Rovers issued with QR codes

[t0ffeeman]

From experience is there any benefit of a rover issued on bog roll stock with a qr code rather than credit card stock?

Would the qr code open barriers that the magnetic strip doesn't. Is it easier for staff to ascertain whether the ticket is valid or not?

 

[island]

It really comes down to whether the TOC responsible for the gateline in question has configured it competently or not.

 

[Haywain]

It really comes down to whether the ROC responsible for the gateline in question has configured it competently or not.

Easier on some gatelines than others.

 

[Watershed]

It really comes down to whether the ROC responsible for the gateline in question has configured it competently or not.

Don't think the ROCs have any control over gatelines

 

[plymothian]

Don't think the ROCs have any control over gatelines

... and tickets don't have QR codes.

They're Aztec codes.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

... and tickets don't have QR codes.

They're Aztec codes.

Thanks for the clarification. So, one looks to be a black and white square with lots of dots, whilst the other is a black and white square with even more dots? What's essentially the difference?

 

[island]

Thanks for the clarification. So, one looks to be a black and white square with lots of dots, whilst the other is a black and white square with even more dots? What's essentially the difference?

Different ways of encoding data. A QR code has distinctive squares in three corners, and an Aztec code has one in the centre.

 

[plymothian]

QR codes are better for being read by phones and Aztec is better for being displayed on phones and media which essential for high-speed scanning.

Because the finder pattern on an Aztec is in the middle, a reader can orientate the data quicker than a QR, which has 3 finder patterns in the corners. Also because of this, Aztec codes can be read when displayed on smaller screens or if surrounded by a colour that can confuse a QR reader, and can generally fill in missing data if part of the code is obscured.

 

[Flying Snail]

Used a Britrail M-Pass recently (despite the name it is more like an e-ticket as it's just a PDF) and while all on-board staff had no problem validating the Aztec code with their scanner, precisely zero gates were successfully opened by it.

This despite the marketing guff on the website promoting the M-Pass by highlighting the ease of use by scanning at gates.

 

[zero]

Had a day ranger as bog roll with Aztec code and it opened barriers where I expected it to (though most were already open). The guards who were interested were able to confirm validity via their scanners (not sure exactly what the device shows) though not all of them bothered to scan it

 

[MrTurbostar170]

Had a 7 day North West Rover last year, worked on barriers about three times.

 

[Peter0124]

Would be great if rovers/rangers were buyable online as a QR code scan (Looking at you Strathclyde Roundabout). Don't know if they already are.

 

[pne]

Used a Britrail M-Pass recently (despite the name it is more like an e-ticket as it's just a PDF) and while all on-board staff had no problem validating the Aztec code with their scanner, precisely zero gates were successfully opened by it.

This despite the marketing guff on the website promoting the M-Pass by highlighting the ease of use by scanning at gates.

Thanks! I had feared that might be the case.

Is it possible to get a Britrail pass not as an M-Pass?

 

[island]

Thanks! I had feared that might be the case.

Is it possible to get a Britrail pass not as an M-Pass?

Yes, you can still get paper ones, but you have to pay for shipping, and of course if you would lose it, you're screwed.

 

[Flying Snail]

Thanks! I had feared that might be the case.

Is it possible to get a Britrail pass not as an M-Pass?

Yes, paper is still possible from SOME sellers, others are only offering paper for non-European buyers. At present there is a 15% off Britrail promotion, it is always a good idea to compare with Interrail as they seem to fluctuate between which is cheaper at any one time and for different length validity.

I have to say that other than them not working the barriers I found the M-Pass better as it was one less bulky thing to have in a pocket and as the scanning did work with all the on-board staff that had them so there was no issues once past the barriers.

As they are just PDFs it is also fine to have it printed out or just keep one as a back-up.


As usual the sloppy couldn't give a F attitude of the railway in general to inconveniencing their customers. These have been available for several years, more than long enough to work out any issues and let's face it there is very little more simple to program than a ticket with universal access within it's validity period, just another example of an industry where far too many people get a free pass for doing a generally crap job.

 

[RPI]

Had a day ranger as bog roll with Aztec code and it opened barriers where I expected it to (though most were already open). The guards who were interested were able to confirm validity via their scanners (not sure exactly what the device shows) though not all of them bothered to scan it

Guards may scan it to get their scans up.
Obviously Northern Guards get 2p per scan, some other TOC's guards/revenue staff are monitored on their scans.

With me i just want to get more scans a period than the bloke I'm paired with most of the time

 

[27000]

Yes, paper is still possible from SOME sellers, others are only offering paper for non-European buyers. At present there is a 15% off Britrail promotion, it is always a good idea to compare with Interrail as they seem to fluctuate between which is cheaper at any one time and for different length validity.

I have to say that other than them not working the barriers I found the M-Pass better as it was one less bulky thing to have in a pocket and as the scanning did work with all the on-board staff that had them so there was no issues once past the barriers.

As they are just PDFs it is also fine to have it printed out or just keep one as a back-up.


As usual the sloppy couldn't give a F attitude of the railway in general to inconveniencing their customers. These have been available for several years, more than long enough to work out any issues and let's face it there is very little more simple to program than a ticket with universal access within it's validity period, just another example of an industry where far too many people get a free pass for doing a generally crap job.

Just completed a full month (31 days to be precise) on a BritRail M-Pass.

As with other posters here, I had no problem at all with on-train acceptance but scanning at gatelines almost always failed.

In fact, gateline acceptance was worse than when I last used a M-Pass three years ago. At that time, for example, almost all gatelines in GWR territory accepted the scan; this time none of them did.

I’m sure there’s a logical explanation as to why a few gatelines accepted it but most did not, but I can’t figure it out! As an example, gatelines at Glasgow Queen St accepted it, but those at Glasgow Central (or anywhere else in Scotland) did not.

But overall, the M-Pass version is still a better choice than the paper product.

 

[Class800]

Just completed a full month (31 days to be precise) on a BritRail M-Pass.

As with other posters here, I had no problem at all with on-train acceptance but scanning at gatelines almost always failed.

In fact, gateline acceptance was worse than when I last used a M-Pass three years ago. At that time, for example, almost all gatelines in GWR territory accepted the scan; this time none of them did.

I’m sure there’s a logical explanation as to why a few gatelines accepted it but most did not, but I can’t figure it out! As an example, gatelines at Glasgow Queen St accepted it, but those at Glasgow Central (or anywhere else in Scotland) did not.

But overall, the M-Pass version is still a better choice than the paper product.

Did you have any problems having the M-Pass accepted by gateline staff? Did you use any Southeastern, Transport for Wales or London Overground services?

 

[27000]

Did you have any problems having the M-Pass accepted by gateline staff? Did you use any Southeastern, Transport for Wales or London Overground services?

Short answer - no problems. Over the years I have used various types of BritRail pass on all TOCs except Lumo.

Long answer - only issues I've had were minor issues with TfL staff:
- at Moorgate a staff member insisted that the M-Pass had to be printed out in order to be valid
- at Euston, staff members claimed the pass wasn't valid on London Overground
- at Liverpool Street main concourse underground gateline, staff claimed I can only use the (purportedly National Rail) gateline at the Moorgate entrance when coming off the Elizabeth line.
In all cases, they let me through after a short, pleasant discussion.

 

[MikeWh]

- at Liverpool Street main concourse underground gateline, staff claimed I can only use the (purportedly National Rail) gateline at the Moorgate entrance when coming off the Elizabeth line.

For future reference, the Broadgate exit is actually connected to Moorgate station so it would be interesting to hear their excuses there.

 

[Birmingham]

From experience is there any benefit of a rover issued on bog roll stock with a qr code rather than credit card stock?

Would the qr code open barriers that the magnetic strip doesn't. Is it easier for staff to ascertain whether the ticket is valid or not?

The Aztec codes on modern railway tickets are for the railway’s benefit, not yours.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The Aztec codes on modern railway tickets are for the railway’s benefit, not yours.

Indeed. As are also, IMHO, "bog roll" tickets.

 

[27000]

For future reference, the Broadgate exit is actually connected to Moorgate station so it would be interesting to hear their excuses there.

That's the one (I think; they weren't too clear about it) that they seemed to direct me to. Following the discussion, I briefly stopped by there but didn't immediately see any barcode readers on the gates there. I may have just missed them, though.