Why though? For a lot of passengers, electronic tickets are far more convenient.
It’s is quite amazing & noticeable how the ‘bleeps’ as guards make their way through the trains checking tickets have taken over in such a short space of time.
Not if you don't have a mobile phone or your mobile phone runs out of power. You don't need any power for a hard ticket in your pocket. It's also useful for writing endorsements on if you experience disruption and need to be passed on an un-valid service. You can't do that with a mobile phone ticket.
If that's an issue to you then you can either print the ticket yourself or continue to use a paper ticket. Why should electronic tickets not be available because you don't have a mobile phone or have concerns about battery life?
You can.
The mast majority of people in this day and age have a smartphone. Those who don't are still able to access physical tickets if need be.
As has been stated, Senior Conductors and RMT are not happy about scanning being added to the SC's duties and the TOC should keep relations with the union good and free of tension. People have been using paper tickets since the railways began and SCs have been happily examining those tickets, so I don't see why the TOCs would change something that works well and cause upset amongst staff.
That surely isn't a serious post?!
Absolutely. You could use the same argument that you rebut against all new technology/any different way of doing things.
Next you'll be claiming they shouldn't have done away with the man walking in front waving a flag.
But what if a trades union do not want to accept such change? What do you do in such circumstances?
With respect it's not up to the conductors personally is it? It's also not up to you, sorry.
I'm afraid that a whole body of industry experience suggests you're wrong. You don't need to use them if you don't want to so I don't see why you think it's appropriate for you to dictate this to others.
Within a decade I predict that a large number of ticket offices will close permanently and ToD will end. What then?
The industry wants to close ticket offices so it's pushing electronic tickets. That doesn't make it a good thing.
You're wrong though. Ticket machines are still going to be on offer as will assistance at staffed stations, and probably some staffed sales points too, albeit maybe in tourist information offices rather than traditional ticket offices. People who can't use ticket machines because of disability will continue to be permitted to buy a ticket onboard if they're travelling from an unstaffed station. There is really no issue.
You can get a power bank. Most trains and many stations have charging points. You can also print an e-ticket if you want, even on rectangle paper with orange edges if you want the full experience!
I do agree this would be the ideal. People who wanted to print wouldn't mind a nominal fee I'm sure.
They are sometimes the only option offered, and in other cases there is an additional fee for having paper tickets. So I don't think it's 100% out of free will.
Or used a ticket vending machine yes.
When buying your ticket online or on an app.
This is without a doubt true.
But then I guess that Loganair don't benefit from massive cash settlements which they bully people into paying like certain train operators do.
