Railcard replacement (Faded)

[jon0844]

It is impossible for stations to replace online railcards as the layout/format is completely different.

Station railcards are on cardboard and the online ones are plastic.

How much are printers that can print plastic cards these days? I see them loads at events/exhibitions, and they're very quick too.

With the inevitable introduction of smartcards, is it time for the industry to consider the introduction of these at stations, so people will get railcards and season tickets on plastic - and can have unique information printed on, such as a photograph? You could even have a camera at one of the windows to take a photo of the person there and then, storing that image on file so future tickets can be printed out and posted, with the industry knowing that the photo is genuine.

Yes, there would be a large cost - but there's going to be a large cost for the next generation of ticketing, and I'd hate to see the opportunity missed.

 

[Sammy h]

How much are printers that can print plastic cards these days? I see them loads at events/exhibitions, and they're very quick too.

With the inevitable introduction of smartcards, is it time for the industry to consider the introduction of these at stations, so people will get railcards and season tickets on plastic - and can have unique information printed on, such as a photograph? You could even have a camera at one of the windows to take a photo of the person there and then, storing that image on file so future tickets can be printed out and posted, with the industry knowing that the photo is genuine.

Yes, there would be a large cost - but there's going to be a large cost for the next generation of ticketing, and I'd hate to see the opportunity missed.

No idea how much they are. All very good ideas, but this is the railway.

IMO - your idea above is at least a decade away, probably more.

It's hard enough getting anything done at the moment with the way certain franchises are, never mind radical ticket changes.

 

[island]

They cost several hundred pounds. Hasn't stopped them from getting into use in Ireland with student travelcards being issued on the spot around the country.

 

[jon0844]

No idea how much they are. All very good ideas, but this is the railway.

IMO - your idea above is at least a decade away, probably more.

It's hard enough getting anything done at the moment with the way certain franchises are, never mind radical ticket changes.

I don't think franchises should have been allowed to set up their own schemes, even if forced to in the franchise itself.

Ticketing changes should be a national scheme, and TOCs are simply told as part of their franchises going forward that they are to accept them (albeit with a level of input).

We may have loads of different ticketing options, but at least we have a standard ticket design.

Yes, smartcards will be ITSO compliant but I still think we've allowed TOCs to go off in different directions on it, and will confuse the hell out of the average passenger that isn't like me and counting down the days until we introduce smarter technology.

So far we've just about managed to change the design of the ticket stock, slightly.

 

[maniacmartin]

It would also be difficult to encode magstripes on plastic cards as they wouldn't go through current TIS printers, so in-station printing would only really be useful for railcards and smart cards. The printers cost around 750 GBP

 

[Muzer]

there are also variants issued by banks that last 4 or 5 years.

Unless I'm mistaken (they certainly do in my case), this is incorrect - banks just send you a new yearly one each year.

 

[island]

The Santander and formerly NatWest ones were 4 or 5 years.

 

[Muzer]

The Santander and formerly NatWest ones were 4 or 5 years.

Not my NatWest one. I get a new yearly one every year.

 

[reb0118]

The Santander and formerly NatWest ones were 4 or 5 years.

Not my NatWest one. I get a new yearly one every year.

Might be a new thing. To stop folk who have dropped out early from retaining their discount. (Ok they would still get it until the annual card expired but better than potentially 4 or 5 years).

Just a thought?

 

[island]

Could be that, or could be that NatWest is no longer allowed to issue 4/5 year cards as Santander is the official partner now. I suppose you're still entitled to the discount if you've dropped out anyway as it's based on age rather than student status.

 

[Muzer]

NatWest will only give it to you year-on-year if it looks like you've used it as your primary bank account (which has some definition I can't remember). Presumably to stop people opening an account and sticking £10 in, or using it until you get the card then switching.

As far as I am aware I will continue to receive the card, but new customers won't. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.
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According to a friend it has been a yearly railcard for at least the last four years.

How long ago was the four/five-year railcard you have (presumably) seen issued?