9.1 Ticket Office
9.1.1 Ticket Offices
Some stations have manned ticket or booking offices which sell the full range of tickets for immediate and future travel. Smaller stations may have restricted hours and be unable to issue reservations (preventing them offering Advance tickets), whereas the largest stations' offices may be open until the last train of the day and have separate areas for immediate travel and travel at future dates.
9.1.2 Rail Industry Vouchers
Rail Warrants are a voucher issued by companies, charities and government organisations to allow the holder to obtain travel tickets and pay certain other amounts due to TOCs. Organisations participating in the scheme have their vouchers debited to their Account for subsequent payment. Travel Agents (except those specially authorised) cannot accept Rail Warrants. A separate format of Warrant is required for the purchase of Season Tickets and a similar scheme, MOD Rail Travel Warrants, exists for the Armed Forces. Railcard discounts (including HM Forces) are not available for any ticket purchased using a Warrant.
National Rail Travel Vouchers are issued under Passenger's Charter Schemes and Delay Repay Schemes, they are issued for a face value amount and can be used to purchase tickets from Ticket Offices and onboard trains subject to the usual provisions.
9.1.3 Credit and Debit Cards
Credit and Debit Cards are one of the main payment methods used at ticket offices. All TOCs accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and UK Maestro cards. Some TOCs are known to accept Diners Club International and Visa Electron.
9.1.4 Banknotes and Coins
Cash is accepted, including all Scottish, Northern Irish, Channel Island and Isle of Man bank notes (although not Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man coins). Some train companies accept payment in foreign currency bank notes at their ticket offices (such as East Midlands Trains who accept EUR banknotes), however these are limited in number, change will be given in Sterling and the notes will be exchanged at a fixed rate which will almost always be very detrimental to the customer.
9.1.5 Cheques and Travellers Cheques
Travellers Cheques are accepted for the purchase of tickets, although only certain companies accept those denominated in foreign currencies. For a restricted range of tickets some TOCs accept payment by Cheque, although most restrict this to Company Cheques (the current list is available here). Ticket Offices also accept payment by UK issued Postal Order.
9.1.6 Concessionary Transport Tokens
National Transport Tokens and Local Authority Tokens, minted in denominations of 10p, 20p, 50p and £1, are issued by certain agencies to certain groups. These can be used to purchase tickets and timetables. Change is given in Sterling for amounts less than the lowest value token used in a transaction.
9.1.7 Excess Fares Windows
An Excess Fares Window is a specific instance of a ticket office, found within the gated area of a station with automatic, or manual ticket barriers. They allow passengers who boarded at unstaffed stations, and who were unable to purchase a ticket during the journey, to purchase a ticket before reaching the gateline.
9.1.1 Ticket Offices
Some stations have manned ticket or booking offices which sell the full range of tickets for immediate and future travel. Smaller stations may have restricted hours and be unable to issue reservations (preventing them offering Advance tickets), whereas the largest stations' offices may be open until the last train of the day and have separate areas for immediate travel and travel at future dates.
9.1.2 Rail Industry Vouchers
Rail Warrants are a voucher issued by companies, charities and government organisations to allow the holder to obtain travel tickets and pay certain other amounts due to TOCs. Organisations participating in the scheme have their vouchers debited to their Account for subsequent payment. Travel Agents (except those specially authorised) cannot accept Rail Warrants. A separate format of Warrant is required for the purchase of Season Tickets and a similar scheme, MOD Rail Travel Warrants, exists for the Armed Forces. Railcard discounts (including HM Forces) are not available for any ticket purchased using a Warrant.
National Rail Travel Vouchers are issued under Passenger's Charter Schemes and Delay Repay Schemes, they are issued for a face value amount and can be used to purchase tickets from Ticket Offices and onboard trains subject to the usual provisions.
9.1.3 Credit and Debit Cards
Credit and Debit Cards are one of the main payment methods used at ticket offices. All TOCs accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and UK Maestro cards. Some TOCs are known to accept Diners Club International and Visa Electron.
9.1.4 Banknotes and Coins
Cash is accepted, including all Scottish, Northern Irish, Channel Island and Isle of Man bank notes (although not Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man coins). Some train companies accept payment in foreign currency bank notes at their ticket offices (such as East Midlands Trains who accept EUR banknotes), however these are limited in number, change will be given in Sterling and the notes will be exchanged at a fixed rate which will almost always be very detrimental to the customer.
9.1.5 Cheques and Travellers Cheques
Travellers Cheques are accepted for the purchase of tickets, although only certain companies accept those denominated in foreign currencies. For a restricted range of tickets some TOCs accept payment by Cheque, although most restrict this to Company Cheques (the current list is available here). Ticket Offices also accept payment by UK issued Postal Order.
9.1.6 Concessionary Transport Tokens
National Transport Tokens and Local Authority Tokens, minted in denominations of 10p, 20p, 50p and £1, are issued by certain agencies to certain groups. These can be used to purchase tickets and timetables. Change is given in Sterling for amounts less than the lowest value token used in a transaction.
9.1.7 Excess Fares Windows
An Excess Fares Window is a specific instance of a ticket office, found within the gated area of a station with automatic, or manual ticket barriers. They allow passengers who boarded at unstaffed stations, and who were unable to purchase a ticket during the journey, to purchase a ticket before reaching the gateline.
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