With reference to this post by reb0118 on this closed thread:-
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1694094&postcount=12
Yesterday morning I arrived at Blackwater to find both TVMs were out of order, so I couldn't collect a combination of tickets to be used for a journey to Cambridge via Reading and Paddington.
I sat in the rear coach and explained my predicament to the guard. He agreed that I could travel to Reading and collect the tickets there. I asked how I would be able to get through the ticket gates to access a TVM unless there was evidence of being given permission to travel. After initially refusing to consider this, he had a rethink and wrote an explanation on a blank ticket and added the service head code. The gateline staff at Reading readily accepted this evidence so I was able to obtain the tickets and continue the journey without fuss.
Although the guard didn't follow the process quoted above, my experience was a good one and my thanks go to the GWR guard and gateline staff concerned.
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1694094&postcount=12
The correct procedure is as follows if unable to obtain your TOD booking from a TVM (through no fault of your own):-
1) See the guard prior to, or as soon as possible after, boarding and explain the situation.
2) You will be sold a suitable ticket for your needs, this is a legal requirement, which however will be immediately refunded, sans administration fees, upon your picking up the original booking from a ticket office en route. Depending on time constraints this may be at the end of your journey.
3) If you do not have the means to pay for a ticket then a "zero fare" ticket will be issued and a TIR form submitted for non payment. This will be cancelled upon confirmation that the original booking has been collected.
Remember a valid ticket is required for each journey, reference numbers are not to be accepted for travel unless authorised by control.
Yesterday morning I arrived at Blackwater to find both TVMs were out of order, so I couldn't collect a combination of tickets to be used for a journey to Cambridge via Reading and Paddington.
I sat in the rear coach and explained my predicament to the guard. He agreed that I could travel to Reading and collect the tickets there. I asked how I would be able to get through the ticket gates to access a TVM unless there was evidence of being given permission to travel. After initially refusing to consider this, he had a rethink and wrote an explanation on a blank ticket and added the service head code. The gateline staff at Reading readily accepted this evidence so I was able to obtain the tickets and continue the journey without fuss.
Although the guard didn't follow the process quoted above, my experience was a good one and my thanks go to the GWR guard and gateline staff concerned.