Warning: Plusbus Tickets and EMT Collection Only TVMs

[WillPS]

Ordered a pair of tickets today from Red Spotted Hanky and went to collect them straight away. Used the EMT branded collection only machines at Sheffield which bought up my reservation on screen, and printed out all the tickets EXCEPT 2 Plusbus tickets.

Went to the Ticket Centre where they were printed - lady there gave some rubbish about how RedSpottedHanky hadn't been activated/hadn't agreed to use the collection-only machines or words to that effect.

Take extra care to check all your tickets when using these machines. I personally always try to use the Northern TOD machine on the concourse as I prefer the idea of NedSerco getting the TOD fee than Stagecoach.

 

[142094]

Might be wise to send an email to RSH, and also to EMT to ask why you couldn't pick the tickets up.

For some reason Sheffield is becoming a hot spot for bad ticketing practices.

 

[Brucey]

Did you pay part of the cost with a voucher?

I had a similar problem with the Southern website (also WebTIS based) at a SWT machine. One ticket printed, other didn't. Ticket office really didn't want to know until I raised it with Southern on Twitter.

 

[WillPS]

Did you pay part of the cost with a voucher?

I had a similar problem with the Southern website (also WebTIS based) at a SWT machine. One ticket printed, other didn't. Ticket office really didn't want to know until I raised it with Southern on Twitter.

I did but I rather suspect it was that the machine isn't set up to print Plusbus tickets correctly - Travelcards might cause a similar problem. The tickets it prints don't look the same as most do either.

 

[Max]

I noticed last week that when I printed my bike reservations booked through the East Coast website on one of these machines they printed incorrectly, with only one voucher printed and a format which resembled a seat reservation. Perhaps non standard products have not been set up correctly on these machines?

 

[WillPS]

It would not surprise me in the slightest. They are really poor machines in terms of Human-Computer Interaction, and the card reading hardware rejects my card more often than it successfully reads it!

 

[causton]

Are these the ones with the new-looking font? The ones that I've heard many other important ticket printing anomolies about?

 

[WillPS]

Are these the ones with the new-looking font? The ones that I've heard many other important ticket printing anomolies about?

I think so yeah, definitely a different font, will scan tomorrow after journey.

 

[trentside]

I've also had issues with the EMT collection only TVMs. In this case, the machine at Lincoln didn't print the ultimate expiry date on some off-peak returns - luckily didn't cause any problems for me, but wouldn't like to think what someone who didn't know much about railway ticketing would do were the ticket disputed.

 

[Bellwater]

I picked up some tickets from said machines a month ago for a friend. They included 2 plusbus tickets which I booked through the EC website. Got them all okay.

 

[WillPS]

I picked up some tickets from said machines a month ago for a friend. They included 2 plusbus tickets which I booked through the EC website. Got them all okay.

Did they print normally?

 

[Bellwater]

Yes, i had no problems.

 

[bicbasher]

I'm planning on going to Brighton soon and plan to purchase a CDR with Plusbus to collect from LOROL's Forest Hill TOD using Southern's WebTIS. Should I just buy on the day at the ticket office?

 

[island]

Unless there's an online discount of some sort, yes.

 

[Deerfold]

I'm planning on going to Brighton soon and plan to purchase a CDR with Plusbus to collect from LOROL's Forest Hill TOD using Southern's WebTIS. Should I just buy on the day at the ticket office?

If you're going in June or July you'll save on the plusbus by using one of the websites listed here:

http://www.plusbus.info/homepage-offers

Of course you can't take advantage of Southern's Money back guarantee if you do that.

 

[bicbasher]

Thanks, I've had a look on Southern's WebTIS and while it offers me a CDR at £19.05 (online discount), I can't find the Plusbus option. Do I have to go to the buy now section before it offers me it?

 

[Deerfold]

Thanks, I've had a look on Southern's WebTIS and while it offers me a CDR at £19.05 (online discount), I can't find the Plusbus option. Do I have to go to the buy now section before it offers me it?

Usually you confirm which ticket you want and click on "Buy" and then the next page offers optional extras including plusbus (if the service is reservable it may appear after the reservations have been sorted out).

Also, note the Plusbus offer is not available with Southern.

 

[bicbasher]

Usually you confirm which ticket you want and click on "Buy" and then the next page offers optional extras including plusbus (if the service is reservable it may appear after the reservations have been sorted out).

Also, note the Plusbus offer is not available with Southern.

Thanks, I realise that, as I'm planning to travel on Monday (before the half term holiday), it doesn't matter and Southern have a discounted any permitted for £19.05 + £2 for Plusbus.