Why does the barcode on e-tickets have to be shown?

[johncrossley]

Why does the barcode have to be shown? Why can't you just write down the 11 character reference under the barcode? Presumably the barcode just makes it convenient for staff to scan it, but they could type in the code into a machine if you don't have the barcode. That would mean people without printers or phones could use e-tickets.

 

[Wolfie]

Why does the barcode have to be shown? Why can't you just write down the 11 character reference under the barcode? Presumably the barcode just makes it convenient for staff to scan it, but they could type in the code into a machine if you don't have the barcode. That would mean people without printers or phones could use e-tickets.

That assumes that all staff have the ability and time to type it in. Also a complete pain if you arrive at the station only to find that someone ticketless has already used your code....

 

[Bungle965]

Why does the barcode have to be shown? Why can't you just write down the 11 character reference under the barcode? Presumably the barcode just makes it convenient for staff to scan it, but they could type in the code into a machine if you don't have the barcode. That would mean people without printers or phones could use e-tickets.

Can you imagine trying to conduct a ticket check on a busy peak time service and half the train has just got 11 digit references?

 

[Wallsendmag]

Doesn’t work that way the ticket details are in the barcode the UTN is only shown in a central database once the barcodes is scanned.

 

[johncrossley]

Can you imagine trying to conduct a ticket check on a busy peak time service and half the train has just got 11 digit references?

But that would be unlikely. Most (probably over 95%) of people find it more convenient to use their phone. The reference code would only be used by people not preferring to use their phones.

Doesn’t work that way the ticket details are in the barcode the UTN is only shown in a central database once the barcodes is scanned.

So why does it even need to be displayed on the e-ticket?

 

[transportphoto]

Doesn’t work that way the ticket details are in the barcode the UTN is only shown in a central database once the barcodes is scanned.

Further to this - the main ticket scanning app that I’m familiar with, the only way of scanning a ticket is to scan it with the camera. There’s no functionality for typing anything in at all at that stage.

Would it be helpful? Yes, I think it would - in a small number of scenarios.

 

[TUC]

Why does the OP ask whether the barcode has to be shown? What's the problem with showing it?

 

[johncrossley]

Why does the OP ask whether the barcode has to be shown? What's the problem with showing it?

If you don't have a phone or printer (as discussed in the earlier thread about Trainsplit) then it is more difficult to use e-tickets, which is a problem if ticket collection is not offered by the website.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

How exactly do you propose to get through the ticket barriers?

That said, there is an upcoming accreditation change to e-ticketing, and the barcode payload content is going to be available by querying the appropriate eTVD with the UTN so that original ticket information can be recalled - but this is mainly for back end reporting/analysis/support, rather than in the very unusual and niche application you suggest.

 

[johncrossley]

How exactly do you propose to get through the ticket barriers?

The staff check the code is valid.

 

[Merseysider]

If you don't have a phone or printer

I can’t help but feel this is a non-issue.

Over 98% of the population own a mobile phone.

Anyone who does not, is in that category out of choice, given that you can buy second hand mobiles capable of showing an e-ticket for a pittance.

Anyone in that 2% due to severe disability will have a carer, relative or neighbour who has a mobile phone / can print things off / visit the library for them.

 

[trainophile]

I have no objection to showing an e-ticket on board the train, and always carry a back-up power bank, but my issues are (a) at the gateline when juggling luggage and trying to put my phone against the scanner before the display fades if I'm in a queue, and worrying about dropping the phone if I don't have a dedicated free hand, and (b) I buy tickets occasionally for other people who are not confident with e-tickets, and anyway if the ticket is on my phone it's no use to them.

As mentioned in the other thread I no longer have a printer that is compatible with my laptop, and I'm hesitant to buy a new one in case that too turns out not to be compatible, and also apart from rail tickets I would have virtually no other use for a printer. I have looked on Amazon for printers but they don't say what they are compatible with, and also the reviews for most of them talk of nightmarish installation processes and being over-complicated. I'm underwhelmed that when googling for compatible printers on Apple's website the suggestion is to "contact your printer's manufacture" - yeah right.

 

[TUC]

I have no objection to showing an e-ticket on board the train, and always carry a back-up power bank, but my issues are (a) at the gateline when juggling luggage and trying to put my phone against the scanner before the display fades if I'm in a queue, and worrying about dropping the phone if I don't have a dedicated free hand,

You mean the same challenges everyone else faces and manages?

 

[Benjwri]

I think an important point here is also that the entire contents of your ticket isn’t stored in the 11 digit code. That code is, as I understand it, used to recoded things like a ticket place taking place and to validate its authenticity. However the scanners all take the actual ticket data from the Aztec code, as this means in the event of there being no internet or a system issue the tickets can still be scanned. With just the code not only would it have to be typed in, but it would have to be validated before data could be shown.

In my opinion the best solution would be to put those silly new barcode tickets they’re doing at TVMs to use, and allow you to print off an e ticket at a TVM.

 

[AlterEgo]

Can you imagine trying to conduct a ticket check on a busy peak time service and half the train has just got 11 digit references?

Works fine on Trenitalia. Most people show a barcode, but for those who can’t, you can quote the reference.

 

[Adam Williams]

That said, there is an upcoming accreditation change to e-ticketing, and the barcode payload content is going to be available by querying the appropriate eTVD with the UTN so that original ticket information can be recalled - but this is mainly for back end reporting/analysis/support, rather than in the very unusual and niche application you suggest.

This is already sent to the eTVD upon each scan, and RSPS5043 already sets out a way to query the eTVD for the original ticketData by doing a UTN search, so what is actually changing here?

 

[trainophile]

You mean the same challenges everyone else faces and manages?

Should it have to be a "challenge" that we have to "manage" though?

 

[redreni]

Is MegaTrain still going?

I've definitely travelled from Waterloo to Weymouth on a reference number written on a bit of paper before.

 

[yorkie]

Is MegaTrain still going?

I can see no evidence to suggest that it is.

I've definitely travelled from Waterloo to Weymouth on a reference number written on a bit of paper before.

Fine for Advance only, booked train only, TOC specific maybe. The system used by Megabus absolutely would not work on interavailable and/or walk-up fares.

 

[transportphoto]

Is MegaTrain still going?

No, it isn’t. Gone are the days where you could literally travel with something written on the back of a fag packet.

I believe they were checked against a manifest available to revenue protection staff.

 

[edwin_m]

at the gateline when juggling luggage and trying to put my phone against the scanner before the display fades if I'm in a queue, and worrying about dropping the phone if I don't have a dedicated free hand

Trying to find the bit of paper with the reference on, and either typing it on some keypad or bothering the gateline staff to do the same, doesn't sound much better to be honest.

I buy tickets occasionally for other people who are not confident with e-tickets, and anyway if the ticket is on my phone it's no use to them.

You can send the e-ticket to others by email or text for them to use it on their phone or print it out.

 

[TUC]

Should it have to be a "challenge" that we have to "manage" though?

The point is that it is what we all do, not just with ticket gates, but balancing phone in one hand whilst do multiple tasks with the other, but if you're that concerned why not buy a paper ticket?

 

[AlbertBeale]

You mean the same challenges everyone else faces and manages?

Unless you just get a paper ticket, and then none of these silly challenges exist. Easy really.

 

[HullRailMan]

If you don't have a phone or printer (as discussed in the earlier thread about Trainsplit) then it is more difficult to use e-tickets, which is a problem if ticket collection is not offered by the website.

So don’t buy one then. If you’re not able to use the e-ticket, buy a paper ticket from somewhere that will sell you one.

 

[trainophile]

So don’t buy one then. If you’re not able to use the e-ticket, buy a paper ticket from somewhere that will sell you one.

Which is what I was doing quite happily on Trainsplit until they moved the goalposts. I appreciate they have their reasons, some sort of fraud prevention I gather, with the unfortunate side effect of spoiling it for everyone. Such is life these days.

Buying at a manned station is obviously still an option, but to get Advance tickets without making a separate journey to the station is the issue then.

 

[TUC]

Which is what I was doing quite happily on Trainsplit until they moved the goalposts. I appreciate they have their reasons, some sort of fraud prevention I gather, with the unfortunate side effect of spoiling it for everyone. Such is life these days.

Buying at a manned station is obviously still an option, but to get Advance tickets without making a separate journey to the station is the issue then.

So buy the Advance ticket from a different site and collect it from the station?

 

[43096]

I have no objection to showing an e-ticket on board the train, and always carry a back-up power bank, but my issues are (a) at the gateline when juggling luggage and trying to put my phone against the scanner before the display fades if I'm in a queue, and worrying about dropping the phone if I don't have a dedicated free hand

How did you cope in the same scenario with ye olde printed tickets? You have to put them into the barrier and remove them, rather than one scan.

(b) I buy tickets occasionally for other people who are not confident with e-tickets, and anyway if the ticket is on my phone it's no use to them.

You can get it as a PDF and send it to them. They can then print it or have it on their phone to scan.

This really feels like you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Which is what I was doing quite happily on Trainsplit until they moved the goalposts. I appreciate they have their reasons, some sort of fraud prevention I gather, with the unfortunate side effect of spoiling it for everyone. Such is life these days.

Buying at a manned station is obviously still an option, but to get Advance tickets without making a separate journey to the station is the issue then.

Every journey is available as a paper ticket.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Every journey is available as a paper ticket.

Try buying an inbounday weekly Travelcard on paper

 

[alistairlees]

Try buying an inbounday weekly Travelcard on paper

I think almost every daily ticket is available on paper, though? Possile exceptions are some Lumo tickets (available as eTicket only)