Ticket barriers - human/mechanical

[dvboy]

Is there anywhere a list of stations by type (human or ticket-operated), and of those which retain "ended" tickets and those that keep them?

I went through Grantham yesterday and was surprised that the ticket barrier didn't keep my ticket - I asked the staff attending if he would let me through so I could keep my ticket and he said "we don't keep tickets here" while taking it off me to put through the machine, I was a little confused at first.

I always like to keep my tickets, I often need to claim the money back.

 

[SS4]

Not to my knowledge. As you must undoubtedly know by now BHM has human barriers who seem to retain tickets more often than not.
EUS (LM and LO) have automatic barriers that swallow tickets but Virgin have the occasional manual check on their platforms.
MYB keeps tickets with auto barriers


It would be nice if this topic could form some kind of archive

 

[RichmondCommu]

Is there anywhere a list of stations by type (human or ticket-operated), and of those which retain "ended" tickets and those that keep them?

I went through Grantham yesterday and was surprised that the ticket barrier didn't keep my ticket - I asked the staff attending if he would let me through so I could keep my ticket and he said "we don't keep tickets here" while taking it off me to put through the machine, I was a little confused at first.

I always like to keep my tickets, I often need to claim the money back.

Why don't you just keep your receipts?

 

[Yew]

Lincoln recently changed to Keeping tickets.

 

[dvboy]

Why don't you just keep your receipts?

They don't have the journey details on which I often need to prove too (the last receipt I got didn't even have anything for "Issued At").
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
At Birmingham New Street I always say I need to keep it and they have no problem with that.

Lincoln recently changed to Keeping tickets.

I am aware Lincoln does, and Nottingham, and Leamington Spa.

To be fair, I have little idea of where doesn't as I usually assume they do and therefore seek a member of staff.

I don't agree with machines eating tickets anyway. As long as the mag stipe is amended to show it's used, that should be sufficient. Perhaps they could visibly mark them in some way as they go through.

 

[IanXC]

Why don't you just keep your receipts?

My employer uses a corporate travel agent that allows you to book tickets and then use Ticket on Departure. No need to even make a claim.

The other way around the issue is to photocopy the tickets before your journey.

The fact of the matter is that barriers are allowed to retain tickets as they are railway property.

 

[150222]

So where do the retained tickets go? Are they recycled or what?

 

[simonm]

So where do the retained tickets go? Are they recycled or what?

I imagine they are just shredded. Recycling with the magnetic strip is not possible.

 

[12CSVT]

So where do the retained tickets go? Are they recycled or what?

In British Rail days they were taken to accounting centres (I know there was one at Purley). Not sure if this happens now, or even if there is any need for this to happen since the introduction of computerised ticketing systems such as APTIS / PORTIS etc in the late 1980s.

 

[route:oxford]

Recycling with the magnetic strip is not possible.

False.

 

[Marton]

Many of us need to produce original tickets. Photocopies cause problems for accountants and are not accepted, I am told, by the revenue as good practice.

Receipts are useless if one uses a self service machine, especially if buying more than one journey.

 

[MarkyMarkD]

Buy the tickets online. Then you get an itemised journey listing showing the amount paid and date and time of the journeys.

 

[WatcherZero]

The magnetic strip is just ink with a high metal content, when paper is recycled it is cleaned (bleached) anyway.

 

[dvboy]

I didn't intend for this to become a thread about whether or not I should be allowed to keep my tickets and the alternatives (basically they are all inadequate - I need to keep the original tickets otherwuse I get bugger all).

 

[island]

Buy the tickets online. Then you get an itemised journey listing showing the amount paid and date and time of the journeys.

There are several types of tickets you can't buy online (e.g. boundary zones).

Bradford Interchange barriers don't retain tickets AFAIK.

Some of the Iarnród Éireann barriers can mark tickets to show they were used (prints station code, time/date, and number of journeys left on the ticket), but bizarrely they've been replacing them with barriers that don't.

 

[142094]

I imagine they are just shredded. Recycling with the magnetic strip is not possible.

It is possible, the magnetic strip just gets removed along with other impurities.

Is there anywhere a list of stations by type (human or ticket-operated), and of those which retain "ended" tickets and those that keep them?

Unfortunately not, although it would be handy to have one. I normally keep my tickets anyway, just to show where I've been, but there have been occasions where the barrier has swallowed them.

Barriers taking tickets can be big issue where the ticket is supposed to be returned, where there has been delays on route and also when a company needs them for expenses. I was delayed on a trip to Blackpool North, so wanted to keep the ticket for a refund claim, but the barrier staff member at BPN went in a huff when I asked to keep it.

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Barriers taking tickets can be big issue where the ticket is supposed to be returned, where there has been delays on route and also when a company needs them for expenses. I was delayed on a trip to Blackpool North, so wanted to keep the ticket for a refund claim, but the barrier staff member at BPN went in a huff when I asked to keep it.

And what about deals/offers where you get a reduced price on attraction if you travel by train (and show your tickets). The London 2 for 1 offers are prime examples. Are barrier staff in the London terminals usually amenable to you keeping the ticket in these situations?

 

[island]

Isn't that only valid on Travelcards or return tickets?

 

[simonm]

The magnetic strip is just ink with a high metal content, when paper is recycled it is cleaned (bleached) anyway.

I stand corrected. You learn something every day! Presumably it is iron oxide, similar to VHS/cassette tapes, hence the magnetism?

 

[Marton]

Buy the tickets online. Then you get an itemised journey listing showing the amount paid and date and time of the journeys.

But very easily altered for those so minded, therefore not really much help

 

[142094]

And what about deals/offers where you get a reduced price on attraction if you travel by train (and show your tickets). The London 2 for 1 offers are prime examples. Are barrier staff in the London terminals usually amenable to you keeping the ticket in these situations?

Normally when you ask nicely they'll allow you through, but there are always the odd ones who thing it is a very big deal for them to 'go out of their way' to allow you to keep the ticket.

 

[calc7]

*generic comment about how it's not the railway's onus to validate your expenses*

(Luckily my employer accepts TVM collection receipts)

 

[142094]

*generic comment about how it's not the railway's onus to validate your expenses*

Still, the railway doesn't really see that much of a benefit from keeping everyone's ticket after they have used them, so I don't see the reason why some barrier staff kick up such a fuss when passengers ask to keep their ticket.

It has also been said on here before that one TOC refused a compensation claim due to the very fact the ticket had been retained in a barrier.

 

[thelem]

*generic comment about how it's not the railway's onus to validate your expenses*

That's the attitude only a monopoly operator could take.*

* even if there are multiple TOCs serving a station, you don't usually get a choice of barrier staff for the same route.

 

[WelshBluebird]

For those saying that it should not matter:
1 - It is a simple fact that many employers will ONLY accept actual tickets. That may not be the correct policy to have, but it is a policy that many places have. So its essentially "tough" there.
2 - You need the tickets for compensation claims.
3 - The ticket may have further validity (I've had a Treherbert - Cardiff Central ticket eaten at Cathays before, even though it would have been still valid for further travel).