Northern Rail Ticket Machines

[waytogo]

Can you now collect online tickets from Northern ticket machines?
Just been to book some tickets and the machine at Barnsley is now showing as an option for collection.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

[WestCoast]

Yes, finally!

After a few years of me whingeing about lack of TOD, they've finally activated Ticket-On-Departure!

 

[323235]

It is about time really but at least they've finally made it possible.

 

[142094]

Still they do need an internet connection, which is why Northern wouldn't allow TOD before the website was set up.

 

[WestCoast]

Still they do need an internet connection, which is why Northern wouldn't allow TOD before the website was set up.

I know that was the reason, but considering most (all?) other TOCs were offering this service, it was a little annoying, especially when APs were offered from local stations.

Next stop, print at home for all tickets! Or maybe not..

 

[142094]

I know that was the reason, but considering most (all?) other TOCs were offering this service, it was a little annoying, especially when APs were offered from local stations.

Next stop, print at home for all tickets! Or maybe not..

Aye but think of it as Northern would at the time:

Do we sell tickets online, or sell advance ticket for our own trains? No.

Do we need the extra cost of installing an internet connection, where we are likely to get no benefit from it? No.

Very simple economics.

 

[dave87016]

Managed to pick mine up from the TVM at Blackburn

 

[Deerfold]

Anyone know how widespread this is? Any chance of it coming to Keighley?

 

[dave87016]

According to Northern website Keighley is already in the list of stations where you can pick tickets up

 

[Deerfold]

According to Northern website Keighley is already in the list of stations where you can pick tickets up

Marvellous - it wasn't last time I looked and it was closed when I caught a train today.

Is it only for picking up tickets bought through Northern? It's not showing on eastcoast.co.uk

 

[CompactDstrxion]

East Coast won't have updated their list yet. It would probably work.

 

[WestCoast]

Aye but think of it as Northern would at the time:

Do we sell tickets online, or sell advance ticket for our own trains? No.

Do we need the extra cost of installing an internet connection, where we are likely to get no benefit from it? No.

Very simple economics.

I understand that, but it was not user-friendly in the slightest for the passenger and was a very prominent example of the fragmentation that rail privatisiation has caused. The fact that Northern didn't sell tickets online, was the root of the problem, as you quite rightly point out.

Large areas of the network were cut off from TOD, including stations where other operators offered APs. Some of the stations that lacked TOD were very significant stations such as Bolton, Blackpool North and Bradford Interchange. Other TOCs were unwilling to provide TVMs.

I am glad it's sorted now, as I felt it was quite a major issue with the TOC. Their website booking engine is very good too.
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East Coast won't have updated their list yet. It would probably work.

It will work, just put in any station. The Northern TVMs do ask for the booking reference though, in addition to the payment card.

 

[Deerfold]

It will work, just put in any station. The Northern TVMs do ask for the booking reference though, in addition to the payment card.

I'll wait until it appears in the list - I don't fancy a trip to Leeds if it doesn't (and my printout names a different station)...

 

[WestCoast]

I'll wait until it appears in the list - I don't fancy a trip to Leeds if it doesn't (and my printout names a different station)...

I've already done it - selected Preston (Virgin TVM), but collected at Poulton-le-Fylde (Northern TVM). Booked via RedSpottedHanky and East Coast.

I've never had any problems collecting tickets at TVMs other than those selected during the booking process. It seems the system doesn't care.

 

[MikeWh]

It seems the system doesn't care.

It doesn't!

The only exception is certain operator specific tickets like Southern Daysave which are ordered using a completely different system and have references that only work in Southern TVMs. Anything you can get on a standard WebTIS interface will work.

 

[Deerfold]

I've already done it - selected Preston (Virgin TVM), but collected at Poulton-le-Fylde (Northern TVM). Booked via RedSpottedHanky and East Coast.

I've never had any problems collecting tickets at TVMs other than those selected during the booking process. It seems the system doesn't care.

No, but if there's a problem with the machine (and there is just one at Keighley) I'm not convinced I'd get it from the office if I said I'd collect elsewhere. Once it's in the list I can put Keighley in and it would be their problem to sort out.

Most advance tickets we get are for my wife on her company card which makes it trickier for me to pick them up even though I go through Leeds often.

 

[142094]

I understand that, but it was not user-friendly in the slightest for the passenger and was a very prominent example of the fragmentation that rail privatisiation has caused. The fact that Northern didn't sell tickets online, was the root of the problem, as you quite rightly point out.

Large areas of the network were cut off from TOD, including stations where other operators offered APs. Some of the stations that lacked TOD were very significant stations such as Bolton, Blackpool North and Bradford Interchange. Other TOCs were unwilling to provide TVMs.

I am glad it's sorted now, as I felt it was quite a major issue with the TOC. Their website booking engine is very good too.

I fully agree, but of course that is the 'joy' of the privatised system - TOCs don't do things for public benefit which is why in many areas of the country services have to be subsidised by local councils or PTEs.