Checks on Railcard discounts

[JamesTT]

Just out of interest, how often do revenue staff set up a special rule on the ticket barriers, to monitor, reject tickets with a disabled railcard discount applied. I know they regularly do checks on 16-25 card and Network cards and similar regional based railcards.

 

[AM9]

Just out of interest, how often do revenue staff set up a special rule on the ticket barriers, to monitor, reject tickets with a disabled railcard discount applied. I know they regularly do checks on 16-25 card and Network cards and similar regional based railcards.

Some gates always 'reject/seek assistance' senior and two together railcards around London, but the only gates at any station within the TFL areas I have encountered it is those at the St Pancras HS1 platforms. Most TfL stations are far too busy to unnecessarily impede the flow to check for railcards. I suspect that the Gatex gateline at Victoria would be similar to HS1, given that Govia see them both as cash cows.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Some gates always 'reject/seek assistance' senior and two together railcards around London, but the only gates at any station within the TFL areas I have encountered it is those at the St Pancras HS1 platforms. Most TfL stations are far too busy to unnecessarily impede the flow to check for railcards. I suspect that the Gatex gateline at Victoria would be similar to HS1, given that Govia see them both as cash cows.

My senior railcard discounted tickets have always been accepted by the HS1 barriers at St Pancras. Both one day travelcards and off peak returns Ashford to Castle Cary.

On my Castle Cary trips the tickets are accepted by barriers at Ashford, St Pancras, LU and Paddington NR.

 

[najaB]

I rather expect that they are reluctant to do this with Disabled Railcards, less they face accusations of making life harder for differently able people.

 

[Llanigraham]

My Disabled tickets are accepted without any further checks in the machines at Shrewsbury, Cardiff, Birmingham New St, and Birmingham Moor St.

 

[SickyNicky]

I rather expect that they are reluctant to do this with Disabled Railcards, less they face accusations of making life harder for differently able people.

My experience would seem to concur with this, circumstantially at least.

 

[JamesTT]

So if someone wanted a discounted ticket that they would unlikely to get checked buyone with DSB discount

 

[SickyNicky]

So if someone wanted a discounted ticket that they would unlikely to get checked buyone with DSB discount

You certainly still get checked on board, occasionally. But even that's not guaranteed. Many guards are more concerned with checking if you need any assistance if you're travelling alone. Which I think is great, by the way, and I always thank them for asking (for those that don't know, I'm partially deaf).

 

[Llanigraham]

So if someone wanted a discounted ticket that they would unlikely to get checked buyone with DSB discount

At on-board ticket checks I have been asked to show my Disabled Adult RailCard numerous times, by ATW, Virgin, Cross Country and others.

 

[transportphoto]

This past weekend I had cause to use barriers in Edinburgh, Glasgow Central and Inverness, with tickets with a railcard marker. I got a Seek Assistance. The same ticket without a railcard was accepted in all cases. Didn't catch the gate code, may or may not be linked to the railcard.

 

[LexyBoy]

I rather expect that they are reluctant to do this with Disabled Railcards, less they face accusations of making life harder for differently able people.

My experience would seem to concur with this, circumstantially at least.

Is the type of Railcard encoded on the ticket? It would seem odd to use the very limited amount of data (72 bits) to store that. Though I suppose you'd only need 3 bits to do so (with some double parking).

 

[lightbulb]

My tickets bought with a Disabled Persons Railcard are almost always rejected at ticket gates at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, and St Pancras. The code is usually 105, 106, or 135.

 

[jon0844]

Some gates always 'reject/seek assistance' senior and two together railcards around London, but the only gates at any station within the TFL areas I have encountered it is those at the St Pancras HS1 platforms. Most TfL stations are far too busy to unnecessarily impede the flow to check for railcards. I suspect that the Gatex gateline at Victoria would be similar to HS1, given that Govia see them both as cash cows.

TfL appear to let people through all the time, but with revenue staff behind the gates that look to see for the yellow lights for a child/discounted ticket and then stop you to ask for the railcard.

They may also be plain clothed.

A good way to do it, if you've got the manpower.

 

[amateur]

TfL appear to let people through all the time, but with revenue staff behind the gates that look to see for the yellow lights for a child/discounted ticket and then stop you to ask for the railcard.

They may also be plain clothed.

A good way to do it, if you've got the manpower.

What does the last sentence mean?

 

[jon0844]

What does the last sentence mean?

It's a more effective way to do it without causing disruption, because people can keep flowing through and only a random number are stopped - not everyone - and people won't try their ticket again and again before seeking assistance.

 

[JB_B]

The St Pancras Thameslink Gateline routinely rejected Network Railcard discounted tickets for several years - not sure if it still does - that was incredibly frustrating until I realised what was going on and could factor in extra time for the inevitable queueing. Not exactly brilliant customer service.

 

[jon0844]

They seem to have enough staff ready to issue PFs almost 24/7 that they too could stand outside and look for a flag when a discounted ticket is used? I assume they gave the yellow LEDs like LU gates?

At least then, if you have a full price ticket you don't get held up because people in front were stopped and don't realise what's going on.