Which train operators issue credit card sized tickets and which ones issue new style paper tickets?

[AY1975]

Does anyone know which train operators still issue credit card sized tickets (CCSTs) with a "magstripe" on the back, and which operators have switched to issuing the new style paper tickets with a barcode?

I would presume that where an operator has switched to issuing the new style paper tickets at its ticket offices, they either have to have a machine that can issue both styles of ticket or a separate machine that issues CCSTs because a ticket for a journey involving cross-London transfer by Underground still has to be issued as a CCST to operate the ticket gates at London Underground stations, or else operators that only issue new style paper tickets can't issue tickets for such journeys at their ticket offices.

AFAIK all operators' ticket vending machines (TVMs) still issue CCSTs, except that some operators now have machines that will issue paper tickets (often smaller than the normal new style ones) with a barcode for journeys not involving London Underground.

Also, all tickets issued on-train, where this option is still available, are, I think, issued as paper tickets.

East Midlands Railway still issues CCSTs at its ticket offices and most of its TVMs but does have some TVMs that issue small paper tickets as described above.

On the other hand Avanti West Coast and LNER now issue paper tickets at their ticket offices.

I would expect most operators in the South-East (Southeastern, GTR/Southern, SWR etc) to still issue CCSTs as they will probably have a much higher percentage of journeys involving London Underground.

 

[FuzzyDuck]

SWR for sure, use them all the time.

 

[infobleep]

I am sure I've been given paper tickets from a South Western Railway ticket office.

I mostly use TMVs and these always issue CCST.

Beyond that I use eTickets which I add to my Google wallet.

 

[redreni]

Most ticket offices that can issue 'bogroll' tickets can also issue CCSTs, as far as I know. I believe it's considered best practice to issue cross-London tickets on CCSTs because bogroll tickets won't work the barriers on the tube. There may be other similar examples.

 

[mikeg]

Tpe seem to issue a 'proper' ticket every time, at least from their ticket offices, at least from Selby.

Lner seem to default to paper roll tickets. Just my experience of Selby, Thirsk, Northallerton and Darlington ticket offices in semi recent times

 

[Haywain]

Lner seem to default to paper roll tickets.

Only for about the last 5 years.

 

[Bungle965]

Only for about the last 5 years.

Avanti has been longer than that!

 

[Mainline421]

Also, all tickets issued on-train, where this option is still available, are, I think, issued as paper tickets.

SWR still issue CCSTs onboard as far as I know, I suspect Southeastern are the same.

SWR for sure, use them all the time.

Larger SWR stations have been doing paper roll tickets for over a year now, but smaller ones are still CCST only. All TOCs ticket offices retain the ability to print on CCST to be able to sell cross-London tickets etc. (although this seemed to mildly surprise staff at an LNER one when my tickets printed that way)

TfW ticket offices seem to all do CCST. I suspect it's still a minority of ticket offices nationally that default to paper roll

 

[Gaelan]

ScotRail issues CCSTs from all ticket offices and TVMs, except the pilot ones in Glasgow which issue eTickets on white receipt paper. Their guards issue paper roll. Notably, the main Edinburgh Waverley ticket office is LNER and therefore issues paper roll.

 

[Bungle965]

SWR still issue CCSTs onboard as far as I know, I suspect Southeastern are the same.

Larger SWR stations have been doing paper roll tickets for over a year now, but smaller ones are still CCST only. All TOCs ticket offices retain the ability to print on CCST to be able to sell cross-London tickets etc. (although this seemed to mildly surprise staff at an LNER one when my tickets printed that way)

TfW ticket offices seem to all do CCST. I suspect it's still a minority of ticket offices nationally that default to paper roll

Any TOCs that use Fujitsu still only issue to CCST as there is currently no PRT printer compatible.

 

[TEW]

SWR still issue CCSTs onboard as far as I know, I suspect Southeastern are the same.

SWR is PRT onboard now.
Southeastern, Southern and WMT are CCST onboard.

 

[davews]

Was issued a paper roll ticket at Wokingham recently - though was not going via London. Is Wokingham run by SWR or GWR?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is Wokingham run by SWR or GWR?

South Western Railway.

 

[Mainline421]

SWR is PRT onboard now.
Southeastern, Southern and WMT are CCST onboard.

Interesting, I'd have thought a lot of people would want Travelcards

 

[Halwynd]

I think Northern still issue CCSTs at all of their booking offices and ticket machines. I always buy/collect from Northern just to avoid the dreaded paper roll ticket from Avanti.

 

[plugwash]

Does anyone know which train operators still issue credit card sized tickets (CCSTs) with a "magstripe" on the back, and which operators have switched to issuing the new style paper tickets with a barcode?

Every time I've used a northern ticket office I've got CCST, Avanti ticket offices use PRT where they can (though they do still have the ability to issue both regular CCST and CCST on special blanks where needed), can't comment on other operators as it's very rare that I use a ticket office at a station outside my local area.

Also, all tickets issued on-train, where this option is still available, are, I think, issued as paper tickets.

Unfortunately, some train operators only equip their onboard staff to issue PRT tickets, despite the fact these can't be used for some journeys. I know this applies to Nothern, I think it also applies to TPE.

 

[Bungle965]

Unfortunately, some train operators only equip their onboard staff to issue PRT tickets, despite the fact these can't be used for some journeys. I know this applies to Nothern, I think it also applies to TPE.

It's fairly easy for a TOC to get around that however by allowing issue to TOD.
There is little need to be carrying around a heavy CCST printer these days, especially for TOCs outside of London.

 

[cactustwirly]

Living in the south east I have never seen the so called "big roll" in the flesh.
Everything is either e-ticket or magstripe

 

[Wallsendmag]

Northern,GA,GWR and WMR have TVMs that issue PRT EMR and TPE have TVMs that issue eTickets. LNER,SWR,WMR,Chiltern,GTR all have a Ticket Office TIS that can issue PRT. Most onboard systems issue PRT.

 

[_csd]

Speaking of PRT, does anyone know how an All Line Rover would be printed at PRT capable ticket offices? Would it come out as PRT or would it still be CCST that one would get?

Was thinking of getting one from Euston but if it were to be printed on PRT I shall go elsewhere!

 

[Towers]

It's fairly easy for a TOC to get around that however by allowing issue to TOD.
There is little need to be carrying around a heavy CCST printer these days, especially for TOCs outside of London.

Except for that smal trivial matter of the customers, of course! TOCs - especially some of those which directly serve London - issuing a TfL-enabled fare as a ToD and then obliging the customer to go and queue up at a TVM, provide all of their details twice (once at the point of purchase and again on collection), and retrieve another set of travel documents halfway through their journey, is surely a real low point in railway common sense and customer service; it’s utterly farcical!

 

[Snow1964]

My local GWR station issues credit card size tickets from both Ticket office and the single TVM

 

[yorksrob]

Living in the south east I have never seen the so called "big roll" in the flesh.
Everything is either e-ticket or magstripe

Sadly Waterloo seems to have succumbed to the tide of bogroll.

 

[_toommm_]

Speaking of PRT, does anyone know how an All Line Rover would be printed at PRT capable ticket offices? Would it come out as PRT or would it still be CCST that one would get?

Was thinking of getting one from Euston but if it were to be printed on PRT I shall go elsewhere!

You could always go 'next door' to St Pancras, or order one from GWR.

 

[bleeder4]

Perhaps I'm wrong in this, but I have always thought that any TVM still issues CCST tickets. I always buy my tickets online and collect them from the TVM when I arrive at the station, and it has always issued me with CCST tickets. So I wasn't aware that it was operator specific. I have travelled all over the country on various different operators, yet the collection machine has always printed me out CCSTs.

Edit: Sorry, just re-read the OP and noticed that this was already mentioned. Serves me right for just scanning it originally!

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

Avanti ticket office at Rugby sometimes ask me which style I want, which is lovely!

I must say, overall I am so impressed with the staff at Rugby. Compared to some (not all) Avanti staff I interact with at other stations or onboard trains, they seem happy, motivated and customer focused.

 

[skyhigh]

I think Northern still issue CCSTs at all of their booking offices and ticket machines. I always buy/collect from Northern just to avoid the dreaded paper roll ticket from Avanti.

Not any more. There are some TVMs that issue paper roll and it's being rolled out across the network.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Not any more. There are some TVMs that issue paper roll and it's being rolled out across the network.

I'm trying my best

 

[Bungle965]

Except for that smal trivial matter of the customers, of course! TOCs - especially some of those which directly serve London - issuing a TfL-enabled fare as a ToD and then obliging the customer to go and queue up at a TVM, provide all of their details twice (once at the point of purchase and again on collection), and retrieve another set of travel documents halfway through their journey, is surely a real low point in railway common sense and customer service; it’s utterly farcical!

I originally replied to a comment where TPE and Northern were mentioned.
At those TOCs what do you need a CCST printer for?
Even InterCity TOCs (LNER, Avanti) where there should be ability to buy before you board how often are you selling a ticket which is involving TfL?
It's an edge case and not one which the railway should continually have to cater with by Train Managers carrying around bulky equipment, therefore a sensible middle ground has been reached with issuing to TOD.

SWR changing from CCST to PRT on the otherhand onboard...

 

[Towers]

I originally replied to a comment where TPE and Northern were mentioned.
At those TOCs what do you need a CCST printer for?
Even InterCity TOCs (LNER, Avanti) where there should be ability to buy before you board how often are you selling a ticket which is involving TfL?
It's an edge case and not one which the railway should continually have to cater with by Train Managers carrying around bulky equipment, therefore a sensible middle ground has been reached with issuing to TOD.

SWR changing from CCST to PRT on the otherhand onboard...

It’s got nowt to do with the size of equipment TMs are carrying though of course, it’s to do with cost.

TOCs want to replace CCST because PRT is much cheaper, TfL however aren’t terribly keen on stumping up for the thousands of barcode scanners that would need to be installed across LUL to make PRT work on their network. The upshot is that customers are inconvenienced.