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British Transport Police appeal for information after £30,000 worth of damage caused to ticket machine ^ Barnt Green

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for information after damage worth £30,000 was caused to a ticket machine at Barnt Green railway station.

Officers are asking any members of the public who witnessed any suspicious activity or behaviour at the station at around 12.30am on Wednesday, 4 January to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Shanie Erwin, one of the investigating officers, said: ^The driver of a Redditch-bound train spotted that a ticket machine on one of the platforms at Barnt Green station had been damaged.

^Officers attended and on arrival, it was discovered that the machine had been completely destroyed beyond repair in what would appear to be an attempted theft.

^We believe those responsible used a gas-powered oxy-acetylene torch to gain access to the inside of the machine.^

There was no money in the machine at the time, so the would-be thieves left empty handed.

However, train operator London Midland, which manages Barnt Green station, said the damaged machine will have to be completely replaced at a total cost of around £30,000.

Following the incident, BTP officers recovered four gas cylinders which they believe may be connected with incident.

Each of the four gas bottles has a different coloured plastic ring on its neck. One is red and blue, one is black and purple, a third is red and pink and the fourth is purple and green.

All four cylinders are currently undergoing forensic tests.

DS Erwin said: ^At this stage, it is unclear where these cylinders have come from so I am appealing for any individual or any business that has had any such items stolen recently, to come forward.

^I would also like to appeal to anyone who saw anyone who would not normally have access to such cylinders, or who spotted anyone acting in suspicious circumstances with gas cylinders like the ones in these photos, to please contact BTP.^

Following reports of suspicious activity in Shepley Road, Rednal, shortly after the incident at Barnt Green, officers attended the area and recovered a vehicle which they believe may also be linked with the attack on the ticket machine.

DS Erwin added: ^Once again, if you saw anything untoward in the Shepley Road area, in the early hours of Wednesday 4 January, then I would like to hear from you.

^Alternatively, if you know who was responsible for the damage caused at Barnt Green station, then it^s important that you contact the police in confidence and tell us what you know.^

It is incidents like this which have a day to day affect on passengers in FGW land (certainly in  the Thames Valley).  All their external TVM have had the ability to take cash removed and are card only.  SWT - whose stations are sometimes less than a mile from their FGW counterparts - have not taken the same steps.

You'd get the benefit of the conditions of carriage, and be able to buy on board or at your destination - but not on every successive day, because the next day you would already be aware that cash wouldn't be accepted.

AIUI TVM transactions are all normally online, so there shouldn't be a problem using any regular debit or credit card.  But if your card wasn't acceptable I believe the onus would be on you to make other arrangements.

Paul

You'd get the benefit of the conditions of carriage, and be able to buy on board or at your destination - but not on every successive day, because the next day you would already be aware that cash wouldn't be accepted.

Are you sure about that? There's nothing in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage (NRCoC) that says that being aware that a method of payment is not being accepted means you have ensure you you have the right method of payment on subsequent days.

It is basically the opposite side of the same coin...

It is incidents like this which have a day to day affect on passengers in FGW land (certainly in  the Thames Valley).  All their external TVM have had the ability to take cash removed and are card only.  SWT - whose stations are sometimes less than a mile from their FGW counterparts - have not taken the same steps.

It's also worth remembering that not everyone has access to a debit or credit card, particularly the young and the old who may not have bank accounts. Young people cannot obtain a card until they are 18. Many older people prefer to use cash.

Indeed, 'young persons' under the age of 18 can legitimately have a bank account with a debit card.

Whether that is appropriate for them, in the judgement of their parent / guardian, is quite another matter.  :P

Indeed, 'young persons' under the age of 18 can legitimately have a bank account with a debit card.

Whether that is appropriate for them, in the judgement of their parent / guardian, is quite another matter.  :P

My judgement was that that a Debit card was appropriate. It is not a credit card and does not allow the account to go into overdraft.  What can be wrong with that.