New Ticket Design Launched

[bb21]

What, like we already had?

The truth is that we didn't, or effectively didn't, given the whole myriad of different printing styles.

I know more than a few revenue teams who have given up trying to keep on top of them. It is practically impossible.

 

[Merseysider]

I came across this post on Twitter:

https://mobile.twitter.com/northernassist/status/812745103336947712

Five and a half feet for 4 peoples' tickets

 

[Parallel]

I think a new ticket design was/is a good idea, but from the outset there should have been a clear definition of what that was going to be. Then there would be a plan to implement over a fair period, whether one year, two years or even five years.

There aren't that many makes of TVM or printers, and any modern printer can print whatever you want - it's just an image.

I can't understand how this has gone so terribly wrong. Who managed the whole project? Who kept each TOC in line? Who made sure the online booking systems would send the right data to machines?

And more importantly, of all these competing designs, who spoke to those who have to check the tickets who will see loads of different types, and have seen changes to the way discounts are marked, or overlapping text that made it impossible to see what railcard was used etc.

I agree, it's all a bit ridiculous now There are even still a few TVMs around here that still print the old style, too!

 

[dave87016]

The size of tickets printed from the guards with New hand held machines on Northern ( same as the ones in the attachment by Jake in post #902) is ridiculous i got one return to Preston and the length is annoying , several guards I spoken to don't like these machines I no longer refer to it as a ticket now, on my return journey the guard came round I said I've been through "customs" and said there is my "boarding pass" as it's airline like style he laughed and said agreed mate

 

[Wallsendmag]

The size of tickets printed from the guards with New hand held machines on Northern ( same as the ones in the attachment by Jake in post #902) is ridiculous i got one return to Preston and the length is annoying , several guards I spoken to don't like these machines I no longer refer to it as a ticket now, on my return journey the guard came round I said I've been through "customs" and said there is my "boarding pass" as it's airline like style he laughed and said agreed mate

I believe there is a change coming soon that haves the size of the tickets


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I believe there is a change coming soon that haves the size of the tickets

Popular opinion amongst management is half, pictures provided by management are closer to one third smaller.

 

[KTHV]

Got this one today - the first time I've had an Advance Ticket with Seat Reservations in the new format. Printed at Worcester Shrub Hill.

I note that they've now scrapped the "Worcester Stns" naming convention to go with the much better "Shrub H / Foregate". And also was Newtown always on tickets with the (Powys) present - or did it use other naming?

I also note that they seem to have resolved the previous issue with displaying a seat reservation where there are no designated seating system in place.

Other than - display is nice and clear with no overlap...

 

[gnolife]

Got this one today - the first time I've had an Advance Ticket with Seat Reservations in the new format. Printed at Worcester Shrub Hill.

I note that they've now scrapped the "Worcester Stns" naming convention to go with the much better "Shrub H / Foregate". And also was Newtown always on tickets with the (Powys) present - or did it use other naming?

I also note that they seem to have resolved the previous issue with displaying a seat reservation where there are no designated seating system in place.

Other than - display is nice and clear with no overlap...

I think that Newtown will always have noted that it was referring to the one in Wales, to avoid confusion with New Mills Newtown.

 

[Wallsendmag]

On the bottom right of the ticket there will be a number 1.00 or 2.00 and so on can you tell us what it is please ?


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[jon0844]

Is that the revision of the ticket design?

I'd expect some of mine to be 0.1a...

 

[Solent&Wessex]

There is an exceptionally well presented design around now, spaced perfectly and nicely printed. Even seems to use Rail Alphabet as it's font. I think its coming from the VTEC SSTMS at York, but will investigate further when I next see one.

 

[Wallsendmag]

There is an exceptionally well presented design around now, spaced perfectly and nicely printed. Even seems to use Rail Alphabet as it's font. I think its coming from the VTEC SSTMS at York, but will investigate further when I next see one.

Two new Parkeon ToDler machines at York, I believe Parkeon are acknowledged as the best printing machines on the market.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Is that the revision of the ticket design?

I'd expect some of mine to be 0.1a...

No the version is always before the decimal point

 

[dcsprior]

Is that the revision of the ticket design?

I'd expect some of mine to be 0.1a...

No the version is always before the decimal point

v1.0 of something should by definition be release-ready/production-ready with only acceptable bugs/defects, so I think the point johnmorris0844 was making was that the version he'd used had significant defects, that you wouldn't expect to see in a finished product.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[jon0844]

Yes, it was a joke suggesting an alpha release, and an early one at that.

 

[hassaanhc]

Two new Parkeon ToDler machines at York, I believe Parkeon are acknowledged as the best printing machines on the market.

I've been very impressed by how nicely the SWT ones print the new design. Touch screens on them are really good as well.

 

[crehld]

I've been very impressed by how nicely the SWT ones print the new design. Touch screens on them are really good as well.

Are they the Parkeon machines (same as the new(ish) Northern ones)? To my mind they're the only machines to implement the new design correctly and in a clear and visually pleasing way.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Two new Parkeon ToDler machines at York, I believe Parkeon are acknowledged as the best printing machines on the market.

And here is one. Very nicely printed and probably the best version I've seen.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Version 2.0 I see


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[maniacmartin]

And here is one. Very nicely printed and probably the best version I've seen.

The URL to go to to see the ticket restriction details is printed very badly though. The font makes it hard to tell if it is 17, I7 or l7, and the slash in the URL seems to have vanished.

 

[bb21]

Why the month cannot be spelt out in full now with all this space is beyond me.

A small improvement, but has taken years to roll out. Efficiency eh?

I would not object if all prints are standardised to the BR font or the default font used by ToDler.

 

[BurtonM]

I also approve of the Rail Alphabet.

It frustrates me that nobody's thought to implement a shopping basket system on TVMs yet, I often travel with people ineligible for railcards and it makes buying tickets massively inefficient and a pain, as I have to go through the whole process twice.

 

[Haywain]

It frustrates me that nobody's thought to implement a shopping basket system on TVMs yet, I often travel with people ineligible for railcards and it makes buying tickets massively inefficient and a pain, as I have to go through the whole process twice.

It has been thought of! It is a feature of the new VTEC machines.

 

[transportphoto]

I also approve of the Rail Alphabet.

It frustrates me that nobody's thought to implement a shopping basket system on TVMs yet, I often travel with people ineligible for railcards and it makes buying tickets massively inefficient and a pain, as I have to go through the whole process twice.

From what I recall, S&B machines have this functionality. Been a while since I used it, but I'm sure it's on Abellio Greater Anglia examples.

 

[Paul Kelly]

From what I recall, S&B machines have this functionality. Been a while since I used it, but I'm sure it's on Abellio Greater Anglia examples.

Yes, the S&B machines at Reading certainly allow you to put tickets in a basket and add totally different ones; I used this functionality only on Friday.

 

[hassaanhc]

Are they the Parkeon machines (same as the new(ish) Northern ones)? To my mind they're the only machines to implement the new design correctly and in a clear and visually pleasing way.

Yeah they are Parkeon ones. The smaller "ToDler” ones only do ToD and quick tickets to a select few stations, but the larger ones have no such restriction. They even have Boundary Zones as destinations, unlike the S&B ones. However, they are missing some of the features the S&B machines have, such as "Tickets from another station" (which don't include Boundary Zones) and tickets for future dates up to a month ahead.

 

[yorksrob]

I noticed that my new style ticket, printed out from the machine at Leeds, didn't operate the barrier at St Pancras (the origin for my journey) for some reason.

 

[najaB]

I noticed that my new style ticket, printed out from the machine at Leeds, didn't operate the barrier at St Pancras (the origin for my journey) for some reason.

That might have nothing to do with the format though, the barrier may have been set to reject certain tickets (e.g. Off Peak or railcard discounted).

 

[TEW]

Yeah they are Parkeon ones. The smaller "ToDler” ones only do ToD and quick tickets to a select few stations, but the larger ones have no such restriction. They even have Boundary Zones as destinations, unlike the S&B ones. However, they are missing some of the features the S&B machines have, such as "Tickets from another station" (which don't include Boundary Zones) and tickets for future dates up to a month ahead.

Tickets from another station and tickets for future travel are coming to the SWT Parkeon ticket machines very soon. There should be some machines with the software update already.

 

[thedbdiboy]

And here is one. Very nicely printed and probably the best version I've seen.

That's EXACTLY what they were supposed to look like when designed. Unfortunately despite various assurances rather too many of the older machines as supplied by S&B and Worldline delivered significantly inferior quality.