Season tickets from Melksham

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I'm probably travelling from a week on Monday daily from Melksham to [destination] - season ticket makes sense.   I already have a photo card.   Season tickets can be purchased at "any staffed station" (which Melksham is not), but a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) is an "opportunity to buy" and can't be passed ... except that I don't think it offers seasons?

Questions for the experts, bearing in mind that the confirmation of my week won't come in time to get the season ticket posted to me. 

a) Can I buy the weekly season on the train?  I know I'm allowed to bypass the machine which doesn't take cash if I'm paying in cash, so if I can buy on the train do I need to pay in cash?  And if using a card, can I buy a ticket for the first day and ask the Train manager to use it as part payment against a season?

b) The TVM is halfway along the platform, and the entrance at one end.  If I go onto the platform at one end and join the train at that same end, have I actually bypassed the machine?  [[ I think I know the answer, but it's a question that's been in my pedantic mind ... ]]

[Chris from Nailsea]

The TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) is halfway along the platform, and the entrance at one end.  If I go onto the platform at one end and join the train at that same end, have I actually bypassed the machine?  [[ I think I know the answer, but it's a question that's been in my pedantic mind ... ]]

That is indeed an interesting question. 

At Nailsea & Backwell, due to previous incidents of vandalism, both ticket vending machines have been relocated to their present positions at the foot of the steps up to platform 2. So, if one lives in Backwell, and intends to travel to Weston-super-Mare (or even, for the sake of argument, Taunton) from platform 1, one will not have passed anywhere near a ticket vending machine - they're both out of sight, on the other side of the embankment. On the other hand, I (for example), living in Nailsea and walking down the station to catch a train into Bristol (or even, for the sake of argument, Shirehampton) from platform 2, will have to pass within a couple of feet of two ticket vending machines to get to the stairs up to the platform. (I could, however, adopt a rather devious approach, and walk through the new station car park and use our one existing disabled ramp, up to platform 2, in order to avoid being seen by those ticket vending machines, but that's perhaps rather tenuous. )

That could lead to an interesting discussion with a Revenue Protection Officer, if I were to ask to pay for my ticket on board the train with ready cash?

[JayMac]

You shouldn't have an issue buying a Weekly Season on the train. Provided you have your photocard, the Conductor should be able to issue from his Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains). I see Weekly Seasons sold all the time by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Conductors.

If facilities exist at your origin station then strict compliance with the National Rail Conditions of Carriage says you must buy a ticket for at least part of your journey, and then exchange it as part payment for the ticket you require, at the earliest opportunity.

However, I doubt the Conductor will want to do that as he/she may not have been trained in the correct procedure on their Avantix to take one ticket as part payment toward another. So, two options:

Buy the part payment ticket, then buy the Weekly Season and go through the rigmarole of trying to get the original ticket refunded through Customer Services channels. Or...

Only have cash on you on the day (they can't search you for a debit/credit card...  ) and buy the ticket you require at the earliest opportunity.

[grahame]

Only have cash on you on the day (they can't search you for a debit/credit card...  ) ...

Raises another interesting question.  If I have my employer's credit card with me (available for a limited range of business purchases on his behalf) and take a leisure trip by train - something my company / employer will not pay for - can I technically pay by cash on the train?     I didn't realise what a nest of questions our TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) would bring - just getting to grips with the finer points.

[JayMac]

Such a hypothetical question is best put to the operator.

Whether you will get a clear, unambiguous answer...

[TaplowGreen]

Can you not buy your ticket online & collect from the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine)?

[bobm]

Unfortunately season tickets, and indeed rovers, can be ordered on line but cannot, currently, be collected from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine).  A source of endless annoyance to me as I have to get them posted to me.  If I know of the need/remember in time that postage is free, but invariably I need to pay the extra for next day delivery.

[paul7575]

The SWT^▸ (South West Trains) machines sell 7 day seasons, you just have to enter your photo card number during the process.  Are we sure the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) machines cannot?

Paul

[TaplowGreen]

I'm sure I've purchased 7 days seasons from the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at Taplow.

[grahame]

The SWT^▸ (South West Trains) machines sell 7 day seasons, you just have to enter your photo card number during the process.  Are we sure the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) machines cannot?

Paul

No, we're not sure ..

I'm sure I've purchased 7 days seasons from the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at Taplow.

I've checked and, yes, they can be bought from the TVM ... I made the incorrect assumption they couldn't because I don't think I've seen where the option is on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) site, but I'll now take a look for it.

[bobm]

Just for clarity my comment about buying seasons/rovers on line and not being able to collect them from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) was in response to Taplow Green's suggestion

Can you not buy your ticket online & collect from the TVM?

I think that was in relation to weekly seasons - but reading again now, possibly not.

I too have a feeling you can buy a seven day ticket from a TVM - I am pretty sure I have seen the option, although never needed to buy one.

[TaplowGreen]

I've just dug out an old ticket holder and within it are several 7 day tickets that were purchased from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) so yes it's possible.

[ChrisB]

Definitely possible - call up the destination station fares & the 7day ticket will be listed

[Fourbee]

Southern allow ordering of their own season tickets online to be collected from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine):
https://tickets.southernrailway.com/sn/en/journeyplanning/SeasonMixingDeck

There is also a warning later in the process only to pick them up from their own TVMs.

[TeaStew]

Far too late to this party! Nothing new to add

I buy 7days from FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) machines all the time! And have done several times on the train from Melksham.

I use another station regularly that IS staffed and definitely a penalty fare zone - people buy on the train everyday without even a raised eyebrow, including multi million pound London 7days. (although once the card machine threw a wobbly) I appreciate the letter of the law but it seems a lot of staff are very accommodating of smaller stations on more quiet routes. Of course there will always be the one so I always make sure I have all my bits of card before I board (edit: and would encourage others to do the same!)


What I wonder is why it is Melksham. not Melksham ?