Reading Stations and Barriers

[whole diary]

[Fourbee]

I was a bit surprised the other day when my ticket to Reading Stations was swallowed by the barrier at Reading (main).

It was not a problem, but what if I was breaking my journey and wanted to go to Reading West later?

[paul7575]

First of all, never assume a break of journey will be programmed into a particular set of barriers - they are not clever or fast enough to work out all the possibilities on the fly.

In the particular case of (fares) group stations - they are mainly set as such so that the fares structure is simpler and to give you the option of alighting at any or all stations in the group.  Passengers wishing to break a journey within a group will be a tiny minority.

Unfortunately though, setting Reading barriers to return nearly all tickets on arrival, just in case they are needed to carry on to Reading West later, has exactly the same effect as handing every arrival a free pass back into the station - and of course this will also apply to many used outward tickets found in bins etc...

This 'problem' has been discussed in other forums before, and AFAICS^▸ ('as far as I can see') there's no logical way to allow it at the same time as providing for revenue protection.

Paul

[Fourbee]

All fair points - in the unlikely event I want to do it, I will just go through the manual gate.

Do the barriers at Portsmouth and Southsea do the same thing for tickets to Portsmouth Stations?

[paul7575]

Yes - Portsmouth & Southsea retains tickets on arrival, it's one that's previously been discussed at length.  There must be a few others, I think it's been mentioned in connection with central Manchester stations a few times as well...

Paul

[Fourbee]

Thanks for the info. The golden rule to keep the ticket in your hand if you might need it later.

[JayMac]

I've had a ticket retained at Vauxhall when I wanted to later continue my journey to Waterloo.

Took some finding as it went straight into the hopper. I wasn't popular with the gateline assistant.

[BerkshireBugsy]

I've had a ticket retained at Vauxhall when I wanted to later continue my journey to Waterloo.

Took some finding as it went straight into the hopper. I wasn't popular with the gateline assistant.

Prior to the toilets being re-introduced platform side at reading I used to often break my journey at reading main. There are some gate line staff who (despite me telling them it is a break of journey) insist on me putting the ticket into the barrier without them visually checking it first.

Paul is right - this has been discussed elsewhere but certainly in my case although the gateline will let me out on a Thatcham to Reigate ticket it won't let me back through within a certain timeframe. I believe this is by design.

[ChrisB]

It is - 20 mins delay according to my friendly gateline assistant in Didcot. Across all FGW^▸ (First Great Western) gatelines, can't be changed by station staff either

[Brucey]

I've had a ticket retained at Vauxhall when I wanted to later continue my journey to Waterloo.

The crazy thing with this situation is that the barriers at Waterloo return ALL tickets to London Terminals, as they are valid for onward travel to Charing Cross or London Bridge via. Waterloo East.

Is the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) unique in retaining tickets after travel?  Every trip I've made around Europe has always left me holding the ticket after completing my journey, albeit marked in some way to prevent reuse, even after exiting through a ticket barrier.

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

What about the situation where arrival is late entitling you to compensation? Our tickets were swallowed at a barrier (not Reading) and when I got home and looked at CrossCountry it said that I had to send the tickets with the claim.

[Brucey]

What about the situation where arrival is late entitling you to compensation? Our tickets were swallowed at a barrier (not Reading) and when I got home and looked at CrossCountry it said that I had to send the tickets with the claim.

The NRCoC^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Carriage) allow you to retain your ticket for this purpose: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf

(e) To qualify for this compensation you must make a claim to one of the Train Companies^ ticket offices or customer relations office within 28 days of completing the relevant journey, stating the timetabled departure time of the train or trains you intended to use for the journey. When you make your claim you must provide a ticket or other authority to travel which was valid for that journey. A Train Company will allow you to retain a ticket for this purpose.

I very rarely get problems asking to keep my tickets for business expenses.  Generally no problems if I'm in a suit, otherwise it can raise suspicion, however I always invite them to scribble/damage the ticket in some way so it cannot be reused.

[ChrisB]

You also need them if using the various Days Out 2for1 offers....

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

Ah - but that is OK when you know that the ticket can retained but many casual users or as in my case, I had never claimed compensation before, you get caught out. There is no information, as far as I can see, at the exit barriers warning you.