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What do these mean on tickets.

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Dai.

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So here is something I've wondered for a while, infact everytime I buy a train ticket.


What is the writing on the the ticket in between the orange bits? I mean the small writing. Says something like Rail Settlement Plan.

Also, when I buy a return ticket why does one of the destinations have a *?
 
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wintonian

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The "Rail Settlement Plan" in green is a security feature I believe, and the * is to make sure you don't add anything there like making Wool -> Woolston.
 

pemma

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Where it now says 'Rail Settlement Plan' is where it used to say 'British Rail'

Some destinations don't have a * after but those are usually long names so they'll probably be no chance of adding something.
 

transportphoto

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Indeed, any stations at the character limit, or 1 below it don't get an asterisk applied. Stations 2 or more characters below the limit get a * IIRC :)
I believe 16 is the character limit :smile:

HTH
 

Dai.

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Thanks for such quick responses. I've always wondered what they mean. :D It's always nice to learn new things!

@ transportphoto 16 is the limit?! No UK Station goes over 16 characters? Or are they abbreviated if they do?
 

SS4

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Thanks for such quick responses. I've always wondered what they mean. :D It's always nice to learn new things!

@ transportphoto 16 is the limit?! No UK Station goes over 16 characters? Or are they abbreviated if they do?

They're abbreviated: "BIRMINGHAM STATIONS" is "BIRMINGHAM STNS" for example
 
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Yew

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I thought the asterisk was the origin station of return tickets?
 

pemma

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They're abbreviated: "BIRMINGHAM STATIONS" is "BIRMINGHAM STNS" for example

I think STNS is used universally even for Wigan Stations.

Liverpool South Parkway gets two: 'Liverpool S PWay' and 'Liverpool South' for some reason.
 

Hydro

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The Rail Settlement Plan is the process in which revenue is divided between the various operators over a journey. My understanding is if I went from Derby to Edinburgh, changing at Doncaster using XC and EC, the Rail Settlement Plan is the system from which both those operators take a cut of my fare depending on the distance travelled per operator. A bit like the old Railway Clearing House dividing up through ticket fares for different railways back in the day.
 

mikeg

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Yes, I believe that to be the case and that they use a BR-era system called ORCATS to do this.
Also, I believe Rail Settlement Plan Ltd., which is owned by ATOC issues the common ticket stock, and I believe the tickets remain their property (and hence can be swallowed by barriers, confiscated by railway staff etc. without your permission) If you look on the back, towards the bottom left usually there is an RSP number for the specific type of stock. I may be wrong on this, but that's my understanding.

What does the 'M' at the end of the price stand for by the way? Also I'm sure I've had tickets in the past where it was an 'X' instead of an 'M' but it could just be my imagination. I assume it serves a similar function to the '*' at the end of the destination.
 

wintonian

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M = paid by cash
W = paid by warrent
X = paid by card
C = paid by cheque

If I've got them right?
 

causton

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What does the 'M' at the end of the price stand for by the way? Also I'm sure I've had tickets in the past where it was an 'X' instead of an 'M' but it could just be my imagination. I assume it serves a similar function to the '*' at the end of the destination.

From Wikipedia:

"Payment method : As follows:
M: cash
X: credit, debit or charge card
Q: cheque
W: Railway Warrant or Rail Travel Voucher"
 

mikeg

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Thanks causton and wintonian... Most of my recent journeys have been short, one stop journeys so I've only seen 'M's as of late.
 

bb21

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From Wikipedia:

"Payment method : As follows:
M: cash
X: credit, debit or charge card
Q: cheque
W: Railway Warrant or Rail Travel Voucher"

Y: Part warrant/voucher part card?
V: Part warrant/voucher part cash?
 

clagmonster

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Y: Part warrant/voucher part card?
V: Part warrant/voucher part cash?
When I've paid partly by voucher, it has still come up as W.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
the * is to make sure you don't add anything there like making Wool -> Woolston.
I believe this was introduced after a fraud case in which some people in the East Mids bought tickets to Loughborough and changed the destination to Loughborough Jn, then using the tickets to travel to London. As you say, the * makes this harder and thus helps to prevent fare evasion.
 

transportphoto

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No - part pay warrant / cash is still W AFAIAA...

Isn't there also 'C' for a Cheque (soon to be withdrawn) ?
 

island

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I thought the asterisk was the origin station of return tickets?

Nope, it's used to prevent amending the station (per above).

I bought some tickets paying partly by rail travel vouchers and partly by card the other day and they came out with an assortment of payment letters including V, W, and Y.
 

bb21

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When I've paid partly by voucher, it has still come up as W.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I believe this was introduced after a fraud case in which some people in the East Mids bought tickets to Loughborough and changed the destination to Loughborough Jn, then using the tickets to travel to London. As you say, the * makes this harder and thus helps to prevent fare evasion.

No - part pay warrant / cash is still W AFAIAA...

Isn't there also 'C' for a Cheque (soon to be withdrawn) ?

I'm talking from experience. I have no idea what they stand for and can only deduce by recalling the payment method on those occasions.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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What is it that prevents the Validity Code appearing on tickets?
Is it just lack of space or is there a commercial reason?
This would solve many issues people have with tickets.
 

ainsworth74

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What is it that prevents the Validity Code appearing on tickets?

The code I think is normally printed on the ticket, but by itself that isn't incredibly useful. It's the text of the restriction that you need to know and there just isn't the space to print them. For instance take a look at this restriction SK which can be found for London Midland only Off-peak day return between Crewe and Euston:

Avantix said:
Restriction : SK
Mondays to Fridays

Valid on any London Midland
service scheduled to arrive
London Midland terminals at or
after 1000

Not valid for travel on
northbound London Midland
services timed to depart
London Terminals before 0845
or on any northbound London
Midland service timed to
depart any other station
before 0845.
Break of journey is not
permitted except to change
trains at an intermediate
station or to access station
facilities.

Saturdays, Sundays and Bank
Holidays

By any London Midland service.

Break of journey is not
permitted except to change
trains at an intermediate
station or to access station
facilities.

Try fitting that on a ticket!
 
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island

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It would be somewhat helpful if the restriction code appeared on the ticket; people (passengers and staff alike) would then be able to refer to the full list if restrictions if they wanted to look something up.
 

wintonian

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A good place might be under 'validity' where currently all my tickets say 'see restrictions', but perhaps that might be rather to logical for ATOC. :roll:
 
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