Station ticket barriers and tickets

[hi2u_uk]

If i put a ticket through the ticket barrier machine is it marked in some way to indicate that it has been through the machine.
I ask because i have a single ticket that has been put through the ticket barrier machine and i am wondering if I would be able to put it through the machine again at the same station during its period of validity

 

[najaB]

I ask because i have a single ticket that has been put through the ticket barrier machine and i am wondering if I would be able to put it through the machine again at the same station during its period of validity

Other than break of journey at an intermediate station, what legal reason could you have to want to do this?

 

[greaterwest]

Tickets are electronically marked to prevent pass-back.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Other than break of journey at an intermediate station, what legal reason could you have to want to do this?

Go onto platform, notice delay, decide to return to concourse to avail of facilities? Done that many times, and had to ask to be let back in.

 

[sheff1]

Tickets are electronically marked to prevent pass-back.

Not really. If you go out through the barriers at an intermediate station to use the station facilities and then try to go back through in the opposite direction to catch the train a message appears "rejected pass back". A pass back has only (potentially) taken place if the ticket is used to try and go through in the out direction again.

Strangely the only time I ever went through in the out direction twice in fairly quick succession the second exit was allowed without any rejection, even though the first return resulted in the above message.

 

[yorkie]

If i put a ticket through the ticket barrier machine is it marked in some way to indicate that it has been through the machine.
I ask because i have a single ticket that has been put through the ticket barrier machine and i am wondering if I would be able to put it through the machine again at the same station during its period of validity

If you exit at an intermediate station, the barriers should indeed let you back in to resume your journey, but it's often the case that you'd not be able to do so immediately, so you may need to show it to staff to be let through a manual gate.

 

[najaB]

Go onto platform, notice delay, decide to return to concourse to avail of facilities? Done that many times, and had to ask to be let back in.

I know that, but note the tense of the OP's question... "I have a single ticket..." this doesn't match the situation you describe.

 

[greaterwest]

Not really. If you go out through the barriers at an intermediate station to use the station facilities and then try to go back through in the opposite direction to catch the train a message appears "rejected pass back". A pass back has only (potentially) taken place if the ticket is used to try and go through in the out direction again.

Strangely the only time I ever went through in the out direction twice in fairly quick succession the second exit was allowed without any rejection, even though the first return resulted in the above message.

Correct, but if you are entering, exiting and then re-entering the same station, the barrier will refuse entry the second time.

To clarify my earlier message:
Break of journey is allowed and a sensibly programmed ticket barrier will allow you to exit and re-enter the station once within a certain time period.

 

[johntea]

On a similar note I was travelling through Leeds the other day using split tickets and accidentally put the one 'starting' at Leeds through the barrier first before realising which it correctly declined due to 'not valid on this leg' (As theoretically you couldn't be platform side trying to exit with a ticket origin station Leeds)

But what if I had purchased this Leeds - Destination ticket at the Southern Entrance then wanted to use the facilities on the main concourse for whatever reason? In real life of course I would be very surprised if the gate line assistant didn't just swipe you through but it would be interesting to know

 

[furlong]

The simple answer is "Yes, it is marked to show it went through the machine".

Beyond that, it's probably not a good idea to detail exactly how the validation is done on a public thread like this in case that encourages bad people to defraud the railway.

 

[Geeves]

I wouldn't have thought the tech that alters the data on the magnetic strip is readily available anyway to the average low level fraudster.

 

[johntea]

A magnet?

 

[Geeves]

Haha, well if its as simple as that more fool me!!

 

[Envoy]

On a return ticket, can you break the outbound leg at an intermediate station? (I know that you can break the return leg several times - as long as it is before the expiry date of the ticket).

What happens when Rover tickets are put into the barrier swipe?

 

[Bevan Price]

On a return ticket, can you break the outbound leg at an intermediate station? (I know that you can break the return leg several times - as long as it is before the expiry date of the ticket).

What happens when Rover tickets are put into the barrier swipe?

Not sure about all rovers, but with a West Midlands Day Ranger, the gates at Birmingham New St. will let me exit - but never let me back in, regardless of the time scale (short visit to Ian Allan shop - or several hours interval making a trip out of Moor St. or Snow Hill). And last time I tried, ticket would not work gates at either Moor St. or Snow Hill...

 

[sheff1]

At Darlington last week I put my Advance ticket in the barrier, expecting it to be retained, but is was returned. So, when I got back to the station later that day I thought I would try a little experiment. I entered using my southbound Advance and then tried the previously used one in the exit barrier. The barrier opened and again the ticket was returned. I re-entered with the southbound ticket and was let in unhindered. Finally, I put the first ticket in the exit barrier for the third time and again the barrier opened and the ticket was returned.

It would appear, therefore, that the unscrupulous could pass a ticket onto multiple people (very easy at Darlington) and they would all get out without any issue, which rather undermines the assertion that tickets are electronically marked to prevent pass-back.

 

[najaB]

It would appear, therefore, that the unscrupulous could pass a ticket onto multiple people (very easy at Darlington) and they would all get out without any issue, which rather undermines the assertion that tickets are electronically marked to prevent pass-back.

Some barriers do prevent passback.

 

[WatcherZero]

Any station ive used where my ticket couldn't potentially be used for onward travel (e.g destination not a stations group) the barriers have retained it.

 

[Howardh]

CXan anyone clarify this? Outward journey, break of journey at a fairly basic but gated station. Half-hour+ to your connecting train.

Is it in order to leave the station (say for a paper, coffee, quick half) and return to continue your journey? I can't think why not, but with all these barriers?

EG - although Oxford Road is hardly basic, there's Sainsbury's on the corner which does cheaper butties...and Oxford Road is a place where change is likely (ie onto an Airport train).

 

[mirodo]

CXan anyone clarify this? Outward journey, break of journey at a fairly basic but gated station. Half-hour+ to your connecting train.

Is it in order to leave the station (say for a paper, coffee, quick half) and return to continue your journey? I can't think why not, but with all these barriers?

EG - although Oxford Road is hardly basic, there's Sainsbury's on the corner which does cheaper butties...and Oxford Road is a place where change is likely (ie onto an Airport train).

I have never had an issue when changing trains at Leeds with being let through the barriers upon showing my ticket in order to be able to use the facilities on the concourse.

 

[najaB]

CXan anyone clarify this? Outward journey, break of journey at a fairly basic but gated station. Half-hour+ to your connecting train.

Is it in order to leave the station (say for a paper, coffee, quick half) and return to continue your journey? I can't think why not, but with all these barriers?

Technically, if you are on an Advance ticket (or any with a BOJ restriction): no. If you are on any other ticket: yes.

In practice, it's rare for gateline staff to object.

 

[LordCreed]

Some barriers do prevent passback.

Indeed, and when I used to be on gateline we were able to override this. It was quite handy when a train was very late to put it into the accept and return all mode.

 

[DelW]

CXan anyone clarify this? Outward journey, break of journey at a fairly basic but gated station. Half-hour+ to your connecting train.

Is it in order to leave the station (say for a paper, coffee, quick half) and return to continue your journey? I can't think why not, but with all these barriers?

EG - although Oxford Road is hardly basic, there's Sainsbury's on the corner which does cheaper butties...and Oxford Road is a place where change is likely (ie onto an Airport train).

I often change at Reading between the GW main line and the North Downs line, and the connection times usually mean it's worthwhile walking round to the nearby Wetherspoons for a breakfast or a beer (depending on time of day). I got so used to the barriers not accepting through tickets that I now always go to the gateline staff and explain where I want to go, and I've never had a problem with not being allowed out or back in.

However it's quite often worthwhile to split tickets at Reading anyway, which avoids the problem completely.