Farringdon: Unexpected yellow Oyster card reader in platform area

[Ediswan]

I don't believe I have used Farringdon before. Certainly not since Oyster was introduced. On arrival from Liverpool Street, I found a yellow Oyster card reader near the platform, which I used to touch out. Shortly after I came to the Turnmill Street exit gate line. The staff let me out and the system came up with the desired result, so no complaint or dispute. I am aware of the pink validators. What I don't understand is why there would be a yellow card reader near the platform of a station with gate lines. Anybody know why it is there ?

 

[causton]

For people changing to or from Thameslink towards Bedford or Brighton

 

[Ediswan]

For people changing to or from Thameslink towards Bedford or Brighton

Thanks, that makes sense.

If I was being really picky I would suggest that it might be better situated where only those making that connection would pass it. Not a real problem though and there is probably a reason for it being where it is.

 

[causton]

Thanks, that makes sense.

If I was being really picky I would suggest that it might be better situated where only those making that connection would pass it. Not a real problem though and there is probably a reason for it being where it is.

As someone making that connection from a paper staff pass to an Oyster, I agree! :P

 

[button_boxer]

I don't believe I have used Farringdon before. Certainly not since Oyster was introduced. On arrival from Liverpool Street, I found a yellow Oyster card reader near the platform, which I used to touch out. Shortly after I came to the Turnmill Street exit gate line. The staff let me out and the system came up with the desired result, so no complaint or dispute. I am aware of the pink validators. What I don't understand is why there would be a yellow card reader near the platform of a station with gate lines. Anybody know why it is there ?

According to MikeWH's site the standalone validators at Farringdon are "continuation exit", so you would have been able to open the exit gate with your oyster as normal without incurring any extra charges, you didn't have to ask to be let out.

 

[Ediswan]

According to MikeWH's site the standalone validators at Farringdon are "continuation exit", so you would have been able to open the exit gate with your oyster as normal without incurring any extra charges, you didn't have to ask to be let out.

How complicated does this system get !

Having noted that, it does appear that this has been thought through. Whichever way the unfamiliar traveller behaves, it works. What I did worked. Touching the "continuation exit" and then the normal exit would have worked.

 

[swt_passenger]

How complicated does this system get !

Having noted that, it does appear that this has been thought through. Whichever way the unfamiliar traveller behaves, it works. What I did worked. Touching the "continuation exit" and then the normal exit would have worked.

There used to be far more of these, they used to be all over the platforms at London Bridge, and quite a few at Stratford, a couple of examples where they've since been removed. This was done at the time Oyster PAYG was extended to most of the National Rail services.

Problem is they were, and are, quite a temptation for people travelling 'ticketless' into London from a long distance, or even from an ungated origin within the zones, because they allow someone to 'enter' the TfL fare system and just pay for a couple of stations...

 

[TUC]

I had the reverse problem last week, using Moorgate station for the first time. I got as far as the platform without having seen a barrier or a yellow Oyster reader. I retraced my steps and eventually found a lone reader partway down the corridor by the entrance, but without any signage or barriers. The problem was that I needed to top my Oyster card up, but there were no ticket machines. I ended up having to find the other entrance in the next street. Some signage, and a ticket machine, would have been helpful.

 

[Clip]

How complicated does this system get !
.

Im not sure it is complicated - if people wanting to leave the station and touch out on the platform the system knows this and then lets them touch out at the gateline not incurring any further fee - pretty simple and sensible I would say.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I had the reverse problem last week, using Moorgate station for the first time. I got as far as the platform without having seen a barrier or a yellow Oyster reader. I retraced my steps and eventually found a lone reader partway down the corridor by the entrance, but without any signage or barriers. The problem was that I needed to top my Oyster card up, but there were no ticket machines. I ended up having to find the other entrance in the next street. Some signage, and a ticket machine, would have been helpful.

I'm assuming you used the new staircases directly onto the SSR platforms? There are signs saying that they're for ticket holders only, but it's really not clear at all.

 

[Envy123]

According to MikeWH's site the standalone validators at Farringdon are "continuation exit", so you would have been able to open the exit gate with your oyster as normal without incurring any extra charges, you didn't have to ask to be let out.

The same thing happened to me at Upminster.

I touched out at the platform validators and had to ask staff to let me out of the barriers. That was my first time there.