Ticket collection at unmanned station

[fairysdad]

Hi all,

Quick question: I'm travelling between Umberleigh (on the North Devon Line) to Winchester on Friday.

Of course, Umberleigh is unmanned, and doesn't (according to NRE's 'Stations Made Easy') have a ticket machine. Obviously, the idea for most passengers is to buy on board the train.

However, I was wondering whether if I purchased a ticket online for collection at Exeter St Davids (where I'm due to change trains), I would be able to use my emailed receipt to prove that I have purchased a ticket which I'd be collecting at Exeter. I know that it's possible to purchase a ticket at the end of a journey for journeys where ticket purchasing at the start station or on board isn't possible, just wondering whether this was a suitable situation.

ADDITIONAL: Look at post #23 for the result of this conundrum. Actually, to make it easier should somebody find this thread and want to know the answer, to put it simply, the answer is 'No'. (I know the next post says this, but if you skip down to post #23 you see the wording in the email sent from FGW.)

(My other option would be to either collect at Barnstaple at some point during the week, but I'm not sure if I'm able to get up there or not, or stop off at a cash machine on the way to the station on Friday morning!)

(My second question which isn't really in the scope of this sub-forum, but does anybody have any hints for catching a train at a request stop when it's likely to be dark as I'm catching the 0709?)

 

[northwichcat]

I would be able to use my emailed receipt to prove that I have purchased a ticket which I'd be collecting at Exeter.

That's not officially allowed. If the conductor comes along you should either have an actual ticket or pass or funds to buy a ticket from the conductor.

 

[Delta558]

That's not officially allowed. If the conductor comes along you should either have an actual ticket or pass or funds to buy a ticket from the conductor.

Actually, I'd check with the Customer Services department of the train company you are travelling with - the company I work for does allow it (because of the rural nature of many of our lines), provided the ticket is picked up at the first available opportunity (i.e. you are allowed to travel on the booking reference to the next station with a working TVM or booking office).

One thing to be aware of if you are permitted to do this, though, is that you may not have time to get the ticket and re-board the same train. We tend to advise 'booking reference travel' on the previous train to the one you are booked on (if on train-specific advance tickets) in order to ensure that you have time to collect your tickets then wait for the correct train.

 

[RPI]

FGW don't allow this, you have to collect before travel, which is made clear at the time of booking

 

[bnm]

FGW don't allow this, you have to collect before travel, which is made clear at the time of booking

No local instruction then?

Only I regularly see travellers on the Severn Beach Line permitted to collect their tickets at Bristol Temple Meads after showing a reservation print-out. Such discretion has been afforded to me on a couple of occasions also - even though I was perfectly prepared to pay the fare to Temple Meads.

 

[SickyNicky]

When we issue tickets from non ToD stations, we make it clear that they need to be collected from another station, and give you a list to choose from. However, we will post tickets in these circumstances, free of charge.

 

[fairysdad]

Thanks for your help everybody. I thought such might be the case. I'll ask FGW to find out.

One thing to be aware of if you are permitted to do this, though, is that you may not have time to get the ticket and re-board the same train.

As I'd be changing trains at Exeter St David's regardless, this wouldn't be an issue for me.

(My itinerary is Umberleigh - Exeter St D - Basingstoke - Winchester)

 

[221129]

Bare in mind that Exeter St Davids has Ticket Barriers that you'd need to pass through to get to the TVMs

 

[MikeWh]

Bare in mind that Exeter St Davids has Ticket Barriers that you'd need to pass through to get to the TVMs

I'd rather not bare my mind! Spelling the word "bear" doesn't have to imply a large brown aminal or cuddly toy.

 

[Temple Meads]

(My second question which isn't really in the scope of this sub-forum, but does anybody have any hints for catching a train at a request stop when it's likely to be dark as I'm catching the 0709?)

Stand in the brightest part of the platform and if you're wearing dark clothing rolling your sleeve or holding your phone (with the screen lit) might help your outstretched arm to be seen. Can't say I've ever had any real problems being seen at request stops in the dark though, despite using them a fair amount at night.

I'd rather not bare my mind! Spelling the word "bear" doesn't have to imply a large brown aminal or cuddly toy.

This is a railway forum, not an English language forum.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Don't see why it should be that dark at 0709 anyway. The clocks have just gone back so there's an extra hour of daylight in the mornings.

 

[Temple Meads]

Don't see why it should be that dark at 0709 anyway. The clocks have just gone back so there's an extra hour of daylight in the mornings.

Good point that! Sunrise is supposed to be at 07:03 on Friday.

 

[tannedfrog]

(My other option would be to either collect at Barnstaple at some point during the week, but I'm not sure if I'm able to get up there or not, or stop off at a cash machine on the way to the station on Friday morning!)

Is there any reason not to use the card you would have used in the ATM, to buy a ticket from the guard on the day? Or have I missed something

 

[PermitToTravel]

Some cards don't work aboard trains

 

[fairysdad]

Some cards don't work aboard trains

Yeah, that's why. I've had problems using my card on trains in the past - because I keep my card in my back pocket most of the time, I assume that I've knackered the magnetic strip and it doesn't always read yet the chip is fine. I assume that as you have to sign at an FGW buffet, you would have to sign at an FGW portable ticket machine! (yet my card reads in an ATM... which actually, now I think about it, is quite confusing really...)

 

[Deerfold]

This is a railway forum, not an English language forum.

Though the forum rules do request people try and spell correctly. This is a mistake being seen more and more frequently with (in my opinion) the average standard and comprehensibility of posts on the forum having fallen significantly since I started reading it.

If people aren't told when they've made a mistake, they'll just keep making it again.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Yeah, that's why. I've had problems using my card on trains in the past - because I keep my card in my back pocket most of the time, I assume that I've knackered the magnetic strip and it doesn't always read yet the chip is fine. I assume that as you have to sign at an FGW buffet, you would have to sign at an FGW portable ticket machine! (yet my card reads in an ATM... which actually, now I think about it, is quite confusing really...)

I'm sure there are cards that 'fail' for various reasons, but as I understand it, most "decline" responses come from 'zero offline transaction limits', in other words, the card is set so that the ticket machine needs to get authorisation from the bank before it can take payment. Advantix, which the guards use, can't contact the bank.

Though the forum rules do request people try and spell correctly...

...Try to spell correctly

 

[Deerfold]

...Try to spell correctly

"Try and" is less formal, but not wrong. Besides that's grammar, not spelling.

I'll try and look out for that one in future though Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

 

[455driver]

(My second question which isn't really in the scope of this sub-forum, but does anybody have any hints for catching a train at a request stop when it's likely to be dark as I'm catching the 0709?)

That train will probably be stopping anyway, it is a very busy service which will have to stop at all the request stops and so end up late.
If it isnt stopping then, when you hear it approach and in good time for the driver to stop, walk out onto the platform and hold your arm out as you would a bus (dont point at the train ).
It is your responsibility to give the driver adequate warning and if you leave it too late then tough you will be catching the next train.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

"Try and" is less formal, but not wrong. Besides that's grammar, not spelling...

Depends what word you were trying to spell

.... Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

You're welcome.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Though the forum rules do request people try and spell correctly. This is a mistake being seen more and more frequently with (in my opinion) the average standard and comprehensibility of posts on the forum having fallen significantly since I started reading it.

If people aren't told when they've made a mistake, they'll just keep making it again.

I think we're in danger of getting derailed here !

 

[Merseysider]

I think we're in danger of getting derailed here !

Everyone's spelling suffers sometime, mine especially after a couple of units
But if people are just plain lazy, it's not fair that mods have to pick up the slack.

 

[fairysdad]

Well, in the end, I bought the ticket on the train - after all, it wasn't an advance ticket or anything complicated, plus I've never bought a ticket from the guard before.

(Amusingly, the ticket stock had been loaded into the machine upside down, so I now have an upside down ticket!)

However, I've just bought a ticket from the FGW website for another journey in a few days, which is on an advance ticket, with a collection ticket. The email sent to me with my booking details contained the following paragraph:

Please note that if you are starting your journey at an unmanned station without a self service ticket machine, and have selected to collect your tickets from an alternative station, you must collect your tickets before you travel. You are not permitted to travel to that station using the booking reference or confirmation email for this booking to collect your tickets.

so actually all I said in my first post was completely not allowed! I add this here so that anybody else who comes across this thread looking for this information may know and find out that it is not allowed.