Question re collecting tickets

[syorksdeano]

It's not really a ticketing question more of a query on the policy of the situation.

One of the regulars in the pub that I go to had a phone call from his daughter yesterday saying that she'd lost her train ticket and couldn't get home.

She'd no cash on her and no bank card, so money wasn't able to be transfered.

Apart from jumping on the train and more than likely getting a UFN, she needed to obtain a ticket to travel.

Luckily I was going through that train station 2 hours later, which meant I was able to purchase a ticket for her when my train stopped.

However I seem to remember reading somewhere that someone could go to A train station and purchase tickets for the person at B station, and for a admin fee the tickets could be paid for at A station.

Am I cracking up or have I actually read that somewhere?

 

[transportphoto]

No, you're not cracking up.

It's known as a SILK arrangement, 'Stranded Individual, Location Known', it is where a person who is stranded at a staffed station makes contact with another person to go to another staffed station and ask for this SILK arrangement.

It isn't widely publised, however still exists.

As far as I know it can only be used for un-discouted Anytime Single tickets, and a £10 administrative fee applies.

...you can ask for a SILK Arrangement. SILK stands for Stranded Individual Location Known. The person with the money must got to their nearest staffed station, and ask for SILK. The ticket office will liaise with Liverpool and your daughter must be present to collect the ticket. Only Anytime Single fares can be bought at full price. There are no discounts and a £10 admin fee is also charged. AFAIK the SILK has ToD (collect from machine) facilities but this is very much in it's infancy and I am not sure if this is yet practical.

TP

 

[Deerfold]

There is but it's not very well promoted by most TOCs.

Passenger Focus describe it here:

http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/fa...-at-a-station-with-no-money-can-anyone-help-2

 

[SS4]

Sounds like a SILK.

Suppose Bob is stuck at Euston and needs to get back to Birmingham New Street - I can buy a London - Birmingham ticket (at New St) and Bob can travel on it.

 

[syorksdeano]

I thought I wasn't cracking up.

Just a shame she had to wait so long waiting for me to arrive, especially when this could have been done and she would have been home before me.

I was travelling Newcastle to Sheffield and could have gone via Doncaster, but instead changed my route to go via Leeds.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Sounds like a SILK.

Suppose Bob is stuck at Euston and needs to get back to Birmingham New Street - I can buy a London - Birmingham ticket (at New St) and Bob can travel on it.

For bonus impartial retailing points, the staff at New Street will generally also offer Chiltern and London Midland as alternatives in such a scenario, given the eyewatering Virgin fare.

 

[MikeWh]

A possibly cheaper alternative is to buy vouchers on East Coast and then use those to buy the tickets to be picked up (with any card) TOD. Full range is obviously available that way.

 

[island]

A possibly cheaper alternative is to buy vouchers on East Coast and then use those to buy the tickets to be picked up (with any card) TOD. Full range is obviously available that way.

That would not have been possible in the case the OP described as the daughter had no bank card.

 

[TonyR]

It isn't widely publised, however still exists.

That would imply strenuous denial at the stations that such an arrangement exists based on my experience of using arrangements that exist but aren't publicised.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

You could use a site that allows any card collection (though not advertised) and can be picked up immediately.

I did this when I got pick-pocketed of my tickets in London and I had no means of travel to get back to Sutton Parkway, where I was going at the time.

Edit: I read TonyR's post and now realize that this may not have been possible in this situation due to no card. I suppose a member of staff may be willing if asked nicely and the situation explained properly.

 

[trentside]

That would imply strenuous denial at the stations that such an arrangement exists based on my experience of using arrangements that exist but aren't publicised.

I think you'd be surprised - they're fairly common, especially in University towns and cities.

I must have done about 20-30 during my 18 months in the booking office. They seem most common in the period up to holidays, but we also had a few regular customers - who could appear at any time needing to purchase a ticket for someone somewhere down in the Midlands. Other stations always seemed familiar with the arrangements when I phoned up, though doing them as a TOD sale has largely eliminated this issue - only had a problem with one London station that shall remain anonymous!

 

[MikeWh]

That would not have been possible in the case the OP described as the daughter had no bank card.

Good point, although I would hope that a truly stranded individual might be able to borrow a card from a member of staff who surely would know that it wouldn't be charged any money.

 

[trentside]

Good point, although I would hope that a truly stranded individual might be able to borrow a card from a member of staff who surely would know that it wouldn't be charged any money.

I've done that on a few occasions - though I obviously kept hold of my card.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Good point, although I would hope that a truly stranded individual might be able to borrow a card from a member of staff who surely would know that it wouldn't be charged any money.

Staff might be able to collect a ticket on someone's behalf from a TVM maybe, but staff can't use their own card on the ticket office machine.

 

[MikeWh]

Staff might be able to collect a ticket on someone's behalf from a TVM maybe, but staff can't use their own card on the ticket office machine.

Would they need a card on the ticket office machine if the TOD is set to any card?

 

[trentside]

Would they need a card on the ticket office machine if the TOD is set to any card?

STAR will certainly prompt for one to be inserted, even on any card collection.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The card is identifiable proof of someone picking the ticket up. STAR also asks for the PIN to be entered (to make sure it is the holders card).

 

[maniacmartin]

Some TVMs will allow Nectar cards for this