Acceptance of new pound coins in ticket machines

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The Daily Telegraph is reporting "Millions of rail passengers face chaos when buying tickets from train stations from Tuesday, as more than half of operators will not have modernized all their ticket machines to accept the new £1 coins.".   It goes on to report TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) by TOC ...

South West Trains and Great Western Railway

"... working to ensure all ticket vending machines across our estate will be able to accept the new £1 before the present coin ceases to be legal tender."

Sounds positive but - think about it. The old coin will be acceptable for quite a while, won't it? Shouldn't the machines be accepting the new coins from when they become legal tender, rather than from when the old ones cease to be legal tender?

[LiskeardRich]

Many machines don't even accept the new fiver yet. I guess you have no opportunity to purchase before travel if they can't be bothered to update machines.

[ChrisB]

Correct. Also, only 6 months left on valudity for old coin, so do you change again in October to prevent use of old coin?

I think we need to agree a tad of slack is needed as ling as changeover is during the next 6 months. You will be lucky to get the new coin in first week or so anyway as it'll take a few weeks for the new coin to exceed the old one in circulation

[grahame]

Correct. Also, only 6 months left on valudity for old coin, so do you change again in October to prevent use of old coin?

I think we need to agree a tad of slack is needed as ling as changeover is during the next 6 months. You will be lucky to get the new coin in first week or so anyway as it'll take a few weeks for the new coin to exceed the old one in circulation

It sounds like you're suggesting a single changeover to the machines at the point where the new coin numbers outweigh the old for the OPERATIONAL CONVENIENCE of the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), as our friends in south Hampshire might write. 

TransWilts advise (via Facebook, with a link to The Telegraph article) reads:

TransWilts ticket machine at Melksham is credit / debit card only ... Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Westbury have staffed ticket offices. So users of the Swindon to Westbury service are not likely to be amongst the "millions" facing "chaos". If you're unable to buy your ticket before boarding because the station facilities aren't available to take your payment, please buy your ticket from the train manager / conductor.

TransWilts trains run 9 times a day Monday to Friday between Swindon and Westbury - slightly less at the weekend. Off peak day return on direct trains - £7.40; £10.30 at peak (that's the earlier trains on Monday to Friday) all the way from Swindon to Westbury. Who said trains were expensive??

[old original]

All the machines in Cornwall have been updated for the new £1 coin and £5 note as of last week.

[didcotdean]

There have been notices on some of the machines for months for non accessibility of the new £5 note - but also of the £10 note, not issued until June.

[ChrisB]

Good point.

Grahame - are you seriously suggesting that they change the machines every time a coin or note either comes into use or no longer is legal tender?

In this case, that'll be 6 changes (& a further two when the current £20 is replaced) in about 2 years. Sensible use of our fares money?

[grahame]

Good point.

Grahame - are you seriously suggesting that they change the machines every time a coin or note either comes into use or no longer is legal tender?

In this case, that'll be 6 changes (& a further two when the current £20 is replaced) in about 2 years. Sensible use of our fares money?

The Daily Telegraph in the original article states "Millions face rail chaos" and states that 11 out of 18 train operators haven't updated their machines.  So clearly there's a diversity of view as to what should be done, and a view expressed by the Telegraph - not normally a paper for making mountains out of mole hills - that many will be effected.   So I asked the question.

As the ticket machines at Melksham and Trowbridge don't take cash at all, and Chippenham, Swindon and Westbury are all staffed ticket offices at the times that people typically buy tickets, I have little local concern.  From TransWilts Facebook page:

TransWilts ticket machine at Melksham is credit / debit card only ... Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Westbury have staffed ticket offices. So users of the Swindon to Westbury service are not likely to be amongst the "millions" facing "chaos". If you're unable to buy your ticket before boarding because the station facilities aren't available to take your payment, please buy your ticket from the train ,manager / conductor.

TransWilts trains run 9 times a day Monday to Friday between Swindon and Westbury - slightly less at the weekend. Off peak day return on direct trains - £7.40; £10.30 at peak (that's the earlier. trains on Monday to Friday) all the ay from Swindon to Westbury. Who said trains were expensive??

I don't know what it would cost to make a change.  Some things turn out to be quick, cheap, easy where others which feel like they should be quick cheap and easy (such as selling super off peak tickets from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine)'s front screen on days that super off peak is valid on every train) seem to be almost impossible.

[JayMac]

Good point.

Grahame - are you seriously suggesting that they change the machines every time a coin or note either comes into use or no longer is legal tender?

I'll answer that if I may.

Yes.

The TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) should ensure all their TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) are able to accept coins and notes from the first day they are introduced. Cost, or impact on 'our fares money'* should not be an excuse to drag heels. These are costs to business that TOCs have plenty of notice of. Such costs should be part of the contract the TOCs have with their TVM suppliers/maintainers.

*Are you suggesting TOCs will only change their TVMs if they can pass the cost on to the passenger? How do you suggest the TOCs spin that?

[John R]

Such costs should be part of the contract the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have with their TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) suppliers/maintainers.

That's a very good point.  After all a TVM is not fit for purpose if it can't accept legal tender (ignoring those for which cash has been deliberately disabled).

The whole ticket purchasing process is way behind the times.  Just one example, think how much time would be saved by on train ticket sales if contactless was available, benefitting both the TOC and passengers. (Ignoring those who would prefer the TM^‡(resolve) doesn't get to them.)

[ChrisB]

Max take on contactless is £30

[bobm]

I have a machine for counting coins.

I sent it away on Tuesday to get modified for the new £1 coin.  Parcelforce took 24 hours longer than they should to deliver it to the manufacturers but when they did receive it they had it back in the post within three hours and I got it back on Friday.   The machine will now count the full range of coins including old and new £1.

Cost me £30.

Now if I can do it.....

[LiskeardRich]

Must remember to check the kids money boxes as well!

[bobm]

Depending how wealthy they are - look for the old fivers - they cease to be legal tender in May.   

[grahame]

Cost me £30.

Now if I can do it.....

Anything with "railway" has an extra zero on the end ...