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Why do card tickets work barriers that barcodes don't?

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snail

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I often travel from Manchester to Preston on open returns (Preston to Manchester Stns). If I decide to return from Salford Central I've noticed that a paper ticket will always open the barrier but a barcode (m-ticket or e-ticket) won't, they just display 'Seek Assistance'. Same happens at Wigan Wallgate if I go via that route. I can leave the station to cross to North Western no problem with a paper ticket but not with a barcoded one. On the odd occasion I have bought the ticket to Salford Central specifically then I'm ok there with either ticket but still can't get out at Wigan with an electronic ticket.

Why? I can't see it being due to Salford Central not being in the Mcr Stns group, else the paper ticket should fail too.
 
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JB_B

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I'd be interested in any accounts of the functionality (or otherwise) of e-tickets at ticket barriers (at origin, destination or break of journey.)
 

Starmill

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I'd be interested in any accounts of the functionality (or otherwise) of e-tickets at ticket barriers (at origin, destination or break of journey.)
In my experience, which is not of break of journey but of codes being used an intermediate gatelines, they either don't work at all, or they don't work to permit you entry a second time if you've already had the ticket scanned.

My most recent experience of this (with a paper roll ticket, not an electronic ticket) was scanning out at Birmingham Moor Street and then not being permitted entry at Birmingham New Street.
 

JB_B

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In my experience, which is not of break of journey but of codes being used an intermediate gatelines, they either don't work at all, or they don't work to permit you entry a second time if you've already had the ticket scanned.

My most recent experience of this (with a paper roll ticket, not an electronic ticket) was scanning out at Birmingham Moor Street and then not being permitted entry at Birmingham New Street.

Thanks. My limited experience has been that (once scanned by staff or used for BoJ) my ticket failed at every subsequent barrier.

Presumably this can't be true for all e-tickets?
 

bkhtele

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Sorry read your post in a hurry. I am told that break of journey/ starting short or entering at unexpected station is a national issue for bar code tickets requiring manual
Of being given a 'seek assistance' message? Really?
processing. Be interested if this is everyone's experience.
 

Belperpete

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Sorry read your post in a hurry. I am told that break of journey/ starting short or entering at unexpected station is a national issue for bar code tickets requiring manual processing. Be interested if this is everyone's experience.
Certainly my experience at places like Birmingham New Street and International. Bar code never works for break of journey, either to exit or enter. Whereas with a card ticket, you can happily wander in and out as much as you want at New Street (as you may need to, to get to a working toilet).
 

Llanigraham

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Certainly my experience at places like Birmingham New Street and International. Bar code never works for break of journey, either to exit or enter. Whereas with a card ticket, you can happily wander in and out as much as you want at New Street (as you may need to, to get to a working toilet).

Lucky you! I find my ticket regularly gets rejected at New St. Last time I was told it was because it is a Disabled ticket.
 

iainbhx

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Certainly my experience at places like Birmingham New Street and International. Bar code never works for break of journey, either to exit or enter. Whereas with a card ticket, you can happily wander in and out as much as you want at New Street (as you may need to, to get to a working toilet).

Spring Road to Crewe - gets rejected at New Street on barcode, accepted on Paper Ticket.
 

JB_B

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I'd be inclined to stick to paper and magstripe (where possible) if e-tickets are going to cause this sort of hassle.
 

Belperpete

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I'd be inclined to stick to paper and magstripe (where possible) if e-tickets are going to cause this sort of hassle.
Whose talking about e-tickets? As far as I am aware, paper tickets don't have magstripe, only the old credit-card-sized card tickets have magstripe. The bar-code tickets I am talking about are on the paper tickets sold by guards on trains. Unfortunately I don't get a choice, that is all the guards' machines issue, and my station has neither booking office nor TVM to obtain a card ticket with magstripe.
 

JB_B

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Whose talking about e-tickets? As far as I am aware, paper tickets don't have magstripe, only the old credit-card-sized card tickets have magstripe. The bar-code tickets I am talking about are on the paper tickets sold by guards on trains. Unfortunately I don't get a choice, that is all the guards' machines issue, and my station has neither booking office nor TVM to obtain a card ticket with magstripe.

My assumption is that paper-roll barcode tickets and e-tickets are all processed by the same scanner (and hence they will go through the same gateline logic and suffer the same issues, or otherwise).

Is that not the case?
 

Belperpete

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My assumption is that paper-roll barcode tickets and e-tickets are all processed by the same scanner (and hence they will go through the same gateline logic and suffer the same issues, or otherwise).
Is that not the case?
I was responding to your post that sticking to paper tickets would avoid the problems with e-tickets at barriers. You do indeed use the same scanner, which I presume is why they suffer from the same issues. A bar-code is a bar-code, whatever it is printed on.

You can avoid the problem by sticking to card tickets with mag-stripe.
 

swt_passenger

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My assumption is that paper-roll barcode tickets and e-tickets are all processed by the same scanner (and hence they will go through the same gateline logic and suffer the same issues, or otherwise).

Is that not the case?
See post #2 for the answer for at least one make...
 

JB_B

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I was responding to your post that sticking to paper tickets would avoid the problems with e-tickets at barriers. You do indeed use the same scanner, which I presume is why they suffer from the same issues. A bar-code is a bar-code, whatever it is printed on.

You can avoid the problem by sticking to card tickets with mag-stripe.

Ah, OK - I could have been a bit clearer in post #13 - when I said "I'd be inclined to stick to paper and magstripe" - I was referring to paper-and-magstripe tickets (just one type of ticket). Hopefully it's common ground that it's annoying that using barcode tickets results in a worse experience.
 

Belperpete

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Ah, OK - I could have been a bit clearer in post #13 - when I said "I'd be inclined to stick to paper and magstripe" - I was referring to paper-and-magstripe tickets (just one type of ticket). Hopefully it's common ground that it's annoying that using barcode tickets results in a worse experience.
Agreed. However, I have never had any problem being let through the barriers manually (it only adds a few seconds extra delay) - the barrier staff must be well used to the situation.
 

snail

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Whose talking about e-tickets? As far as I am aware, paper tickets don't have magstripe, only the old credit-card-sized card tickets have magstripe.
Oh yes, I forgot about the barcoded paper versions (well, QR coded to be exact). Thread title changed to clarify I was talking about card tickets with magstripes.
 
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