Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi Everyone,

I'd like to ask some advice about ticket collection... this one has me a bit stumped  ???
I have booked some advance tickets for travel tomorrow. I've just visited my local station to collect the tickets but the TVM is not working.
The ticket office should be open as normal tomorrow morning, therefore providing me an opportunity to collect tickets before travel.

However, what should I do in the event the ticket office is closed and the TVM is out of order? There have been times in the past when the ticket office has been closed unexpectedly due to staff illness for example. I admit it's unlikely to happen but after the week I've had so far I'm feeling exceptionally risk averse at the moment, and thought I'd ask now to prevent any last minute panics tomorrow. I did attempt ticket collection earlier in the week, but again the TVM was not working (screen not working on that occasion)
Also, out of curiosity, how does this affect people at stations where there is only a TVM and no ticket office? For example, Bedwyn?

Many thanks for any help and advice - it's much appreciated

You should be OK - even if the TVM is again out of action and the booking office closed.  If you have to join the train without a ticket, I would suggest you inform the train manager as you join, and carry a printed copy of your booking / reference, and if you have to change trains along the way, collect from the TVM or ticket office there; it it's datelined at the change, explain as you exit to the machines / office to the gate staff.

I know the worry of travelling without [yet] a valid ticket outside the immediate area where it's the norm (e.g. joining at Dilton Marsh prior to the train manager coming round to sell).   I've had it happen a handful of times ... the worry has turned out to be ill-founded in each case I can think of, with the 'worst' problem being having to queue at the unticketed desk at somewhere like Paddington at the end of your journey with a consequential [over 30 minute] delay through a failure of 2 sets of the railway's own equipment.

Here's hoping the nightmare scenario doesn't get you ... it probably won't, and nightmares turn out to be less of a worry and more of putting it down to experience when they're in the past!

I can't really better Graham's reply other than to say on train staff *should* have been informed that your TVM isn't working and therefore help you accordingly.

Many thanks for your replies, that puts my mind at rest - much appreciated :)

If your phone takes photos, grab them of the out of order TVM screen & closed ticket office - will help you if the on-train staff are unaware. Just for your own protection.

GWR's policy is to allow travel with the booking conformation and for you to collect your tickets at the next available opportunity.

Next available opportunity = a connecting station / your destination.
(what it doesn't mean is your can walk out the network without your tickets, nor does it mean that if you have return tickets to collect that you don't bother)

It is also worth noting that TODs can be collected using any bank card, not just the one they were booked with.

And incidentally the Avantix replacement for next year has the specification of printing TOD.

Discussion on uk.railway relates picking up tickets using a Tesco Clubcard....so any card with a mag strip, I guess. Don't rely on that though!!

Apologies for going off specific topic as I know this was discussed on a previous thread. As an individual purchaser of rail tickets online (as opposed to a company/organisation), I would be seriously worried if absolutely any bank (or other magnetic strip) card could be used to confirm a transaction. I know that booking references are pretty much randomly generated strings, but it could be theoretically possible for anybody to pick up and use your ticket fraudulently.

I would hope that the any card definition would be restricted to any card with the same name as that on the card used to purchase the tickets in the first place

Sorry, yes, it needs to have your name associated with it - as your Clubcard would.

Every little helps!  ;)

Other national grocery retail store loyalty cards are available.  :-X

Yes, there's one for a grocery retailer whose house colour is green.

Morrisons.  :P

(Sorry Chris, couldn't resist)

"I'm free!"   :P