barcode would be readable by anything either, since it's missing a chunk of lines due to the printer being faulty (or low on toner?)

These days ticket printers don't use ink or toner, they're direct thermal printers which print onto compatible thermal stock. The missing lines look like a fault with the print head (if it was faulty stock I wouldn't expect the missing bits to be straight lines like that).

 

[Starmill]

Is there any good reason each machine actually needs two ticket printers?

Parkeon and S&B Manchines only have one printer.

Curiously, I encountered some TransPennine RPIs recently who were using their scanners to on orange tickets which had an Aztec code. Of course, they have these because the TPE app (and possibly others) has been issuing m-Tickets with them and also their Print@Home tickets have had them for a long time. Nonetheless it was amusing because TPE's TVMs don't issue tickets with the codes on

 

[island]

These days ticket printers don't use ink or toner, they're direct thermal printers which print onto compatible thermal stock. The missing lines look like a fault with the print head (if it was faulty stock I wouldn't expect the missing bits to be straight lines like that).

Bound to be this. I used to service betting machines back in the day and this was a common issue. The print head probably just needs a wipe clean.

Those printers cost an absolute bomb by the way.