Ranger ticket from unstaffed station query.

[vidal]

My local station is unstaffed and often services are made up of two units connected together with no interconnection between them. If I wanted to purchase a Ranger ticket such as the Lancashire Day Ranger - https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/tickets/rangers-and-rovers/north-west it states on the terms - You can buy your Day Ranger or Round Robin tickets at your local staffed station. When boarding at an unstaffed station, or if the ticket office is closed, you can buy them from the conductor on the train. There is no e-ticket available and I shouldn't have to buy a single to the nearest staffed station.

If I can't physically get to the guard what will happen if I get off at a major station and I am stopped by revenue protection before I'm able to purchase the ticket? (Preston if it makes a difference.)

James

 

[Spaceship323]

Buy a ticket from the unstaffed station to the major station, then get the amount paid knocked off the price of the rover (The ticket office should do this). Do not travel without a ticket

Edit to add this: Or buy your rover ticket 1 or 2 days in advance

 

[KT550]

You could position yourself on the platform where the middle of the train will be, then board whichever unit the conductor is in.

 

[vidal]

Buy a ticket from the unstaffed station to the major station, then get the amount paid knocked off the price of the rover (The ticket office should do this). Do not travel without a ticket

I note your use of the word should - is there any specific wording for this in the regulations?

James

 

[30907]

Northern ticket machines can issue Ranger and Rover tickets.

 

[TUC]

Buy a ticket from the unstaffed station to the major station, then get the amount paid knocked off the price of the rover (The ticket office should do this). Do not travel without a ticket

Edit to add this: Or buy your rover ticket 1 or 2 days in advance

But, as the OP states, Northern's own website says 'You can buy your Day Ranger or Round Robin tickets at your local staffed station. When boarding at an unstaffed station, or if the ticket office is closed, you can buy them from the conductor on the train'.

There is no suggestion there of needing to buy an interim ticket from the unstaffed station, or indeed any ability to claim a refund.

 

[hornbeampark]

But, as the OP states, Northern's own website says 'You can buy your Day Ranger or Round Robin tickets at your local staffed station. When boarding at an unstaffed station, or if the ticket office is closed, you can buy them from the conductor on the train'.

There is no suggestion there of needing to buy an interim ticket from the unstaffed station, or indeed any ability to claim a refund.

It appears that this page is slightly out of date.

If OP’s origin has a Northern TVM (Ticket Vending Machine) then they can utilise the ‘Rovers and Rangers’ function to purchase a Lancashire Day Ranger before boarding the train. Note Northern TVMs only allow the sale of Rangers and Rovers dated to begin on the day of purchase. You cannot purchase in advance from a TVM.

Otherwise, if they’re not able to purchase the ticket in advance at a station with adequate facilities, it really depends on their risk appetite. I would advise being pragmatic and purchasing a single ticket as mentioned in post #2.

I say this as OP specifically asks what would happen if they came across a revenue block at Preston. None of us can be sure that the RPOs (Revenue Protection Officers) at Preston will take a GWR-esque approach to this situation and allow the OP purchase a ticket with no penalty. OP could be stuck with enduring three stages of penalty fare appeals or even defending a prosecution for the sake of a what is (relatively) only a few pounds.

 

[TUC]

It appears that this page is slightly out of date.

If OP’s origin has a Northern TVM (Ticket Vending Machine) then they can utilise the ‘Rovers and Rangers’ function to purchase a Lancashire Day Ranger before boarding the train. Note Northern TVMs only allow the sale of Rangers and Rovers dated to begin on the day of purchase. You cannot purchase in advance from a TVM.

Otherwise, if they’re not able to purchase the ticket in advance at a station with adequate facilities, it really depends on their risk appetite. I would advise being pragmatic and purchasing a single ticket as mentioned in post #2.

I say this as OP specifically asks what would happen if they came across a revenue block at Preston. None of us can be sure that the RPOs (Revenue Protection Officers) at Preston will take a GWR-esque approach to this situation and allow the OP purchase a ticket with no penalty. OP could be stuck with enduring three stages of penalty fare appeals or even defending a prosecution for the sake of a what is (relatively) only a few pounds.

I don't disagree. I just wish Northern (and other TOCs) would keep on top of ensuring webpages are up to date, and that consequential effects of other changes are reflected.

 

[jumble]

Buy a ticket from the unstaffed station to the major station, then get the amount paid knocked off the price of the rover (The ticket office should do this). Do not travel without a ticket

Edit to add this: Or buy your rover ticket 1 or 2 days in advance

While the advice to not travel without a ticket is by and large correct it is not always needed
last time we were in Acle and wanted to buy a Wherry line Day ticket the machine did not sell it
We used the helpline which advised us to buy a ticket to Great Yarmouth and exchange the ticket there
However we ignored this and a nice conductor came and sold us the day ticket
When we discussed the matter with the ticket office at Great Yarmouth the clerk said " I wish they wouldn't tell customers to do that"

Last week were boarded a train from Lowestoft
2 Girls got on at Oulton and asked for child tickets
The guard sold them and then challenged their age
One admitted to being over 16
They simply upgraded the ticket to Adult and suggested that she buy a 16-17 railcard
Lucky Girl !

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@vidal. Which unstaffed Northern station are you likely to be commencing your journey at?

 

[vidal]

It's Euxton Balshaw Lane (EBA) that I would be commencing my journey which does have a TVM. I was planning a trip for a few weeks hence when I've got a day off in the week and I was looking on the Northern site for a day out and was checking the site for prices and extent of the route. It was Northern's stated inability to purchase the ranger from my local (unstaffed) station and there being no guarantee of seeing a guard before Preston which has frequent revenue blocks that got me wondering.

James

 

[dave87016]

Would a promise to pay ticket from the TVM be applicable till the OP gets to the first staffed station where they alight ?

 

[kraiken]

Would a promise to pay ticket from the TVM be applicable till the OP gets to the first staffed station where they alight ?

For most (if not all) Northern TVMs that only applies if you are intending to pay with cash.

 

[The exile]

It's Euxton Balshaw Lane (EBA) that I would be commencing my journey which does have a TVM. I was planning a trip for a few weeks hence when I've got a day off in the week and I was looking on the Northern site for a day out and was checking the site for prices and extent of the route. It was Northern's stated inability to purchase the ranger from my local (unstaffed) station and there being no guarantee of seeing a guard before Preston which has frequent revenue blocks that got me wondering.

James

If it’s a Northern TVM and you’re paying by card you should be fine. If you’re paying by cash, get a promise to pay ticket. If the machine isn’t working it’s Northern’s problem, not yours.

 

[class17]

Buy a ticket from the unstaffed station to the major station, then get the amount paid knocked off the price of the rover (The ticket office should do this). Do not travel without a ticket

Edit to add this: Or buy your rover ticket 1 or 2 days in advance

Why not buy in advance if that is possible? Buckshaw Parkway is quite close (a good walk for the exercise). If you (or someone you know) are passing through/visiting Leyland or Chorley a day or so in advance, just pop into the ticket office.

 

[Llandudno]

If it’s a Northern TVM and you’re paying by card you should be fine. If you’re paying by cash, get a promise to pay ticket. If the machine isn’t working it’s Northern’s problem, not yours.

I would take a photo of the broken TVM in that case to avoid any potential issues…

 

[Starmill]

Would a promise to pay ticket from the TVM be applicable till the OP gets to the first staffed station where they alight ?

Not unless the OP has enough cash. Promise to Pays can only be used if payment is entirely in cash.

I would advise being pragmatic and purchasing a single ticket as mentioned in post #2.

It is unlikely that the ticket office staff will agree to do the exchange. If the customer does this they are likely to need to raise a complaint. They may not receive the extra fare paid back.

I note your use of the word should - is there any specific wording for this in the regulations?

James

No. There used to be, but the provision was retired from the NRCoT quite some years ago. It also wasn't well known about among ticket office staff.