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Are Platform tickets still issued?
- Thread starter Jan Mayen
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Mcr Warrior
Veteran Member
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Not everywhere, but believe they cost 10p where still issued.
Think they're only ever valid at the station where they're issued.
More general info linked here... Presumably still up-to-date.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/tickets/ptf/
Extract...
National Rail said:
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Yes they are still issued. They still cost 10p each. Also yes they can be issued for other stations. I have bought ones for, Altnabreac, Berney Arms, Box Hill & Westhumble, Coombe Junction Halt, Corrour, Lakenheath, Rannoch, Saint Keyne Wishing Well Halt, Shippea Hill, Sugar Loaf, and dozens of other obscure unstaffed stations in recent years. The clerk can sell them for any station. But note that it massively depends on the clerk who is on duty. Some clerks have no idea what platform tickets are and will tell you they do not exist. I have had that many times. So it requires a knowledgeable clerk. You may have to try multiple ticket offices to get one.
Many thanks.
So I will be able to get one for Altnabreac. Hope that couple accept it
1D54
Member
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You'll need one to get on platforms at Glasgow Queen Street unless of course you have a ticket to travel. 10p and valid for an hour but they are not bothered how long you stay.
Western Gaffer
Member
Turning it round the other way, are there any barriered stations that don't require them? I'd have thought that any such loophole would pretty much negate the purpose of having barriers in the first place!
Class15
Established Member
I can always get into Camden Road and Gospel Oak etc. without getting one. Don’t think you can even get them at either of those stations.
From my experience the vast majority of gateline assistants will just let you through if you say you want to meet someone off the train or do some trainspotting etc.
Western Gaffer
Member
But that's presumably just staff discretion rather than published policy?
There are a few stations where the footbridge is a public right of way such as Nottingham.
johnr57
Member
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- 29 Mar 2013
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- 231
York
Guildford has a footbridge that gives a right to cross under planning conditions.
It states you are not allowed onto the platforms, except for platform 2 on route to the exit.
I once asked if I could buy a platform ticket. I was told they don't sell them.
If I need to see someone off l, I would just see them off, and then pass over the footbridge afterwards I wouldn't ask.
If they sold platform tickets, I would buy one.
It states you are not allowed onto the platforms, except for platform 2 on route to the exit.
I once asked if I could buy a platform ticket. I was told they don't sell them.
If I need to see someone off l, I would just see them off, and then pass over the footbridge afterwards I wouldn't ask.
If they sold platform tickets, I would buy one.
Gateline staff will most likely let you through unless its a particularly large station (or the member of staff is chooses not to let you in). Platform tickets definitely do exist (and they are 10p as others have said), but some ticket office clerks disagree with gateline staff on their use. I have gateline deny entry without a platform ticket, only for the ticket office clerk to then say I don't need one and the gateline employee will let me through. They sold me the ticket, I would have been very surprised if they had outright denied selling me the platform ticket.
It's worth asking gateline staff to let you through for whatever your purpose is, unless you want the platform ticket as a keepsake.
It's worth asking gateline staff to let you through for whatever your purpose is, unless you want the platform ticket as a keepsake.
Western Gaffer
Member
Yes, that's the sort of discretion I was referring to - it's perhaps notable that the general conditions have quite a broad provision:
The 2 stations I’d be interested in are Capham Junction and Bethnal Green.
My problem tends to be I want to stay there longer than the max permitted journey time. Its been suggested a travel card avoids the problem but could I go out of these stations near the max journey time and come in with a platform ticket, stay another hour and exit then immediately re-enter with an Oyster Card which would end up far cheaper than a travel card?
When you leave with a platform ticket does the machine keep it? If so that would be a problem at Liverpool St as I think ( may be wrong) the station is divided in 2.
My problem tends to be I want to stay there longer than the max permitted journey time. Its been suggested a travel card avoids the problem but could I go out of these stations near the max journey time and come in with a platform ticket, stay another hour and exit then immediately re-enter with an Oyster Card which would end up far cheaper than a travel card?
When you leave with a platform ticket does the machine keep it? If so that would be a problem at Liverpool St as I think ( may be wrong) the station is divided in 2.
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rmHawk765
Member
Generally for Oyster/Contactless stations you might as well tap in and use that. Note that, you are charged differently depending on exactly how long you stay within the three hour limit. I recommend reading TfL's page on this: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/refunds-and-replacements/touched-in-and-out-at-same-station
To answer your question fully, I don't really know why would wouldn't just use that platform ticket the whole time if you have one though. I don't think the 3 hour limit applies.
The barriers haven't ever retained them in my experience.
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Daft question... Technical question...
When would the ticket become invalid when a member of staff instructs you to leave?
I know the ticket itself won't magically become invalid from a gate point of view, but could a member of staff make an annoying person have a very bad day?
Leave the station.
I don't want to.
Leave now. Your platform ticket is no longer valid.
Stupid jobsworth. Fine. I'll go.
Let me see your ticket... That's invalid. Give me your details for a report.
(This is hypothetical)
EbbwJunction1
Established Member
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- 1,637
If you visit the museum at Didcot Railway Centre, one of my colleagues (or me, if I'm there!) will be pleased to sell you a ticket from our Edwardian ticket machine.
It still operates on pre-decimal one penny coins, and will cost you 20p. You can also operate the machine yourself, and it'll be stamped with the date of purchase. We'll also clip it at the appropriate time and tell you that it's only valid for one hour - but we'll be lenient if possible (we always are!).
The ticket clippers are sometimes called "Didcots", but it's apparently incorrect. It was the name applied to them by Douglas Adams in his "Meaning of Life" publication and subsequently repeated by Stephen Fry on "QI" - see below:
"The tiny oddly-shaped bit of card which a ticket inspector cuts out of a ticket with his clipper for no apparent reason. It is a little-known fact that the confetti at Princess Margaret's wedding was made up of thousands of didcots collected by inspectors on the Royal Train."
It still operates on pre-decimal one penny coins, and will cost you 20p. You can also operate the machine yourself, and it'll be stamped with the date of purchase. We'll also clip it at the appropriate time and tell you that it's only valid for one hour - but we'll be lenient if possible (we always are!).
The ticket clippers are sometimes called "Didcots", but it's apparently incorrect. It was the name applied to them by Douglas Adams in his "Meaning of Life" publication and subsequently repeated by Stephen Fry on "QI" - see below:
"The tiny oddly-shaped bit of card which a ticket inspector cuts out of a ticket with his clipper for no apparent reason. It is a little-known fact that the confetti at Princess Margaret's wedding was made up of thousands of didcots collected by inspectors on the Royal Train."
Clearly depends on the Ticket Issuing System because my TIS will only allow me to sell a platform ticket for my station.
Haywain
Veteran Member
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And in some TIS the issuing of platforms tickets can be disabled.
Tazi Hupefi
Established Member
I've never encountered a TIS that would allow you to issue a platform ticket for a location other than the one it was installed at. I would ask that anyone who claims to have obtained a platform ticket in such a way provides a photograph, as it would be of interest!
SteveP29
Member
Embarrassingly I was caught short on the way to a gig in Wolverhampton in November last year.
We were in the vicinity of the station so we went there. The barriers were in operation, the ticket kiosks closed.
I had to ask the barrier attendant if she would sell me a platform ticket to go to use the toilet, she just 'buzzed' me through.
Most stations I frequent either have no barriers (Durham, Chester le Street), barriers for certain platforms (Waverley) or have barriers but are left open on non peak hours (Newcastle) so I doubt there are many that still do them any more.
We were in the vicinity of the station so we went there. The barriers were in operation, the ticket kiosks closed.
I had to ask the barrier attendant if she would sell me a platform ticket to go to use the toilet, she just 'buzzed' me through.
Most stations I frequent either have no barriers (Durham, Chester le Street), barriers for certain platforms (Waverley) or have barriers but are left open on non peak hours (Newcastle) so I doubt there are many that still do them any more.
Sun Chariot
Established Member
Hello @Jan Mayen I note your profile states Sussex and, if you are anywhere near Bognor Regis, I found that the station concourse ticket office staff and gate staff had absolutely no idea what I was taking about when I asked to buy one. 
On the plus side, it meant they let me onto the platforms for free, to get these shots!
On the plus side, it meant they let me onto the platforms for free, to get these shots!
Attachments
Been to Bognor Regis Station a few times, although always with a travel ticket.Hello @Jan Mayen I note your profile states Sussex and, if you are anywhere near Bognor Regis, I found that the station concourse ticket office staff and gate staff had absolutely no idea what I was taking about when I asked to buy one.
On the plus side, it meant they let me onto the platforms for free, to get these shots!
Thanks for that. But do I then not have the hassle of trying to get a refund?
Also how do you prove you haven’t made a journey. I would have, of course touched out, in, and out.
I’ll look again but the link you gave me says nothing about 3 hours.
If I bring my own pre-decimalisation penny, can I get a ticket for 1d?
Why would one want to do that?
Whatever system that Southeastern ticket offices currently use can certainly issue platform tickets for any station.
I presume that all other TOCs who use the same system as Southeastern also have the same ability to do so.
Tazi Hupefi
Established Member
Thanks for that! I think they use a Worldline solution. I'm not entirely convinced it is supposed to be able to do that, but it's interesting nevertheless!