atraindriver
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Guard's ticket machine not working
- Thread starter exbrel
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This.
TOCs are happily fitting USB chargers under seats for passengers, but not bothering to fit them in cabs so guards can keep their ticket machines charged - but then supply machines which can't last a shift because the batteries are so crap.
And we won't mention the prevalent assumption that there's always a high quality phone signal (even in cuttings and long tunnels) so the ticket machine can do its online checks for card purchases...
Unfortunately it's what happens when the people specifying upgrades (to trains and machines) won't be using the equipment and, all too often, wouldn't dream of lowering themselves to speak to those who will.
Interestingly our 153 and 158 units mostly have cab USB sockets fitted for the guard (they never did the 156s) and we can charge the phones and pin pads off the printer which basically has far more battery life than required. The 'Intercity' 222s and HSTs have 3 pin plugs in the staff areas. I didn't realise the set up used elsewhere provides no charging options at all!
dont they still carry an excess fare pad?
No. An unpaid fare notice pad is something quite different. The fares manual book also no longer exists so if the phone is dead you have no legitimate way of looking up fares anyway.
who runs a business with no paper backup in case of computer failure? Jeez!
route:oxford
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route:oxford
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With the various printer, card reader and network connection issues...
Are they all likely to be genuine faults?
Just for simple stuff, if they use the on-train wifi, wouldn't it be really easy for a passenger to change the name of their own device to the same name as the on-train network, but with no internect connectivity. The ticket machine would connect to the strongest wifi signal, but be unable to access the internet - no sale.
Or simply jam the bluetooth?
The latter is definitely illegal. The former, I'm not so sure.
Are they all likely to be genuine faults?
Just for simple stuff, if they use the on-train wifi, wouldn't it be really easy for a passenger to change the name of their own device to the same name as the on-train network, but with no internect connectivity. The ticket machine would connect to the strongest wifi signal, but be unable to access the internet - no sale.
Or simply jam the bluetooth?
The latter is definitely illegal. The former, I'm not so sure.
SWR Desiro units have 3 pin plugs in the guards offices, but the guards offices are being removed in the current refurbishment and no replacement sockets are being provided in the cabs. There is still the option of using the printer.
6Gtraincrew
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They don't use the onboard WiFi. STAR Mobile uses the phone data.
so what happens when the passenger pays by card and there is no phone signal - how do they get CC authorisation?
Bantamzen
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In truth, lots! I know if my organisation in the public sector lost the computer systems, it would be a long time before a paper contingency could be activated (and I do mean a long time). Let's just say if it ever did happen, it would be all over the news.
On Envoy (not sure about Star Mobile) it declines the card. Most times it will then authorise when you attempt again with good signal.
6Gtraincrew
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Contactless payments decline
Chip & Pin would depend on how the individual card is set up by the bank. Some cards allow low value offline payments, some don't.
Other than that, it's a case of wait until there is a signal.
I should have added that with regards to chip and pin. Most with authorise (slowly) without signal.
Belperpete
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Normally Cambrian guards are able to sell tickets by credit card even where there is no mobile signal (which is probably quite a lot of the line): on this occasion they weren't. Two out of the three guards said that it was because the WiFi wasn't working (I also could not connect to the WiFi).
I presume that the WiFi also needs a mobile signal, but the train has a better aerial than a mobile phone.
bunnahabhain
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Not strictly true. If you have zero signal it will authorise offline instantly, or decline instantly, if you have the tiniest smidgen of a signal, it will take up to 30 seconds to dither about before giving you its decision (unless you lose the signal entirely in that time). In theory it could use the GSMR network to piggyback the authorisation signal, but that would cost more money.
bunnahabhain
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WiFi does indeed operate using the mobile phone networks, I believe HSTs have three SIM cards in the sealed box in the TGS for this purpose. Hence why I never bother using the onboard WiFi and just use my own data. SBB (the national operator in Switzerland) don't even bother with onboard WiFi, they've fitted mobile signal boosters onboard to enable people to use their own data more effectively, something I think we should do over here rather than relying on crappy WiFi connections everywhere.
6Gtraincrew
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The two guards who said about the wifi are incorrect. Star Mobile 1000% only uses the phone data while on the train.
There are various reasons for this. Which include the dangers of using an unsecure public wifi for card transactions. These could be sorted by having a second secure channel for Star, but then other problems arise. Possible slowdown due to sharing bandwith with a train full of people. Delay in the machine trying to connect to the internet via Wifi when the router is unable to pick up an signal, then having to switch to celular data before it can request authorisation.
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