Great Western Coffee Shop

Advanced fares can now be purchased via a mobile app and shown on your mobile phone to the train crew.   How will they work at the gateline?

http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?C=1&ID=483161

Currently, by being shown to the gate attendants & they read the ticket on the phone. Ditto the TMs on the train.

Fitting an aftermarket IR bar code reader wouldn't be too difficult, it's been done on Chiltern who I believe use the same software and mobile app...

http://www.rightresultsprojectmanagement.co.uk/bar-code-reader-phases-1-and-2/

Paul

The app seems pretty good (same as the FCC version) but the ticket I just ordered online (SWI-PAD) was still delivered as a 'ticket-machine pick-up' rather than a barcode ticket to the app. Not sure if I missed something or if that route doesn't yet qualify...  ???

Make the ticket slot wider so you can shove your mobile device through it?  :P ;) ;D

Or NFC technology in addition to barcode/QR scanners.

Money needed for QR scanners. Won't happen in this standard franchise. Might be something negotiated into the extension?

Only 'Advance' fare types are available as e-tickets. Is that what you bought?

Paul

Will the TM henceforth scribble on my phone with his biro when doing his on-train ticket check?  ;D

It was a peak fare - so that could explain it.

 ;D

Seriously thought... there is a button that says "Activate" I believe, and then when you show the ticket it will have a different colour that says "Ticket Activated" (as opposed to "Ticket Not Activated") and the current time scrolling across the top, so it cannot used as a screenshot either.

Oh, I can see huge arguments when someone's battery goes flat....

"Not my fault mister, you power sockets don't work...."

Mobile ticketing on buses work by the principle that flat batteries/no signal = no ticket.  A fare must be purchased, which can then refunded when the m-ticket can be accessed again.

That's basically the reason that I won't ever use mobile ticketing for travel.  It is always when I'm travelling (especially if you get delayed) that the phone's battery always gives up on me.

I have no problem with print at home (or at work/at the library) tickets as these are less likely to fail on you.

I must admit I prefer to have some physical evidence in my hand rather than rely on my phone battery.

Mobile ticketing also isn't much good for me on the numerous occasions I am asked to buy tickets for the family.  I don't mind looking up the details, paying for the tickets and collecting them - but they are not going off with my phone too!   ;D

The current 2012 version of the National Rail conditions of carriage (and at least the immediately preceding 2011 version) includes a 'flat phone = no ticket' rule, it was put in there a few years back around the time e-tickets started appearing:


They seem to have covered themselves for this problem from the start...

Paul

So does that mean a possible penalty fare or even prosecution for having a flat battery?

If people want to use these ticketing methods, it's no one's responsibility but their own to ensure they have adequate battery charge. In my opinion, prosecution seems a little harsh.. but how do you distinguish between those that genuinely don't have any battery and those who have a "flat battery" but are really on the wrong train or have no ticket at all?

It's something the rail industry needs to address before these types of tickets are fully implemented IMO.

Small cheap emergency batteries are available.  What if ticket staff had access to one with a universal cable system (also widely available).  They could perhaps make an admin charge for verifying the ticket. 

On short journeys the time taken might make it impractical - but then the fares should not be large, but on long distance services this might be a customer friendly approach. 

The systems used abroad (and also on Megatrain) are far simpler.

On Megatrain you simply present the code (printed, hand written or on a device) to the guard who has a printed list of codes and names to cross-reference.

On the DB/OBB EuroCity service and also on Trenitalia, the guard has a PDA or smartphone into which they type the ticket's code (or scan the barcode if you've printed the ticket).

With both these systems, you don't need a printer or expensive phone, just a pen and paper to write down the code.

The 'simple code' scheme only works for a ticket that is valid on one specific booked train, like an Advance.  Once you get into tickets that are valid all day, or all month in the case of an anytime return you need something much more bullet proof to prevent repeated re-use.

Paul