Platform tickets

[Darandio]

Someone’s made that up, haven’t they?

I can certainly see someone using the Covid situation as an excuse to not permit people but i've never heard the insurance regulations one used before, presumably there were quite a few trying to get on the platform so they made that up on the spot.

 

[Kite159]

I can certainly see someone using the Covid situation as an excuse to not permit people but i've never heard the insurance regulations one used before, presumably there were quite a few trying to get on the platform so they made that up on the spot.

I recall tales of some of the staff at Carlisle being a bit anti-enthusiast over the summer with checking tickets as you entered the station.

Think there was also a member of staff who didn't like it if an enthusiast simply purchased the cheapest ticket in order to bypass the manual ticket barriers and remained on the platforms.

 

[island]

How does it work in a "Compulsory Ticket Zone/Area"?

Outside of stations managed by TfL and their subsidiaries, there are fewer than a dozen stations with CTAs.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

How does it work in a "Compulsory Ticket Zone/Area"?

Outside of stations managed by TfL and their subsidiaries, there are fewer than a dozen stations with CTAs.

Useful to know. So, how does it work in these locations?

 

[30907]

Keighley Platform 4 Worth Valley Light Railway, platform ticket s are 50p but not sure what the current policy is.

In normal times they are advertised and issued reasonably regularly at Haworth and Oxenhope (less so at Keighley from my limited experience) - but the platform entrances aren't staffed so it's not enforced. £1 since Jan 2020.

 

[mirodo]

Is it possible to buy one at Blackpool North?

<runs and hides>

 

[cav1975]

...

Doubt you'd be able to get one for a station with no manned ticket office (!)

...

There are some people about who know the system who seem to be able to issue a platform ticket for any station on the network and for a few off it as well. If you look on eBay now and search for lot number 284113691563 you will find a national rail platform ticket for Cowes West, which is a Red Funnel ferry port, issued on 4/12/2020. The same vendor has many other platform tickets issued in 2020.

 

[6Gman]

Easy enough on the way onto the platform at a busy station, when, using my previous example, you might be carrying some of the intending passenger's luggage.

Another matter 15 minutes later on the way out, when it might then appear as if you are a ticketless traveller trying to blag your way through the barriers.

I've done it several times at Crewe. Never a problem. But it might be better if staff handed over a ticket of some sort.

 

[geoffk]

LNER Travel Centres do not sell platform tickets.

Wasn't it in the franchise agreements that they have to be available?

 

[Haywain]

Wasn't it in the franchise agreements that they have to be available?

Franchise agreement?

 

[geoffk]

Franchise agreement?

OK I read that DfT rules say that non-travellers must be allowed access to the platforms - but the station operator is allowed to charge for this if he wishes. However if the meeter/greeter or traveller is disabled no charge should be made.

Having said that, some ticket office staff will tell you they have been told not to sell them. So I guess it depends where you are. As for being valid for an hour, I used to stay all day with mine back in the 60s (when they were 3d).

 

[Haywain]

OK I read that DfT rules say that non-travellers must be allowed access to the platforms - but the station operator is allowed to charge for this if he wishes. However if the meeter/greeter or traveller is disabled no charge should be made.

Having said that, some ticket office staff will tell you they have been told not to sell them. So I guess it depends where you are. As for being valid for an hour, I used to stay all day with mine back in the 60s (when they were 3d).

Access to platforms is not dependent on being able to purchase a platform ticket. Therefore if any such DfT rules really do exist they are not being breached, but there is no franchise agreement as there isn’t a franchise.

 

[Paul Kelly]

There are some people about who know the system who seem to be able to issue a platform ticket for any station on the network and for a few off it as well. If you look on eBay now and search for lot number 284113691563 you will find a national rail platform ticket for Cowes West, which is a Red Funnel ferry port, issued on 4/12/2020. The same vendor has many other platform tickets issued in 2020.

Link here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-...sle-of-Wight-Window-02-From-2020/284113691563

There's something dodgy-looking about that, in my opinion. The numbers on the ticket show it as being issued at NLC code 4423, Window 02. And 4423 is indeed shown in some data sources as the NLC for Cowes West but

1. It is not a station, so there should be no ticket issuing machine configured with that number
2. That NLC is not actually used - in practice tickets to Cowes West are issued to NLC K279

 

[clagmonster]

Is there a NR ticket machine in the ferry terminal at Cowes West for the purposes of issuing through tickets to the national network. The fares are there, so it would stand to reason for there to be a machine. If so, I suppose it would be able to issue a platform ticket given a willing clerk. Though I do agree it is an odd ticket, I can't see the resale value on Ebay being very high, so I see little reason to go to the effort of forging such a ticket.

 

[hermit]

Is there a NR ticket machine in the ferry terminal at Cowes West for the purposes of issuing through tickets to the national network. The fares are there, so it would stand to reason for there to be a machine. If so, I suppose it would be able to issue a platform ticket given a willing clerk. Though I do agree it is an odd ticket, I can't see the resale value on Ebay being very high, so I see little reason to go to the effort of forging such a ticket.

There‘s no NR ticket machine at West (or East) Cowes, but the Red Funnel machines there can be used to collect tickets booked online, and (I think) to buy at least some through ferry/rail tickets.
But I agree that the idea of a platform ticket there is bizarre. Red Funnel would certainly not allow you to linger on the landing stage between ferries, and any boat-spotters, if such exist, can easily find better vantage points in the port. And Red Funnel don’t require people sending off or meeting disabled passengers to have a ticket.

 

[freddie1729]

Is it possible for online retailers to sell Platform Tickets? Perhaps there's a business opportunity there.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Is it possible for online retailers to sell Platform Tickets? Perhaps there's a business opportunity there.

They're are only valid for an hour after issue so that may make it pointless, plus the collectors want one from each machine.

 

[RJ]

There are some people about who know the system who seem to be able to issue a platform ticket for any station on the network and for a few off it as well. If you look on eBay now and search for lot number 284113691563 you will find a national rail platform ticket for Cowes West, which is a Red Funnel ferry port, issued on 4/12/2020. The same vendor has many other platform tickets issued in 2020.

It's not difficult to do it though it rather defeats the purpose of collecting them!

There are actually ticket machine cranks. About once a year a letter will arrive at a station containing 50p and a stamped addressed envelope with a request for a platform ticket from each ticket window.

I'm pretty sure that where I work we've been told to honour these requests.

 

[Journeyman]

I don't think I've bought a platform ticket for decades. I remember you used to be able to buy them from vending machines that only sold platform tickets, and they cost 6p - you had to insert three 2p coins, and they were printed on a paper roll like old-fashioned cinema tickets.