Why I prefer to use a ticket office and obtain a physical ticket

[vic-rijrode]

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/ticket-gates-at-wellingborough.235042/

We had threads for that before; the most recent can be found here:

Ticket office inside barriers

I notice Rochdale ticket office is inside the barriers. How does that work? Do they only sell tickets in advance for people who have passed through the barrier? Or, for example, people renewing their season ticket on the way home?

www.railforums.co.uk

Let's not do that all over again!

In my experience very few people use ticket offices these days; e-tickets are taking over (see other threads on that topic)

Maybe I'm in the wrong thread, but I am one of the "very few people" to use the (LNER) ticket office in Newcastle Central to buy the various Day Rovers and Rangers with a Senior Railcard. They are very pleasant folks in the office and I have the assurance of a physical ticket in my wallet to show when needed. I know that might be a tad old-fashioned and I do have a smart phone. But my career was in computer software and I am always wary of "digital devices" - perhaps overly so. I do remember the infuriating "blue screen"...

But I can drop a physical ticket and it won't break. Neither will it suddenly disappear because the battery has run out. (It's the same reason I still use physical bank & credit cards.)

Of course I could always buy a ticket from one of the machines on the platform - but I have never bothered to see whether they sell the rovers and rangers. It's far easier to pop into the ticket office!

 

[yorkie]

Maybe I'm in the wrong thread, but I am one of the "very few people" to use the (LNER) ticket office in Newcastle Central to buy the various Day Rovers and Rangers with a Senior Railcard.

The sooner these are available online, the better.

They are very pleasant folks in the office and I have the assurance of a physical ticket in my wallet to show when needed.


I know that might be a tad old-fashioned and I do have a smart phone. But my career was in computer software and I am always wary of "digital devices" - perhaps overly so. I do remember the infuriating "blue screen"...

There is no reason why you can't print an e-ticket to have a physical copy as a backup.

But I can drop a physical ticket and it won't break.

If you lose it or it becomes defaced, you have no backup.

Neither will it suddenly disappear because the battery has run out. (It's the same reason I still use physical bank & credit cards.)

You can show an e-ticket on any device; you can either bring a spare battery or a printed copy.

e-tickets have redundancy; paper tickets do not.

Of course I could always buy a ticket from one of the machines on the platform - but I have never bothered to see whether they sell the rovers and rangers.

They generally don't and that needs to change.

It's far easier to pop into the ticket office!

If it is easier to buy from a ticket office, why do so few people do that these days?

 

[vic-rijrode]

The sooner these are available online, the better.


There is no reason why you can't print an e-ticket to have a physical copy as a backup.


If you lose it or it becomes defaced, you have no backup.


You can show an e-ticket on any device; you can either bring a spare battery or a printed copy.

e-tickets have redundancy; paper tickets do not.


They generally don't and that needs to change.


If it is easier to buy from a ticket office, why do so few people do that these days?

Perhaps I should have stated that I rarely buy any rail ticket other than a rover or ranger these days. As I usually make the decision to travel on one of these virtually on the day itself (down to the weather), it is easier for me (not necessarily other people) to buy a physical ticket at the ticket office. I have also made a last minute decision not to buy one when I discovered that the train, that I needed to catch for my itinerary, was cancelled.

As I keep the paper ticket in my wallet, losing it would involve losing my wallet - far more serious than losing my phone. I don't understand the point about "redundancy" of a paper ticket. Mine go in the shredder at the end of the day. I have not found a device that won't accept a paper ticket - either the gates at a station or when the inspector calls on the train.

I will agree that buying advance tickets (which I have done and kept them on my phone) by their very definition is only possible on-line. I have also printed them as backup.

I whole-heartedly agree that the rovers and rangers need more publicity and to be available both on-line and from ticket machines. Perhaps the TOCs don't want folks to be too aware of them.

 

[yorkie]

Perhaps I should have stated that I rarely buy any rail ticket other than a rover or ranger these days. As I usually make the decision to travel on one of these virtually on the day itself (down to the weather), it is easier for me (not necessarily other people) to buy a physical ticket at the ticket office. I have also made a last minute decision not to buy one when I discovered that the train, that I needed to catch for my itinerary, was cancelled.

I find it easier to buy online; I could buy it on the platform if it was that last minute, or even when boarding the train itself potentially.

As I keep the paper ticket in my wallet, losing it would involve losing my wallet - far more serious than losing my phone.

That's fine but some people buy tickets in advance and then you have the choice to either store potentially dozens of tickets in your wallet (and hope you never lose it) or keep them somewhere else and remember to put the relevant ones in your wallet.

With an electronic ticket, there are more options. You can print it and put it in your wallet if you wish!

I don't understand the point about "redundancy" of a paper ticket.

It's literally one piece of paper which could become lost; there is no alternative.

Mine go in the shredder at the end of the day. I have not found a device that won't accept a paper ticket - either the gates at a station or when the inspector calls on the train.

Accepting a paper ticket or an e-ticket is exactly the same principle; indeed the tickets you get from Newcastle are probably the same ones we get at York, in which case they have (Aztec) barcodes in the same format as e-tickets.

I will agree that buying advance tickets (which I have done and kept them on my phone) by their very definition is only possible on-line.

It can be done at a ticket office but most people choose not to use ticket offices

I have also printed them as backup.

OK so you do embrace the technology!

I whole-heartedly agree that the rovers and rangers need more publicity and to be available both on-line and from ticket machines. Perhaps the TOCs don't want folks to be too aware of them.

Maybe!

 

[Magdalia]

The sooner these are available online, the better.


There is no reason why you can't print an e-ticket to have a physical copy as a backup.


If you lose it or it becomes defaced, you have no backup.


You can show an e-ticket on any device; you can either bring a spare battery or a printed copy.

e-tickets have redundancy; paper tickets do not.


They generally don't and that needs to change.


If it is easier to buy from a ticket office, why do so few people do that these days?

This is based on assumptions about people and technology that don't always apply in the real world.

Not everyone has a digital device.
Not everyone with a digital device has a printer.
Not everyone with a digital device feels secure about making financial transactions online.
Not everyone can operate a ticket machine.
Digital devices are not infallible.
Wifi is not infallible.

 

[yorkie]

This is based on assumptions about people and technology that don't always apply in the real world.

Not everyone has a digital device.

Most people do. But there's no requirement to, and no-one is saying there should be.

Not everyone with a digital device has a printer.

There is no requirement to print; as I've said before in previous threads, I do think the rail industry should make it easier to print such tickets and this function should be available at TVMs. We've done this before and my responses remain the same.

Not everyone with a digital device feels secure about making financial transactions online.

This must be a very small minority.

Not everyone can operate a ticket machine.

Again this is a small minority, but as I've said before, I strongly believe that people should not be penalised for buying on board where they were unable to buy before boarding.

Digital devices are not infallible.

But ticket offices/machines aren't either.

Wifi is not infallible.

You only need a connection when buying the ticket, not to show it.

If it's not possible to buy before boarding, passengers can (and should always be able to) buy on board without penalty.

There are thousands of stations without ticket offices and - whether people like it or not - their number is only going to increase.

 

[Snow1964]

This is based on assumptions about people and technology that don't always apply in the real world.

Not everyone has a digital device.
Not everyone with a digital device has a printer.
Not everyone with a digital device feels secure about making financial transactions online.
Not everyone can operate a ticket machine.
Digital devices are not infallible.
Wifi is not infallible.

You can add, if you prefer cash to using a bank card to keep track of your expenditure, then almost impossible to buy a ticket remotely and not at the station with cash

 

[yorkie]

You can add, if you prefer cash to using a bank card to keep track of your expenditure, then almost impossible to buy a ticket remotely and not at the station with cash

This isn't a reason to keep ticket offices open, as anyone paying by cash (which is a small minority) can buy on board if there is no facility to pay with cash at the origin.

 

[AM9]

I find it easier to buy online; I could buy it on the platform if it was that last minute, or even when boarding the train itself potentially.

That's fine but some people buy tickets in advance and then you have the choice to either store potentially dozens of tickets in your wallet (and hope you never lose it) or keep them somewhere else and remember to put the relevant ones in your wallet.

With an electronic ticket, there are more options. You can print it and put it in your wallet if you wish!

It's literally one piece of paper which could become lost; there is no alternative.


Accepting a paper ticket or an e-ticket is exactly the same principle; indeed the tickets you get from Newcastle are probably the same ones we get at York, in which case they have (Aztec) barcodes in the same format as e-tickets.


It can be done at a ticket office but most people choose not to use ticket offices

OK so you do embrace the technology!

Maybe!

I have been travelling by rail with nobody to hold my hand for over 60 years. In that time I've used Edmondson tickets, tickets on 80 track card sized card, flimsy orange/yellow (PORTIS type) paper tickets, CCSTs, and paper roll tickets, - there may be more. I cannot remember ever losing one, and when I have been benefitting from a railcard reduction I've never not had it with me for inspection. That's not to say that I'm perfect or have an infallible memory as I've mislaid, lost or even damaged/destroyed other articles that I've carried, but have always accepted responsibility for my errors. I carry contctless bank cards for many payments and if they don't work correctly, that is either the vendor or the bank's problem.
I have been forced to rely on a mobile phone in a few instances and on occasions, that has let me down, but fortunately I have not let a phone be my sole means of getting home safely, and especially linked my phone to a bank card. I see no reason why I should do so in order to travel and there are plenty of people unable to do so. This pushing for everything to be aligned to digital payment can only make the lot of many far worse.

 

[Magdalia]

Most people do. But there's no requirement to, and no-one is saying there should be.

There is no requirement to print; as I've said before in previous threads, I do think the rail industry should make it easier to print such tickets and this function should be available at TVMs. We've done this before and my responses remain the same.

This must be a very small minority.

Again this is a small minority, but as I've said before, I strongly believe that people should not be penalised for buying on board where they were unable to buy before boarding.

But ticket offices/machines aren't either.

You only need a connection when buying the ticket, not to show it.

If it's not possible to buy before boarding, passengers can (and should always be able to) buy on board without penalty.

There are thousands of stations without ticket offices and - whether people like it or not - their number is only going to increase.

This reply demonstrates that either you don't know many people of the Senior Railcard generation, or, if you do, that you don't pay much attention to how a lot of them live their lives.

 

[AM9]

This isn't a reason to keep ticket offices open, as anyone paying by cash (which is a small minority) can buy on board if there is no facility to pay with cash at the origin.

Not an option in a fully gatelined penalty fare area, e.g. most of London and the home counties.

 

[skyhigh]

Not an option in a fully gatelined penalty fare area, e.g. most of London and the home counties.

How many fully gatelined stations in penalty fare areas have no machines which take cash?

 

[Haywain]

This reply demonstrates that either you don't know many people of the Senior Railcard generation, or, if you do, that you don't pay much attention to how a lot of them live their lives.

If anything, your comment suggests that it is you that doesn’t know many people of the Senior Railcard generation. There are plenty of ‘older’ people who are perfectly capable of using smartphones and buying online and, as one of those, I find your comment quite patronising.

 

[AM9]

How many fully gatelined stations in penalty fare areas have no machines which take cash?

I imagine that the same pressure to push passengers into using phones will also include the removal of paying by cash at TVMs.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2022 ==

If anything, your comment suggests that it is you that doesn’t know many people of the Senior Railcard generation. There are plenty of ‘older’ people who are perfectly capable of using smartphones and buying online and, as one of those, I find your comment quite patronising.

As a quite 'old' (well into my '70s) Senior Railcard holder I am capable of using a smartphone to do many things for my convenience when out and about, yet I know plenty of my age who can't or don't, so why should they be denied travel for the convenience of others and/or the TOCs. Many from this area attend hospital appointments in Central London, so safe rapid transport by Thameslink is important and the daytime opening of the booking office is key to that. If consideration of others in that situation is patronising is patornising, then I understand why many older people just keep their mouths shut.

 

[chris_in_salop]

I have been travelling by rail with nobody to hold my hand for over 60 years. In that time I've used Edmondson tickets, tickets on 80 track card sized card, flimsy orange/yellow (PORTIS type) paper tickets, CCSTs, and paper roll tickets, - there may be more. I cannot remember ever losing one, and when I have been benefitting from a railcard reduction I've never not had it with me for inspection. That's not to say that I'm perfect or have an infallible memory as I've mislaid, lost or even damaged/destroyed other articles that I've carried, but have always accepted responsibility for my errors. I carry contctless bank cards for many payments and if they don't work correctly, that is either the vendor or the bank's problem.
I have been forced to rely on a mobile phone in a few instances and on occasions, that has let me down, but fortunately I have not let a phone be my sole means of getting home safely, and especially linked my phone to a bank card. I see no reason why I should do so in order to travel and there are plenty of people unable to do so. This pushing for everything to be aligned to digital payment can only make the lot of many far worse.

Quite right. I resent the growing expectation that I need to carry a mobile phone at all times.

My mobile seems to behave like a newborn baby - needing constant nursing and attention. When it's not running out of battery (or mysteriously not charging overnight, despite the cable being plugged in), it wants more money putting on it, or perhaps something updating. It seems to have great trouble maintaining connectivity between Shrewsbury and Telford - hardly a remote place with herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain. And all this functionality has cost me several hundred pounds, plus a hefty monthly charge.

I'm often in the queue behind someone scanning a mobile ticket at the barriers in Shrewsbury, which then fails to open the gates. This happens several times a week. So with all these advantages, I'll stick to paper tickets, thank you.

 

[alxndr]

I also prefer physical card stock tickets. I have had to use etickets on occasion where they have been purchased in that format by my employer (once it occurred to me this might be their default I requested they choose a physical ticket where available). My experiences with etickets have been fine and without issue, and yet, I still prefer a physical ticket.

I don't understand the obsession this forum seems to have with trying to convert people to etickets. I accept that one day they may be the only option, but until that point I will use card stock tickets wherever available as it is my preference. It may not be entirely logical (although I do find it easier), but it is there and I see no reason to change while I still have the choice to use the format I prefer.

If anything, your comment suggests that it is you that doesn’t know many people of the Senior Railcard generation. There are plenty of ‘older’ people who are perfectly capable of using smartphones and buying online and, as one of those, I find your comment quite patronising.

Not all older people cannot purchase online, but a not insignificant portion of them cannot/will not. Equally the same is true of some below the senior railcard age.

None of my grandparents would make an online purchase (all in their 80s) although they might ask a family member to purchase for them or use a telephone service. If a booking office was nearer than they are in reality I am certain they would use that. One might attempt a TVM if there was no alternative for a low value fare, I doubt it would even register as an option to any of the others.

My mother (50s) will make online purchases but would be lost to book a train ticket due to the complexity of the system and her lack of confidence in using a computer. She would ask her husband or go to a booking office if one was available. She might attempt a TVM for a low value fare if there was no alternative.

A friend of mine (40s) will not make online purchases. He uses booking offices, or if one was not available ask a family member.

 

[vic-rijrode]

I find it easier to buy online; I could buy it on the platform if it was that last minute, or even when boarding the train itself potentially.

That's fine but some people buy tickets in advance and then you have the choice to either store potentially dozens of tickets in your wallet (and hope you never lose it) or keep them somewhere else and remember to put the relevant ones in your wallet.

With an electronic ticket, there are more options. You can print it and put it in your wallet if you wish!

It's literally one piece of paper which could become lost; there is no alternative.


Accepting a paper ticket or an e-ticket is exactly the same principle; indeed the tickets you get from Newcastle are probably the same ones we get at York, in which case they have (Aztec) barcodes in the same format as e-tickets.


It can be done at a ticket office but most people choose not to use ticket offices

OK so you do embrace the technology!

Maybe!

I do "embrace" the technology when it is most appropriate and convenient for me to use it. That surely is the whole point.

Personally I find the prospect of buying a ticket on-line at the last minute whilst in the station or on the platform not very attractive given the noise and crowds. How also do I get past the ticket gates before buying a ticket online "when boarding the train"?

Anybody who stores dozens of tickets in their wallet is definitely asking for trouble - but who would do that. Surely you would only take that ticket (or those tickets) that you were going to use that day.

One piece of paper in a wallet versus one mobile phone - probably also in your pocket - what's the difference?

"Most people chosing not to use ticket offices" is very subjective - when the inspector comes through the carriage, probably 50% of passengers proffer physical tickets - whether bought on-line or at a ticket office I don't know. It seems to be the chattering class that use e-tickets.

From this thread, I can see I am not the only one who is dismayed by the relentless march to all things "digital".

 

[skyhigh]

when the inspector comes through the carriage, probably 50% of passengers proffer physical tickets

Route dependent, maybe. In my experience it's roughly 10% paper tickets these days.

 

[Darandio]

"Most people chosing not to use ticket offices" is very subjective - when the inspector comes through the carriage, probably 50% of passengers proffer physical tickets - whether bought on-line or at a ticket office I don't know. It seems to be the chattering class that use e-tickets.

Whilst i'm not on any side in this particular debate this doesn't fit with what I see these days. Tickets on devices are easily above 80% on any service I use, it's fairly obvious by the sheer amount of beeps heard as the guard moves through the train after each stop.

 

[jfollows]

Like vic-rijrode, I prefer to use a ticket office and obtain a ticket.
In the relatively recent past I would buy advance tickets and walk to the station to get them from the ticket machine in advance. Now I'm happy to use e-tickets for the purpose, and I generally print them as well as carry them on my phone, that's my belt-and-braces preference.
I value the skill of the people in my local station who sell me tickets, and have always enjoyed my interactions with them, they never had a problem selling me the ticket(s) I asked for including split tickets.
Many of my trips are made on the day, with the decision to travel made at the time of travelling and then I buy the ticket at the station.
I spent my life in the computer industry and so I have no problem with the technology. I just find a paper ticket a significantly better medium for many of the reasons vic-rijrode states.
It's just my preference, but I can see the way things are going. So this will change, and I will modify my behaviour accordingly. I don't need to be convinced that the new way is better, because for me it isn't, but I'm not going to fight the inevitable. Especially as we seem to be seeing off dreadful m-tickets, thank goodness!

 

[vic-rijrode]

Whilst i'm not on any side in this particular debate this doesn't fit with what I see these days. Tickets on devices are easily above 80% on any service I use, it's fairly obvious by the sheer amount of beeps heard as the guard moves through the train after each stop.

My paper ticket also elicit a beep though.

 

[miklcct]

Anybody who stores dozens of tickets in their wallet is definitely asking for trouble - but who would do that. Surely you would only take that ticket (or those tickets) that you were going to use that day.

Using split ticketing, you can have dozens of tickets for a long-distance journey (counting seat reservation coupons).

Also, sometimes I buy a batch of tickets for the same journey on different dates in a single booking as well, which results in dozens of tickets collected.

One piece of paper in a wallet versus one mobile phone - probably also in your pocket - what's the difference?

I don't normally put my wallet in my pocket. I put it deep in my bag under dozens of clothes, water bottles, sport equipment, etc. as the content is only for contingency and out-of-plan expenses, which under normal circumstances I shouldn't need to access.

Putting it there instead of my pocket reduces the chance of loss.

 

[Starmill]

This reply demonstrates that either you don't know many people of the Senior Railcard generation, or, if you do, that you don't pay much attention to how a lot of them live their lives.

If a customer needs help getting their tickets who doesn't have a smartphone and isn't able to use a ticket machine unassisted, staff would still be on hand. Either they would assist the customer in using the machine to make sure they got the right ticket from it, they would issue the customer a ticket themselves using the remaining ticket office machine which will probably be in the information point, or in extremis they would give the customer a slip with authority to purchase their ticket on the train. The first of these three options is very common today, and the latter are also used occasionally today. I myself was given a slip once at Bristol Parkway because of this sort of situation and the booking office being closed when it should have been open. Oxford Parkway also has ticket sales at the information desk as a back up. People just aren't going to be completely excluded.

 

[AlterEgo]

If a customer needs help getting their tickets who doesn't have a smartphone and isn't able to use a ticket machine unassisted, staff would still be on hand. Either they would assist the customer in using the machine to make sure they got the right ticket from it, they would issue the customer a ticket themselves using the remaining ticket office machine which will probably be in the information point, or in extremis they would give the customer a slip with authority to purchase their ticket on the train. The first of these three options is very common today, and the latter are also used occasionally today. I myself was given a slip once at Bristol Parkway because of this sort of situation and the booking office being closed when it should have been open. Oxford Parkway also has ticket sales at the information desk as a back up. People just aren't going to be completely excluded.

I do think there is a great temptation in seeing the ticket office dispute as binary. Stations should not be staffless unless they're rural shacks. But equally, staff behind a window are under-utilised, and would be better off as a deterrent to ASB and fare evasion, and more helpful in shifting customers to better and eco-friendly forms of electronic ticketing by being on hand as floor walkers at most busy town stations.

 

[Hadders]

"Most people chosing not to use ticket offices" is very subjective - when the inspector comes through the carriage, probably 50% of passengers proffer physical tickets - whether bought on-line or at a ticket office I don't know. It seems to be the chattering class that use e-tickets.

I'm afraid this is way wide of reality. Use a long distance train and practically everyone will present an eticket, more often than not ona smartphone. I ade a point of checking on a busy LNER train I travelled on recently and in the carriage I was in (all seats taken) only two of us presented paper tickets (me and one other). I only had a paper ticket because the ticket I was using wasn't available as an eticket.

No-one seems to have an issue with airline tickets being issued as etickets, or tickets to sporting events being issued as etickets so I really don't understand what the fuss is about.

No-one is saying you won't be able to buy a ticket at a station (albeit it the traditional ticket office will orobably not exist in its current form), no-one is saying you will be mandated to use a smartphoen to travel by train.

 

[Watershed]

I'm afraid this is way wide of reality. Use a long distance train and practically everyone will present an eticket, more often than not ona smartphone. I ade a point of checking on a busy LNER train I travelled on recently and in the carriage I was in (all seats taken) only two of us presented paper tickets (me and one other). I only had a paper ticket because the ticket I was using wasn't available as an eticket.

No-one seems to have an issue with airline tickets being issued as etickets, or tickets to sporting events being issued as etickets so I really don't understand what the fuss is about.

No-one is saying you won't be able to buy a ticket at a station (albeit it the traditional ticket office will orobably not exist in its current form), no-one is saying you will be mandated to use a smartphoen to travel by train.

I think the issue is that e-tickets currently either require you to show your ticket on a mobile device (which is subject to the vagaries of battery life, untimely updates/crashes etc.) or to print the PDF out yourself (not everyone has access to a printer and in any case, you shouldn't have to pay to print your ticket).

Given the potential sanctions for being unable to show a valid ticket - even if through no direct fault of your own - I prefer to stick with paper tickets. I've never lost my phone or my wallet and this seems a spurious argument either way.

When or if e-tickets can be printed by ticket machines just as ToD bookings can now, I'd be happy to make that switch.

 

[HarryF]

I agree with Hadders. I think we’ll still be able to buy tickets from the station, it’s just they will probably look a bit different (I have visions of a machine that prints out e-tickets)

I only have a paper ticket when I can’t get an e-ticket (Southeastern and Scotrail, I’m looking at you)

Plus, I have really bad anxiety. I love being able to have my ticket on my phone and print it out.

 

[Hadders]

When or if e-tickets can be printed by ticket machines just as ToD bookings can now, I'd be happy to make that switch.

I'd have thought that can't be far off.

 

[vic-rijrode]

I'm afraid this is way wide of reality. Use a long distance train and practically everyone will present an eticket, more often than not ona smartphone. I ade a point of checking on a busy LNER train I travelled on recently and in the carriage I was in (all seats taken) only two of us presented paper tickets (me and one other). I only had a paper ticket because the ticket I was using wasn't available as an eticket.

No-one seems to have an issue with airline tickets being issued as etickets, or tickets to sporting events being issued as etickets so I really don't understand what the fuss is about.

No-one is saying you won't be able to buy a ticket at a station (albeit it the traditional ticket office will orobably not exist in its current form), no-one is saying you will be mandated to use a smartphoen to travel by train.

It may be way wide of your reality, but not mine. LNER services are usually jam packed most times with folks that have had to book in advance (certainly in standard class) and so have their e-tickets. When travelling between Newcastle and (say) Darlington, I try to use Cross Country or TPE where the percentage of e-tickets is less.

I suspect that most commuter services are filled with so-called "smart" tickets because it makes sense. No-one wants to carry one physical ticket over weeks or months even the old card ones.

There is no "fuss" btw - folks are just stating their opinion on here that they don't want to be forced away from physical tickets. When and if the ticket machines at stations without a ticket office can accomodate rangers, rovers and other "different" tickets and when they can and will offer the cheapest ticket between 2 stations rather than what the TOC wants you to buy, then I will use them. That also applies to on-line booking. Although living now in the NE of England, I still use Chiltern Railways web-site to look-up fares because I lived in their catchment area and am registered with them. But I rarely buy anything other than an advance ticket (usually a single) from them.

BTW also - I use a physical Fan Card if I want to watch my Football Club in a "sporting event" - not an e-ticket.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2022 ==


Watershed said:


When or if e-tickets can be printed by ticket machines just as ToD bookings can now, I'd be happy to make that switch.

I'd have thought that can't be far off.

... and as I have stated, when these machines can issue rovers and rangers then I will use them.

 

[Big Tim]

Pretty much the only time I will use a ticket office now is if I have an RTV to redeem (as far as I'm aware they cannot be used online?). However, as the ticket office at my home station of York is now greatly reduced in size and staffing, if I'm going to purchase a ticket for travel asap I will have to turn up a good bit earlier than my train is due to depart as there does seem to still be quite a few travellers utilising the facility. So I'm either queuing for ages or marking time on the platform (or more likely York Tap) if I'm straight in and out.

Personally, I prefer to buy online and usually will print out a "hard copy" too, and if I'm carrying a bag will also have a fully charged power bank in case of any mobile phone battery farces.