Clipping / Marking of tickets

[strange6]

I've noticed these days that the clipping or marking of tickets when inspected very rarely happens - only a visual inspection is done in most cases. At the end of a return journey, I quite often have both tickets unmarked. There would be nothing to stop me from using those same tickets again for that journey on that day would there?

 

[MikeWh]

Will you have put the tickets through barriers to get on the train? If yes then they will be electronically marked.

 

[Deerfold]

I think this varies a lot by operator. I have my tickets marked regularly on East Coast and Northern. However it's very rare now for me to be clipped.

 

[strange6]

Will you have put the tickets through barriers to get on the train? If yes then they will be electronically marked.

The only barriers on my line (Southport - Manchester) are at Southport. I travel from Wigan to manchester and Rochdale a lot and I never get marked or clipped either on the train or at the stations.

 

[Chapeltom]

Often I find when my journey involves 3 or more trains, I have my ticket marked on the first train so it always feel awkward to show the guard on the next train or final one my ticket as its already been marked.

 

[northwichcat]

The only barriers on my line (Southport - Manchester) are at Southport. I travel from Wigan to manchester and Rochdale a lot and I never get marked or clipped either on the train or at the stations.

Manchester Oxford Rd has barriers as well.

They can't just randomly clip tickets in any old place like they used to now that ticket barriers need to be able to read certain information.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Often I find when my journey involves 3 or more trains, I have my ticket marked on the first train so it always feel awkward to show the guard on the next train or final one my ticket as its already been marked.

When I did Doncaster-Knutsford I had the ticket marked by two different TPE conductors on the Doncaster-Stockport section despite not changing trains.

At Leeds station they used to stamp your ticket before you got on the train and TPE services always stamp on board as well meaning you could have two stamps on your ticket within five minutes of each other.

 

[strange6]

Manchester Oxford Rd has barriers as well.

They can't just randomly clip tickets in any old place like they used to now that ticket barriers need to be able to read certain information.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Plus you have a choice of going to a few stations now in the big cities so i can see why they don't clip. You could quite easily have a few free rides if you had the time!

 

[GNER 91128]

Manchester Oxford Rd has barriers as well.

They can't just randomly clip tickets in any old place like they used to now that ticket barriers need to be able to read certain information.

I have a question that kind of relates to this: A couple of times when I've traveled to London on a day return with travelcard, the ticket won't go through the barriers on the tube (maybe from being marked in the wrong place) so I have to ask for assistance from a member of staff. Is there any case for being able to exchange my ticket for another one?

 

[Daniel]

I have a question that kind of relates to this: A couple of times when I've traveled to London on a day return with travelcard, the ticket won't go through the barriers on the tube (maybe from being marked in the wrong place) so I have to ask for assistance from a member of staff. Is there any case for being able to exchange my ticket for another one?

Yup, pop to an LUL ticket office and ask for a free exchange.

If it's an NR one, they can still do it by entering the issuing machine number as 99.

 

[northwichcat]

I have a question that kind of relates to this: A couple of times when I've traveled to London on a day return with travelcard, the ticket won't go through the barriers on the tube (maybe from being marked in the wrong place) so I have to ask for assistance from a member of staff. Is there any case for being able to exchange my ticket for another one?

I've had the same problem in London but that was due to at Baker Street station I came out of the barriers, then tried to go through another set of barriers the other side of the station to reach the Gents and the barrier said "Seek assistance."

 

[Daniel]

I've had the same problem in London but that was due to at Baker Street station I came out of the barriers, then tried to go through another set of barriers the other side of the station to reach the Gents and the barrier said "Seek assistance."

That would be because you went out and straight back in, "illogical interchange through gates" IIRC

 

[Soupdragon]

When I did Doncaster-Knutsford I had the ticket marked by two different TPE conductors on the Doncaster-Stockport section despite not changing trains.

That would be a crew change at Sheffield, always causes grief with passengers asking why you need to see their tickets when they already showed it to the conductor not 10 minutes before.

 

[GNER 91128]

Yup, pop to an LUL ticket office and ask for a free exchange.

If it's an NR one, they can still do it by entering the issuing machine number as 99.

Thanks for your reply, it can get a bit annoying to keep having to "seek assistance" esp when you can't find anyone to assist you!

I normally a NR ticket with the travelcard on it, so would they put the details on the one I'm exchanging on to the new one, e.g the "between" and "Route" details?

 

[Mojo]

There has been a known problem with tickets issued by S&B TVMs not working in Tube barriers unless previously passed through gates. I'd presume this was fixed by now, but no idea!

The Tocs had instructed the manufacturer of their machines to fix the problem!

 

[northwichcat]

That would be a crew change at Sheffield, always causes grief with passengers asking why you need to see their tickets when they already showed it to the conductor not 10 minutes before.

Yes it was where the crew changed. I remember on that occasion the conductor caught two people without valid tickets in close proximity to where I was seated. Sometimes when there's a crew change the new conductor only asks for the tickets from where he/she has just boarded, other times they ask for all tickets but only mark tickets which haven't already been marked.

 

[moonrakerz]

Will you have put the tickets through barriers to get on the train? If yes then they will be electronically marked.

I don't see how this will stop re-use of tickets. It is quite common to have your (my !) ticket rejected at the barrier and be told to "seek assistance" - all that happens is a cursory visual inspection and you are waved through.
Also what about going off the platform to visit the shop/buffet/cash machine/get something from your car ?

 

[Daniel]

Thanks for your reply, it can get a bit annoying to keep having to "seek assistance" esp when you can't find anyone to assist you!

And that's only going to get better

I normally a NR ticket with the travelcard on it, so would they put the details on the one I'm exchanging on to the new one, e.g the "between" and "Route" details?

Yep, it is possible for LUL offices to sell travelcards to out of zone stations, (within the London & South East area), although it is restricted as to when the can - (a free exchange is an example of a time that they are allowed).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'd presume this was fixed by now, but no idea!

Slowly being fixed but seems to be still happening occasionally.

 

[GNER 91128]

And that's only going to get better





Yep, it is possible for LUL offices to sell travelcards to out of zone stations, (within the London & South East area), although it is restricted as to when the can - (a free exchange is an example of a time that they are allowed).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---



Slowly being fixed but seems to be still happening occasionally.

Ahhhh that's where I guess I'd find a problem travelling from PBO > KGX return.

 

[Flamingo]

That would be a crew change at Sheffield, always causes grief with passengers asking why you need to see their tickets when they already showed it to the conductor not 10 minutes before.

Always worth asking for all tickets, I even ask to see railcards again - I've found the odd out-of-date or missing one, depending on whom I've taken over from. Also, it's not uncommon to have the "You've checked it" - "No, it wasn't me" - "Oh, I seem to have lost it" - "Oh dear, you'll have to buy another one then" conversation.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Always worth asking for all tickets, I even ask to see railcards again - I've found the odd out-of-date or missing one, depending on whom I've taken over from. Also, it's not uncommon to have the "You've checked it" - "No, it wasn't me" - "Oh, I seem to have lost it" - "Oh dear, you'll have to buy another one then" conversation.

Very true. I have taken over from colleagues who have said "All ok, all tickets done, everything fine", then gone through done a full check and found out of date or non existent railcards, folk with advance tickets on the wrong train, folk with no tickets at all, adults with children tickets etc etc. And often the invalid ticket has been stamped by the previous person who hasn't spotted something.

And it's amazing when I ask to see railcards of people who have had their tickets checked already how many times I hear "well no-one else has ever asked to see it". This is normally when I have discovered they haven't got one in the first place.

I once had a chap on a train who was doing a very long journey with a very cheap advance ticket and had been on at least 3 trains before getting on mine and had 3 different stamps on the ticket. I asked to see his railcard it soon became obvious that he didn't have one. He couldn't even describe what one looked like. It came to light that his son had purchased his ticket on the internet for him and had assumed that his bus pass entitled him to the senior fare. The problem then came as I pointed out I would need to charge him £xxx as his ticket was invalid, but he then said "well the ticket has been seen by everyone else and no one else has ever said anything on the other trains". Cue long rant about how I was being a jobsworth, if no-one else is bothered why are you, you can see I'm a pensioner here is my bus pass, I'm going to complain, I want your name, No one else has asked to check the railcard blah blah blah.

If everyone did it correctly and thoroughly all the time it would save a lot of hassle for those that do!

 

[Flamingo]

To be fair, a quick glance (which is al there is time for often) can miss things. I had a ticket today I had stamped and handed back when I realised that the accompanying reservation was for a train last week. Sure enough, when I looked at the ticket again, it was dated last week!

 

[Solent&Wessex]

To be fair, a quick glance (which is al there is time for often) can miss things. I had a ticket today I had stamped and handed back when I realised that the accompanying reservation was for a train last week. Sure enough, when I looked at the ticket again, it was dated last week!

Oh I've done that many times as well with a quick glance, hand it back, then ask for a second look. It's easily done - but actually asking to see a railcard in the first place helps!

 

[Matt Taylor]

Same here, it took a second look for me to notice the name on the ticket was that of a woman but the the name on the photocard was that of a man (for a season ticket).:roll:

 

[island]

There has been a known problem with tickets issued by S&B TVMs not working in Tube barriers unless previously passed through gates. I'd presume this was fixed by now, but no idea!

The Tocs had instructed the manufacturer of their machines to fix the problem!

There could be some improvement here; Mrs. island had such a ticket last weekend which let her through Liverpool Street underground. It was a return ticket rather than a Travelcard, don't know what difference if any this makes.

 

[Aictos]

Some staff I've noticed just scribble on the ticket I was using at the time, however I much prefer any ticket that I'm using to either be punched with a clipper or stamped with a stamp so much more better.

Although I guess it depends on the operators and their policies, sorry if I sound old fashion but I do remember every time my ticket was checked in BR times that it would be punched with the guard's clipper or ticket examiner's ticket.

 

[northwichcat]

Some staff I've noticed just scribble on the ticket I was using at the time, however I much prefer any ticket that I'm using to either be punched with a clipper or stamped with a stamp so much more better.

Although I guess it depends on the operators and their policies, sorry if I sound old fashion but I do remember every time my ticket was checked in BR times that it would be punched with the guard's clipper or ticket examiner's ticket.

And the conductors had different shaped clippers.

 

[furryfeet]

I've noticed these days that the clipping or marking of tickets when inspected very rarely happens - only a visual inspection is done in most cases.

this has become the norm on London Midland certainly. They only now seem to mark the ticket on the last leg of the journey and then usually they write the date on.

This is preferable to the previous practice of scribbling on the ticket even on the first leg, because once cannot then prove, on the 2nd and subsequent legs that
a) the ticket has / has not been used before
b) the scribbling is due to a guard, as opposed to a young child !

 

[me123]

Often I find when my journey involves 3 or more trains, I have my ticket marked on the first train so it always feel awkward to show the guard on the next train or final one my ticket as its already been marked.

That always annoys me a bit; it's probably illogical but I always worry that they just assume the ticket's "used". Of course, no-one's ever questioned it.

I know that the stamps CrossCountry use(d) have the headcode on them. But once on East Coast I also had the guard scribble down the headcode on the top when I was changing. I actually think that's a good idea, as it lets the people on the next train know that it's only been used on the previous portion (although it does rely on a sound knowledge of headcodes, which can be quite a large subject in some areas!).

 

[ushawk]

Southern mark tickets a lot on the Coastway services but only occasionally have i had a ticket marked/clipped on a train to London, perhaps this is because most stations that that train will go on to call at all have barriers.

 

[Flamingo]

this has become the norm on London Midland certainly. They only now seem to mark the ticket on the last leg of the journey and then usually they write the date on.

This is preferable to the previous practice of scribbling on the ticket even on the first leg, because once cannot then prove, on the 2nd and subsequent legs that
a) the ticket has / has not been used before
b) the scribbling is due to a guard, as opposed to a young child !

I have had a known scrote and serial fare evader hand me a ticket with a scribble on it, telling me that he had done it checking a pen was working. I had to accept it, but made sure I put a good mark on it with my stamper. The following night the same gent got on at the same station and hands me the same ticket I had stamped the previous night, and tried to tell me he had broken his journey!

He bought a new ticket after being persuaded that the BTP would find him of interest at the next station. (I had him nicked at a later date, but that's a different story).