I can't see them installing standalone readers. Far to helpful.
You'd need to know which part of the train to stand in as you'd needs to hope out quickly and back on.
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We've got the Key, it's no secret... (Smartcards on GTR)
- Thread starter jon0844
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You'd need to know which part of the train to stand in as you'd needs to hope out quickly and back on.
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R
RailUK Forums
Yes. Otherwise I guess we'd have had the bodge that AGA seems to have implemented on the line to Hertford East.
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Welwyn Garden City has standalone readers by the lifts, and Hatfield by the night gate.
I am sure a few more could be installed, but not on the platform to let people jump off and back on. That already happens at some stations.
There are 2 standalone readers outside the side exit at Letchworth (though I think the message said "not in use" when I walked past it the other day whilst the main barriers were operational. the set up at Letchworth is there are 2 side gates. if the barriers are in use you still go through the ticket barriers. if the main station is closed the other gate onto the bridge is opened and you bypass the barriers.) I recall seeing some next to the top of the lifts at Stevenage - as using the lifts you bypass the main barriers.
I think that there is one by the side exit at Hitchin which is also on the northbound platform so easily accessible from the train (particulalrly if changing trains there)
I would like to try using the Key - especially as I have had my annual ticket reprinted twice so far this year, both due to the mag stripe no longer working the barriers. the ink is now fading fast so you can hardly read it - it was only reprinted at the end of August so may need doing again n the next week or so. The main issue though is that my season is to Potters Bar and I need to extend my journey about twice a week into London to travel to the other office so I don't think I can use it in conjunction with a paper Travelcard from Potters Bar on a Fast train due to not being about to touch out as I go past Potters Bar (am I correct in this? ). Also our work corporate travel agent booking system won't be able to issue smartcard tickets, only paper ones for collection from a TVM. (the corporate agent is also incapable of booking plusbus tickets but that is another story ..)
I think that there is one by the side exit at Hitchin which is also on the northbound platform so easily accessible from the train (particulalrly if changing trains there)
I would like to try using the Key - especially as I have had my annual ticket reprinted twice so far this year, both due to the mag stripe no longer working the barriers. the ink is now fading fast so you can hardly read it - it was only reprinted at the end of August so may need doing again n the next week or so. The main issue though is that my season is to Potters Bar and I need to extend my journey about twice a week into London to travel to the other office so I don't think I can use it in conjunction with a paper Travelcard from Potters Bar on a Fast train due to not being about to touch out as I go past Potters Bar (am I correct in this? ). Also our work corporate travel agent booking system won't be able to issue smartcard tickets, only paper ones for collection from a TVM. (the corporate agent is also incapable of booking plusbus tickets but that is another story ..)
I would imagine that as long as you had a valid paper ticket from Potters Bar to London, if you were stopped and asked why you hadn't touched out - you can at least prove you have a combination with no gaps, so surely they'd use discretion?
To be honest, I don't know how RPIs are dealing with The Key and how they'd interpret the rules. I'd like to think that they're generally a good bunch and wouldn't want to waste time with you over it.
To be honest, I don't know how RPIs are dealing with The Key and how they'd interpret the rules. I'd like to think that they're generally a good bunch and wouldn't want to waste time with you over it.
ntg
Member
Getting very tired of the hit or miss compatibility with buses. I think I might try and trade my Key in for a paper ticket tomorrow. I ended up stuck walking through Hackney at 11pm last night after being berated by several bus drivers who looked at me as if I was trying to pay with magic beans. I am astounded Govia didn't do any proper testing with buses before launch.
l'd have taken a taxi and sent the bill to Govia. You've paid and they're failing to deliver, simply because you're being used as beta tester for something they really don't appear to understand.
I've already concluded that the Key is a waste of time until Govia get their act together (never??). Stick to paper.
KatieLouLou
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It won't work since the Key is not valid on VTEC. (Therefore you have reduced flexibility on your season ticket as you cannot take a VTEC (or Hull Trains) service from Kings Cross to Stevenage should you wish to).
Paul Kelly
Verified Rep - BR Fares
Surely the key is just a medium; the underlying season ticket is just as valid on East Coast as part of a 19(c) combination as a paper season ticket would be?
button_boxer
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Yes, but looking at Stevenage to London fares on brfares I see that there are both "any permitted" and "gt northern only" smartcard season fares at exactly the same price! I wonder which one you get issued when you buy a season on The Key?
In my case, coming from Biggleswade, no such conditions exist:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BIW&dest=KGX&grpd=1072&tkt=0AT
(And I do fairly frequently use VTEC from Stevenage to London, for various reasons.) But the conditions of the Key prevent it. So I won't be availing myself of it (its only real advantages would be making it marginally easier to open the barriers at KX while wheeling a bike out, and not having to get it replaced, impressively unwillingly by certain station staff, every 3 months).
And lo and behold the Government have announced Oyster and Contactless Payment Card acceptance to Gatwick Airport and intermediate stations.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/contactless-payments-and-oyster-to-make-travel-to-and-from-gatwick-airport-seamless
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/contactless-payments-and-oyster-to-make-travel-to-and-from-gatwick-airport-seamless
I wish people would stop saying this!
That is how it should be, but without a passenger-friendly ombudsman it is not what we are getting. Non-traditional tickets have additional T&Cs attached to the use of that medium which will erode passengers rights.
Oyster for example, has removed the option of using split non-season tickets without disembarking (unless you pay for an artificially-inflated paper ticket instead). Even on seasons, Oyster technically requires touching in and out: although this is not enforced, it could be with other smartcards.
If you have a Print@Home or m-ticket ticket, you may be adhering to all the ticket restrictions, but forget your ID or have a flat battery and it's not valid.
To be fair to govia, now that my tickets works at both ends, although yet to to try the northern line ticket hall at kings x.
It works well and is much less bother than my paper ticket.
Its just a shame that it took so much messing about and that thier customer services is dreadful!
It works well and is much less bother than my paper ticket.
Its just a shame that it took so much messing about and that thier customer services is dreadful!
StateOfPlay
Member
Do they have a special key reader at KGX or is it just the normal barriers?
Just the Oyster reader, not sure how else it could work!
Its just the regular gates as used by oyster.
Incidentally, has anyone yet been asked for their associated photocard to be shown during an RPI check? I was asked for it for the first time yesterday, and was quite taken aback! Assume the photocard number must be stored on the card somewhere.....
I seem to remember Southern Keys originally had photos printed directly on them
Mine has the photo. I read the card with an app on my phone and there is a field called "Holder ID", which is set to all zeroes on my card.
I don't have any season tickets loaded to it, so I cannot check how the photocard number number is stored against the ticket,
StateOfPlay
Member
The barriers were open at KGX this morning and even though I tapped out and waited for the barrier to buzz it hasn't shown up on my Journey history.
I assume that doesn't cause any problems?
I assume that doesn't cause any problems?
If it's like reading a photo from a passport, it must be quite slow and therefore only checked occasionally. It takes maybe 5-6 seconds or more to read my passport photo (I can't access other biometric data).
It's a good idea to store a photo ID on the card itself though.
What associated photocard? You don't need a photo for the key unless you are a child.
You do if it's got a Weekly or longer season on it:
http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/season-tickets/photocards/
...although I've just noticed the paragraph below directly contradicts this!
The photo isn't stored in the card's memory. It is printed on the plastic.
It isn't part of the FAQs now, but I've looked up what it said at the time I got mine a couple of years ago
"Do adults need a photocard?
No, you wont need a photocard when travelling on a Southern service, however if travelling on another operator they may request to a photocard or another form of personal identification may also be requested when travelling on other Train Operators as per the National Rail Conditions of Carriage."
I was informed any form of personal ID would be valid if needed on another operator's service.
So is that the cards support a photo stored on the card (like passports) but perhaps because of all the issues with The Key, the idea has been dropped until such time that it can be used?
Do cards get issued with photos printed on them either?
I wonder if the 'rule change' is just because they're not set up to do it and it's an aspiration for the future.
Do cards get issued with photos printed on them either?
I wonder if the 'rule change' is just because they're not set up to do it and it's an aspiration for the future.
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