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Northern on board QR scanning - does it mark a ticket as ‘used’?

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johntea

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I purchased a mobile ticket on the Northern app this morning but accidentally showed the guard the return portion on the outward journey, who noticed the mistake after they had scanned it with their QR reader device

Will the return portion still allow me through the ticket barriers this evening or will the return portion now have been marked as used?
 
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Wallsendmag

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It would normally mark it as used although it this case it shouldn’t as it would have been in the wrong direction. Not all gates are connected to an eTVD to check useage (ours are)
 

johntea

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Yes no problems although the gateline staff there know me quite well considering my previous season ticket was knackered for several months ;)
 

robbeech

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Harrogate also rejects anything where Harrogate is not origin or destination, though I’m not sure this applies here. Or at least it did last time I was there which was sadly almost a year ago, so it might have changed I guess.
 

erk

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It seems that in this case a ticket has been presented and scanned in error, and then marked as used in some database.

(1) Shouldn't the scan have detected that the ticket wasn't valid for the train, and therefore not marked it as used?

(2) In any case, should the inspector be able to cancel a scan (and any changes in the database)?
 

johntea

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Harrogate also rejects anything where Harrogate is not origin or destination, though I’m not sure this applies here. Or at least it did last time I was there which was sadly almost a year ago, so it might have changed I guess.

I can't believe they haven't fixed that, I used to buy tickets to Starbeck with that issue...4 YEARS ago!

Yesterday was Harrogate as the destination, incidentally the outward portion did allow me through the barriers (which was also scanned on board after the initial confusion)
 

robbeech

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It seems that in this case a ticket has been presented and scanned in error, and then marked as used in some database.

(1) Shouldn't the scan have detected that the ticket wasn't valid for the train, and therefore not marked it as used?

(2) In any case, should the inspector be able to cancel a scan (and any changes in the database)?
Why? A double whammy of revenue reduction.
I can't believe they haven't fixed that, I used to buy tickets to Starbeck with that issue...4 YEARS ago!

Yesterday was Harrogate as the destination, incidentally the outward portion did allow me through the barriers (which was also scanned on board after the initial confusion)
I don't think there was a plan to change this.
 
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I get the impression most barrier staff will let anything through that gets rejected as long as it's got a valid date on the ticket. I may be wrong but I think most of them don't have a clue about types of ticket and routes etc etc. Just speaking from a layman's perspective so apologies for any offence caused.
 

Llandudno

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I get the impression most barrier staff will let anything through that gets rejected as long as it's got a valid date on the ticket. I may be wrong but I think most of them don't have a clue about types of ticket and routes etc etc. Just speaking from a layman's perspective so apologies for any offence caused.
Is it any wonder considering the myriad of different tickets with varying conditions of use!
 

JRT

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The hand scanner I use (phone app) scans the QR code. I assume the on-train checks are similar.

Display shows the ticket details
(Could be visual or audible warnings)

Then there's three option buttons to press:
OK
REJECT
FINALIZE

OK: the ticket classed as ‘mid-journey’ and is valid at a further check
(REJECT: further action must be taken eg an upgrade must be bought )
FINALIZE: the journey has been completed and the ticket is not valid at a further check.

So if the ticket is OK, there should be no problems at the barriers.

I get the impression most barrier staff will let anything through that gets rejected as long as it's got a valid date on the ticket. I may be wrong but I think most of them don't have a clue about types of ticket and routes etc etc. Just speaking from a layman's perspective so apologies for any offence caused.
Most barrier staff have previousltrained as tic ket checkers RPO/ RPI and have passed the ticket awareness course.
 
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scrapy

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It seems that in this case a ticket has been presented and scanned in error, and then marked as used in some database.

(1) Shouldn't the scan have detected that the ticket wasn't valid for the train, and therefore not marked it as used?

(2) In any case, should the inspector be able to cancel a scan (and any changes in the database)?
In answer to question 1, apparently guards are temporarily using a mobile phone app until scanners are available. The app doesn't know which train the guard is on, it will show the ticket data on the screen and it's for the guard to decide if it's valid or not. They can either mark it as valid (in which case it will show as used) or flag up an irregularity. I do not know if they can cancel a scan.
 

skyhigh

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In answer to question 1, apparently guards are temporarily using a mobile phone app until scanners are available. The app doesn't know which train the guard is on, it will show the ticket data on the screen and it's for the guard to decide if it's valid or not. They can either mark it as valid (in which case it will show as used) or flag up an irregularity. I do not know if they can cancel a scan.
It is possible to tell the app what train you're on, although it's not part of the instructions yet so it's up to the guard if they set it as it isn't that quick to do. When a ticket is scanned it has to be marked in some way - you can't cancel it as far as I'm aware.
 

JRT

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there's an upgrade to the app now available so most of the above is no longer valid!!
 

Bungle965

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It is possible to tell the app what train you're on, although it's not part of the instructions yet so it's up to the guard if they set it as it isn't that quick to do. When a ticket is scanned it has to be marked in some way - you can't cancel it as far as I'm aware.
I have seen this done by some Northern guards, these then reject on the barriers....
 

RPI

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Very few Gateline staff have ever been trained as RPIs at most stations...
GWR gateline staff are fully ticket trained and also Penalty Fare collectors (though most who have started in the last 12 months have yet to be PF trained) though I believe most other TOC's gateline staff don't even sell tickets.
 

221129

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GWR gateline staff are fully ticket trained and also Penalty Fare collectors (though most who have started in the last 12 months have yet to be PF trained) though I believe most other TOC's gateline staff don't even sell tickets.
Not all GWR gateline staff are PF trained. Maybe in the West but certainly not ALL. Although you are quite correct in saying a lot of other TOC Gateline staff are not ticket sellers at all.
 
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