Travelcard not opening gate

[deecee16]

I occasionally use a Super Off Peak Travelcard for zones 1-6 from Littlehampton to Bromley South via Victoria.
On arrival at Bromley the ticket opens the gate. But on the return it doesn't and have to be let through by staff.
The error code 126 is shown on the gate indicating: "TOC ticket Origin is not valid for entry here".
Is this a problem with the gates there or an encoding problem with the ticket?
The ticket is a ToD picked up from a machine.

 

[Hadders]

It's because the particular ticket type hasn't been updated in the gateline. It happens all the time.

 

[MrJeeves]

Usually when I have this issue it pops up as code 105 for "Invalid rail ticket type" (which I had with my super off-peak Z1-6 travelcard yesterday at Peckham Rye).

Code 126 is interesting as it really implies that the gateline doesn't recognise the destination code of Z1-6 at all, let alone the ticket type (super off-peak).

With GTR, usually I can pop them a Twitter DM and they'll get Cubis to come round and update the barrier database in a week or so to sort it. It might be worth a go with Southeastern? If you don't do the journey often though, I'd say just show your ticket to a staff member in future as you did then.

 

[deecee16]

The gates let me exit the station with no problems, it's only on entry where the problem is, so it can't be not recognising Z1-6.
I did contact Southeastern via their website. Was told that my comments would be passed to the station manager (name given) "and he would make sure the self-service ticket machine is checked and any faults repaired". I don't know what ticket machine he was going to check!
Was then told to use the more robust Key smart card. I do have one but prefer a physical ticket.

 

[MrJeeves]

The gates let me exit the station with no problems, it's only on entry where the problem is, so it can't be not recognising Z1-6.

Each individual gate (or at least each set of gates) contains its own database of tickets. It's possible the exit barrier you used had the correct information but the entry one you then tried later didn't.

It could also be that it was setup to allow a Travelcard with a destination of London Z1-6 as a valid ticket for exit, but not for entry.

 

[Haywain]

Each individual gate (or at least each set of gates) contains its own database of tickets. It's possible the exit barrier you used had the correct information but the entry one you then tried later didn't.

It could also be that it was setup to allow a Travelcard with a destination of London Z1-6 as a valid ticket for exit, but not for entry.

Gate logic is almost always set up by station rather than gate or gateline. Regardless of that it beggars belief that a gateline within Zones 1-6 would not recognise a ticket with that destination for entry or exit.

 

[Benjwri]

Regardless of that it beggars belief that a gateline within Zones 1-6 would not recognise a ticket with that destination for entry or exit.

Happens quite often, I've come across a fair few. The North Side Platform 1 gates at Farringdon is an example I found a few months ago, and that even comes with a set of platform staff that claim the travel card isn't valid on Thameslink!

 

[MrJeeves]

Happens quite often, I've come across a fair few. The North Side Platform 1 gates at Farringdon is an example I found a few months ago, and that even comes with a set of platform staff that claim the travel card isn't valid on Thameslink!

When I was at Peckham Rye, my Thameslink Only Travelcard was scrutinised a bit closer than I expected!

 

[Hadders]

I’ve had it happen with increasing frequency. Gold Card discounted super off peak Travelcards at Liverpool Street and Paddington (NR platforms rather than LU) often don’t work.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I’ve had it happen with increasing frequency. Gold Card discounted super off peak Travelcards at Liverpool Street and Paddington (NR platforms rather than LU) often don’t work.

They should work all London Terminals gates or none.

 

[MrJeeves]

Should and the real world aren't always the same.

 

[Watershed]

They should work all London Terminals gates or none.

"Should" being the operative word...

 

[fandroid]

A different issue really , but I found that the NR gates at Liverpool Street would consistently mangle the magstripe on my Outboundary Travelcard so that it wouldn't work in any stations passed through after that. Eventually gave up and now buy London Terminals tickets and use Oyster in London.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A different issue really , but I found that the NR gates at Liverpool Street would consistently mangle the magstripe on my Outboundary Travelcard so that it wouldn't work in any stations passed through after that.

From my own experiences at Liverpool Street, it is one particular gate which does that. I know which one it is but I can't remember which number it is ( 41 rings a bell, though... ) - however it's not one of the wide ones, so if you stick to the wide gates you'll be OK.

 

[JB_B]

I can't remember when super-off travelcard from Brighton last worked at a London gateline - possibly pre-Covid?

 

[MrJeeves]

I can't remember when super-off travelcard from Brighton last worked at a London gateline - possibly pre-Covid?

Almost every time my friend goes up to London at the weekend? No issues at Underground gatelines, just some National Rail stations.