Heathrow Connect in platform 3 at Paddington

[Sprinter]

On Sunday afternoon, I was at Paddington and noted the next HC was from platform 3. These platforms are barriered but do not have Oyster capability, I bet there was quite a few incomplete journeys arising from such a departure, as I am sure these platforms do not even have stand alone validators.

What is the procedure when this happens? This was not the train I was due to travel on, but I was in the station when the train was announced.

 

[clagmonster]

I had a 165 from Hayes arrive into that side of the station during the Easter engineering. They had a couple of RPIs with a hand held Oyster device, which were used to touch passengers out. Although the RPI told me I was touched out, the OSI with the Bakerloo failed and I ended up with Hayes-incomplete journey and Padd-Queens Park.

So there is a system, just not a particularly reliable one.

 

[hassaanhc]

On Sunday afternoon, I was at Paddington and noted the next HC was from platform 3. These platforms are barriered but do not have Oyster capability, I bet there was quite a few incomplete journeys arising from such a departure, as I am sure these platforms do not even have stand alone validators.

What is the procedure when this happens? This was not the train I was due to travel on, but I was in the station when the train was announced.

I had a 165 from Hayes arrive into that side of the station during the Easter engineering. They had a couple of RPIs with a hand held Oyster device, which were used to touch passengers out. Although the RPI told me I was touched out, the OSI with the Bakerloo failed and I ended up with Hayes-incomplete journey and Padd-Queens Park.

So there is a system, just not a particularly reliable one.

There ARE standalone validators nearby, next to one of the large emergency gates by Platform 5/6. Never heard of a portable validator being used :?.

There a small number of booked workings into the mainline side. The 2P76 1737 Oxford to London Paddington and 2P80 1837 Oxford to London Paddington are at more reasonable times of the day.

 

[RJ]

I've never heard of handheld journey validators either. The closest things I know of are those used by bus conductors on the heritage 15 route. Anyone able to provide any more information on these handheld validators?

I had a 165 from Hayes arrive into that side of the station during the Easter engineering. They had a couple of RPIs with a hand held Oyster device, which were used to touch passengers out. Although the RPI told me I was touched out, the OSI with the Bakerloo failed and I ended up with Hayes-incomplete journey and Padd-Queens Park.

So there is a system, just not a particularly reliable one.

It sounds like their portable validators were simply standard readers to check the card had been touched in. Strange things go on at Paddington - one night, I arrived in from Ealing Broadway only to find they had set all of their barriers so no validations could be made. I compained to their Customer Relations, but the gist of it was that this was standard and that I should complain to TfL if I wanted a refund or auto completion.