py_megapixel
Established Member
It seems very strange that so many ticket barriers across the National Rail network "eat" tickets, especially since there are so many disadvantages of doing so.
Advantages
For TOCS: Passengers unfamiliar with the network can't claim delay repay; possibly reduces fare evasion from people travelling on old tickets
For passengers: Not much. You could argue that it reduce clutter in people's pockets, but car park machines will eat tickets that people leave if they go through the gate without picking them up, so why not apply the same to ticket gates?
Disadvantages
For TOCS: Need to pay someone to empty the machine, need to have more storage space in the machine for tickets, machine is more prone to going out of service (although this is rare)
For passengers: Can't claim delay repay after exiting the station, can't use their ticket for other things (e.g. Manchester Metrolink), can't keep their ticket as a souvenir of travelling or to claim expenses.
So why to companies set their machines this way?
Advantages
For TOCS: Passengers unfamiliar with the network can't claim delay repay; possibly reduces fare evasion from people travelling on old tickets
For passengers: Not much. You could argue that it reduce clutter in people's pockets, but car park machines will eat tickets that people leave if they go through the gate without picking them up, so why not apply the same to ticket gates?
Disadvantages
For TOCS: Need to pay someone to empty the machine, need to have more storage space in the machine for tickets, machine is more prone to going out of service (although this is rare)
For passengers: Can't claim delay repay after exiting the station, can't use their ticket for other things (e.g. Manchester Metrolink), can't keep their ticket as a souvenir of travelling or to claim expenses.
So why to companies set their machines this way?