Mobile phone “E-Ticket”

[Alistair G.]

so today I was out and about and had bought an arriva bus ticket on my phone. That was all fine until my phone battery died!! By sheer luck my last bus home was done by a driver who remembers seeing me earlier and after I explained what had happened he let me on.

It wouldn’t have been a big issues though as my fare home would have only been a couple of quid.....

But.... I was wondering what would happen if this happened on a train. Walk on fares aren’t usually cheap and I wouldn’t wish to pay tens/hundreds of pounds again.

So is there a facility around that allows for problems like flat battery/poor phone reception/phone application issue etc.

Would the TM write you a ticket that you could get refunded at a later date upon proof of such an e-ticket? Or is it tough luck??

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

so today I was out and about and had bought an arriva bus ticket on my phone. That was all fine until my phone battery died!! By sheer luck my last bus home was done by a driver who remembers seeing me earlier and after I explained what had happened he let me on.

It wouldn’t have been a big issues though as my fare home would have only been a couple of quid.....

But.... I was wondering what would happen if this happened on a train. Walk on fares aren’t usually cheap and I wouldn’t wish to pay tens/hundreds of pounds again.

So is there a facility around that allows for problems like flat battery/poor phone reception/phone application issue etc.

Would the TM write you a ticket that you could get refunded at a later date upon proof of such an e-ticket? Or is it tough luck??

The requirement in the Railway Byelaws 2005 is to show a ticket when asked, not merely to buy one or to have bought one previously (as it is in the National Rail Conditions of Travel or the Regulation of Railways Act 1889). Hence, if you were unable to show your ticket due to your phone having died, that could constitute an offence under the Byelaws (it could also constitute other offences, but that would probably be the main one). You could also receive a Penalty Fare, which, whilst almost unheard of to be pursued in County Court, could also lead to Byelaw proceedings if not paid.

Train managers, conductors, RPIs etc. usually always have some discretion which they can exercise, but if they required you to buy a new ticket then I think it is by no means guaranteed you would get a refund of this or your original ticket.

So, if you can't guarantee your M-ticket will be able to be shown during your journey, you should choose another type of ticket.

 

[gazthomas]

Tough luck! If it’s a proper mobile ticket it needs to be on your phone. Take a battery booster or take a USB cable with you

 

[gazthomas]

Tough luck! If it’s a proper mobile ticket it needs to be on your phone. Take a battery booster or take a USB cable with you

 

[Alistair G.]

Fair enough, better to find out now I guess.

I’m just surprised by that as I’ve heard plenty of times where people have “lost their wallets” “left their tickets at their work desk” and normally I hear the hairs advose them that he will issue them some sort of form that means they can either pay the next day at a ticket office or proves they had a ticket for a refund or something similar.

In a world where were depending on technology more and more im surprised guards/TM/revenue inspectors don’t have a machine where by they could perhaps insert your back card you used to purchase the ticket with and a system can verify.

But I completely understand it’s a persons responsibility to try and ensure they have a ticket but there are sometimes where things happen that are out of our control.

 

[Nick66]

I can only speak for VTEC but they do say make sure your phone is charged and the ticket activated. They have onboard charging sockets (if the fuse hasn’t tripped again) so shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Not sure I’d like to have an all day bus ticket on my phone though, lucky that driver recognised you, I’m sure that would be a classic example of “that’s what they all say!” Another vote for a powerbank by the way!