Avanti ticket machines

[CHobbs]

Hi all..
does anybody else think that the self service machines at Birmingham International are ridiculously complex to use? I arrived at the airport late Friday night and needed an off peak return to Northampton, having flown down from Glasgow.

The machine requires you to input your intended travel times and days which need to be selected from a non - collaborated screen. Not easy when you are in a rush!!! The ScotRail machines are SO MUCH easier to work! Just wondered if it’s me or if anyone else thinks they are a pain?!

I ended up just doing it on my phone as the barriers were open and didn’t want to risk getting caught out on the train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes. They are the most awfully designed TVMs I have used to date. The user interface is terrible.

 

[D1537]

Yes, they're utterly dreadful. When I lived in the Midlands I always used to use my phone as well.

 

[CHobbs]

Yes, they're utterly dreadful. When I lived in the Midlands I always used to use my phone as well.

Appreciate your reply!!!!

Yes, they're utterly dreadful. When I lived in the Midlands I always used to use my phone as well.

Glad it isn’t just me!!!

 

[Watershed]

There really doesn't seem to have been much consideration of the user experience with the new TVMs that Avanti rolled out a couple of years ago. It gives the impression of having been a tick box exercise undertaken to meet the tender requirements at the lowest possible cost and effort.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I've seen worse

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've seen worse

Not sure I have.

Yes, they're utterly dreadful. When I lived in the Midlands I always used to use my phone as well.

They are so bad that I wondered if the poor design was deliberate to encourage the use of phones instead.

 

[CHobbs]

There really doesn't seem to have been much consideration of the user experience with the new TVMs that Avanti rolled out a couple of years ago. It gives the impression of having been a tick box exercise undertaken to meet the tender requirements at the lowest possible cost and effort.

I agree!!! They are just ridiculously complicated. They don’t offer you the selection of ‘Anytime’ ‘off peak day rtn’ or ‘off peak rtn’ .. you need to select when you want to travel. I gave up and used my phone for it, with little battery left..

If they are trying to get people to use their phones for it- it’s working!

I've seen worse

Really?! Where? I even find the German DB ones easier to use!

 

[styles]

Oh you're definitely not alone in thinking this: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/new-avanti-planner-based-tvms.226781/

I just refuse to use them. Either find a different TVM or buy on mobile is what I do, or occasionally ticket office if the queue is short.

 

[greenline712]

Oh you're definitely not alone in thinking this: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/new-avanti-planner-based-tvms.226781/

I just refuse to use them. Either find a different TVM or buy on mobile is what I do, or occasionally ticket office if the queue is short.

I guess the new Chiltern ticket machines are of the same type. Three minutes at Denham Golf Club to buy a simple off-peak return to Birmingham!! I daresay it's because the machine will prompt towards an Advance ticket if one is available. It would be so much better if there was a short-cut for a basic ticket.

I nearly missed my train!! Bring back the "Permit to Travel" machine!!

 

[CyrusWuff]

I guess the new Chiltern ticket machines are of the same type. Three minutes at Denham Golf Club to buy a simple off-peak return to Birmingham!! I daresay it's because the machine will prompt towards an Advance ticket if one is available. It would be so much better if there was a short-cut for a basic ticket.

The machines used by Chiltern, LNER and Northern (which aren't the same as the ones used by Avanti and c2c) have two purchase flows:

If you choose "Buy tickets" you get the full journey planner based flow.

If you choose "Quick tickets" they show all available walk up fares for the journey you've entered and the next train on which each is valid.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess the new Chiltern ticket machines are of the same type.

No, unbelievably the Avanti ones are worse!

 

[Wallsendmag]

Not sure I have.



They are so bad that I wondered if the poor design was deliberate to encourage the use of phones instead.

I've seen every TVM used in GB and a few that haven't made it to market yet.

 

[greenline712]

The machines used by Chiltern, LNER and Northern (which aren't the same as the ones used by Avanti and c2c) have two purchase flows:

If you choose "Buy tickets" you get the full journey planner based flow.

If you choose "Quick tickets" they show all available walk up fares for the journey you've entered and the next train on which each is valid.

Ah .... thanks. I'll try "Quick tickets" next time .... if I remember!! I only travel from DGC every few months ....

 

[Bungle965]

The machine requires you to input your intended travel times and days which need to be selected from a non - collaborated screen. Not easy when you are in a rush!!! The ScotRail machines are SO MUCH easier to work! Just wondered if it’s me or if anyone else thinks they are a pain?!

As far as I understand it, you have a select of destinations available on the screen which are intended to be the top 10/12 destinations from that station from which you have a similar experience to the ScotRail machines where you choose either single/return and then are presented a list of tickets (Not Advance)

If the destination isn’t on there/ or want an advance ticket you go through the journey planning functionality, pressing open return will just ask what train you‘re going on your outward.

I suppose it’s a fine balance ensuring customers are given the choice, I’m sure the forum would be up in arms if Avanti had purchased new TVMs that didn’t sell advance fares for instance.

 

[D1537]

The machines used by Chiltern, LNER and Northern (which aren't the same as the ones used by Avanti and c2c) have two purchase flows:

If you choose "Buy tickets" you get the full journey planner based flow.

If you choose "Quick tickets" they show all available walk up fares for the journey you've entered and the next train on which each is valid.

LNER are my local TOC and though I still use the LNER app on my phone most of the time (to get the perks, and it makes delay repay an absolute doddle), when I have used the machines to buy a ticket that is not available online (i.e. Tees & Tyne Day Rover) I have found them very easy to use.