Preferred ticket format poll (paper ticket vs smartphone app etc.)

[Mcr Warrior]

Having measured in mm should I give a mixed measurement to keep you happy? Anyway, I wasn't taking issue with the difference of 1 mm, I was making the point that the PRT example illustrated would be considerably longer than the suggested 13cm.

Indeed. The one example I've got in front of me (issued last November) is 13 cm width, but it does look like they can be, or have been, even wider.

Just clunkily trying to demonstrate that the bog roll tickets are usually somewhat larger than their CCST equivalent for anyone that's not yet seen them.

 

[skyhigh]

My personal preference is CCST, because it's available for all ticket types

You can't get a flexi season on CCST

 

[Trainbike46]

You can't get a flexi season on CCST

I never looked at buying one of those!
It was true until flexi seasons came along though, wasn't it?
What format do flexi seasons use then? smartcard? eTicket? mTicket?

 

[507020]

What I like about whatever kind of ticket these are, with a scannable code in the Apple Wallet, is that they don’t get swallowed by ticket barriers. They can also be purchased within a couple of minutes of departure without having to walk to, or queue at a ticket office or TVM (I note Avanti have significantly reduced the number of TVMs available at many former Virgin stations) which may also be closed, however if I am going a long distance to somewhere unfamiliar, where I can’t absolutely guarantee my phone will still be charged, working or even still in my possession when I need it to be, I tend to print out paper tickets. Not doing this for a trip to Ribblehead was certainly a mistake!

Of these, the original magnetic credit card ones are vastly superior to all other formats, whether full A4 or on “bog roll” which as far as I am aware is not machine readable. Other than when I once had to excess up an accidentally purchased single ticket to a return on a train, the only place I have been issued with a ticket on bog roll was Smethwick Galton Bridge and I was charged twice because the ticket failed to print the first time! I have seen people with heavy luggage struggling to unfold printed out A4 tickets to get through ticket barriers without missing their train and also when some of the users of these have purchased completely the wrong ticket which was not valid, but have never had a PDF/A4 ticket myself, except on easyJet.

 

[Haywain]

hat I like about whatever kind of ticket these are, with a scannable code in the Apple Wallet, is that they don’t get swallowed by ticket barriers.

They are eTickets.

 

[skyhigh]

Of these, the original magnetic credit card ones are vastly superior to all other formats, whether full A4 or on “bog roll” which as far as I am aware is not machine readable.

What do you mean by 'not machine readable'? The aztec code on a paper roll ticket can be scanned (and shows all the information you'd expect to see)

 

[Cdd89]

A notable downside (for the purchaser) of e-tickets when such errors occur is that they could be cancelled and refunded. If you do see an issue like that, best to get it as CCST as that can't be rescinded once printed!

Surely that only applies if the passenger is prevented by a barrier when starting their journey. Otherwise I do not see how anyone could have an obligation to monitor their emails for a notification that their ticket has been cancelled and refunded, without their having requested it.

 

[Kilopylae]

My preference hierarchy, and this doesn't reflect hostility to e-tickets in principle even though I don't like them much in practice, is
1. CCST from ticket office
2. CCST via TOD
3. Bog roll
4. CCST bought at machine
5. e-Ticket
6. Printed off e-ticket
7. m-Ticket

I don't have much experience using contactless or PAYG cards outside the TfL ecosystem. I suspect I'd find it unnerving for longer journeys - no endorsements box and harder to show to people for assistance/send off afterwards. But for shorter journeys (e.g. Exeter to Exmouth), I'd rather use an ITSO card/phone contactless than have a paper ticket.

I prefer an e-ticket. That is, a pdf sent by email to my phone and capable of being scanned by a machine or read by a human when displayed or printed out. No specific app being required.

Are people still not aware of the difference between that an an m-ticket?

Most folks either use the Trainline app oe, or paper tickets, in my experience (I'd be interested to see if there's any data on whether my experience is representative or whether I'm chatting waffle).

 

[AlterEgo]

CCST - take wallet out of pocket> take ticket out of wallet
eTicket - take phone out of pocket> unlock phone> navigate to app> find relevant ticket

You don't have to show e-tickets in an app, you can have them as wallet passes and they will display on your lockscreen.

 

[yorkie]

£5.70 for Sheffield to Strood? Where do I get mine? M-ticket would be acceptable!

Go back in time to get yours!

Wasn't that the famed 'pricing error'?

Yep, along with the £1 Borders tickets, the 20p Chiltern tickets, and many others

A notable downside (for the purchaser) of e-tickets when such errors occur is that they could be cancelled and refunded. If you do see an issue like that, best to get it as CCST as that can't be rescinded once printed!

I don't think a retailer would be allowed to do this. However maybe if you booked with the TOC who made the error, they might erroneously act this way; perhaps a good reason to book with a third party retailer who is more likely to fight for your rights.

You don't have to show e-tickets in an app, you can have them as wallet passes and they will display on your lockscreen.

Indeed. I think a lot of people have been confused by m-tickets, which in my opinion have brought the industry into disrepute.

I fear that e-tickets will be forever tainted with a bad reputation due to people having negative experiences (or hearing of others having negative experiences) with m-tickets.

My personal preference is CCST, because it's available for all ticket types...

Except it isn't.

But if the question is what format do you prefer, then I don't see how availability comes into it: I prefer e-tickets but they aren't available for all journeys. But they should be!

and doesn't require me to get my own printer working (not a massive fan of showing tickets on my phone)

These days more and more purchases are going this way, so you are going to find it harder and harder to go to places/events if you aren't going to be prepared to show tickets held on your phone or print them. If you want to go anywhere by air, sea, train or go to any sort of event, something is going to have to give sooner or later.

 

[Trainbike46]

What's even more annoying is that some apps default to mTickets to the extent that, when i was intending to buy a ToD ticket from the GA app I ended up with a (non-refundable, advance) mTicket! So I'll never be using that app again, and am back to either booking on my laptop in advance (with ToD or posted tickets) or buying from a ticket office or TVM. Funny really, because I always used to use eTickets but have no decided ToD is more convenient

 

[yorkie]

What's even more annoying is that some apps default to mTickets to the extent that, when i was intending to buy a ToD ticket from the GA app I ended up with a (non-refundable, advance) mTicket! So I'll never be using that app again, and am back to either booking on my laptop in advance (with ToD or posted tickets) or buying from a ticket office or TVM. Funny really, because I always used to use eTickets but have no decided ToD is more convenient

Why not simply use a website (or app) that offers e-tickets and doesn't offer m-tickets?

There are ones that will not only do that, but let you choose a seat from a seat selector and also work out if a combination of tickets is cheaper than a through fare.

GA are big fans of m-tickets, hence why they do this. I believe they are finally admitting defeat and accept that e-tickets are the way forward, after dragging their heels for many years.

 

[Trainbike46]

These days more and more purchases are going this way, so you are going to find it harder and harder to go to places/events if you aren't going to be prepared to show tickets held on your phone or print them. If you want to go anywhere by air, sea, train or go to any sort of event, something is going to have to give sooner or later.

I will use eTickets when no other option is available! Most recently for Scottish Citylink, Edinburgh Zoo, Waterfron hall in Belfast, a talk on the future of public transport in Northern Ireland, stena line Belfast-Liverpool and Easyjet. For the railway though, I prefer ToD. As I said, I used to buy eTickets (mostly for XC and GA journeys, bought from their websites, but I stopped because I found just picking up a CCST from the departure station was easier than either printing an eTicket or downloading it on my phone.

Why not simply use a website (or app) that offers e-tickets and doesn't offer m-tickets?

There are ones that will not only do that, but let you choose a seat from a seat selector and also work out if a combination of tickets is cheaper than a through fare.

GA are big fans of m-tickets, hence why they do this. I believe they are finally admitting defeat and accept that e-tickets are the way forward, after dragging their heels for many years.

I know you're a big fan of trainsplit! I really like the concept, but the main reason I currently don't use it is because most routes I travel on currently (Belfast-places accross GB) are rather a pain for delivery, as neither eTicket nor ToD is available, and I therefore use a website that offers free postage

I understand trainsplit cannot offer free postage, as the retailer must make a loss on those tickets! But as other options aren't available, I don't feel bad using a TOC website to buy tickets on which the retailer will make a loss

 

[djhappy]

Does anyone know if it’s possible to get an all line rover on a smart card?

 

[yorkie]

I will use eTickets when no other option is available! Most recently for Scottish Citylink, Edinburgh Zoo, Waterfron hall in Belfast, a talk on the future of public transport in Northern Ireland, stena line Belfast-Liverpool and Easyjet.

Glad to hear it; that list is only going to grow!

For the railway though, I prefer ToD. As I said, I used to buy eTickets (mostly for XC and GA journeys, bought from their websites, but I stopped because I found just picking up a CCST from the departure station was easier than either printing an eTicket or downloading it on my phone.

Given picking up tickets is a faff (the ticket machine I previously used to use most often at York seems to be usually out of service these days and the others involve a detour) I think you must be overcomplicating it or something!

I know you're a big fan of trainsplit! I really like the concept, but the main reason I currently don't use it is because most routes I travel on currently (Belfast-places accross GB) are rather a pain for delivery, as neither eTicket nor ToD is available, and I therefore use a website that offers free postage

My point is that e-tickets should be available for such journeys.

I understand trainsplit cannot offer free postage, as the retailer must make a loss on those tickets! But as other options aren't available, I don't feel bad using a TOC website to buy tickets on which the retailer will make a loss

Yep the system is heavily stacked against third party retailers and TOCs are able to cross-subsidise their retail operations, in a very unlevel playing field.

 

[Trainbike46]

Glad to hear it; that list is only going to grow!

Given picking up tickets is a faff (the ticket machine I previously used to use most often at York seems to be usually out of service these days and the others involve a detour) I think you must be overcomplicating it or something!

Given that overcomplicating things seems to be my special skill you're probably right!

My point is that e-tickets should be available for such journeys.

absolutely! this route is one where eTickets would make by far the most sense

Yep the system is heavily stacked against third party retailers and TOCs are able to cross-subsidise their retail operations, in a very unlevel playing field.

 

[johncrossley]

If you like collecting tickets, an e-ticket should be your favourite, as you can keep them for life in the same quality as when you got it. Unlike thermal print tickets which eventually fade. Dot matrix tickets seem to last longer though and I've still got plenty of those in virtually original quality.

 

[ainsworth74]

Go back in time to get yours!

Good lord was that really back in 2014?!?!

 

[Merseysider]

None of the options; I believe e-tickets are the way forward as @yorkie also states.

I can (and did) buy an e-ticket for Rome to Syracuse, and Berlin to Vienna - imo it’s a piss poor showing that these still aren’t available for numerous journeys in the UK, often for no logical reason.

 

[miklcct]

I prefer e-ticket for single / return ticket and smart card for season tickets and PAYG travel.

Tapping smart card is faster than scanning e-ticket which can make a difference in gateline throughput.

 

[alistairlees]

The public have already voted with their feet for eTickets, which is not an option available here...

 

[trainmania100]

Tickets all the way. I'm still cautious over paying and displaying by phone. Won't go near mobile ticket for a while

 

[BayPaul]

My preferences in order

1. Oyster/contactless - no thought needed, revolutionises public transport
2. Eticket - no queues needed, can't be lost
3. Paper ticket from machine - means I can buy the one I want without getting confused
4. Paper ticket from office
5. M ticket - much worse than e version
6. The key /itso - few of the advantages of oyster - need to get a specific card, doesn't work on all modes, just a bit rubbish.

Shows that modern media done well is much better than old fashioned, done badly they are rubbish.

 

[mikeg]

I like CCSTs for their privacy credentials, though ToD can be a faff. I also like to support my local booking office.
That said if booking in advance e tickets have a convenience factor. If it's a short journey I'll typically show it in app but if it's a long day trip or I'm off on my hols, or going bashing I print it out and use this, at the very least, as a back up. I hate m tickets with a passion.

Then there's London, for which contactless rules owing to the different fare structure but otherwise not sold on smart cards, especially ones you have to register for.

 

[david1212]

I prefer CCST with ' bog roll ' as a poor second.

However very aware CCST is old technology and barrier systems have to run ticket through machinery as well as read the magnetic strip. Also ticket printing also has to write the magnetic strip. Hence overall expensive.

Aztec code e-ticket however presented is just an electronic reader. For e-tickets tickets bought away from a station printing is an option if at home and have a printer or are somewhere with access to a printer.
I am in a minority, certainly on this forum, but do not want to be using smartphone at the barrier. To have the ticket accessible on the phone without needing internet e.g. copy to folder and load on PDF reader is added hassle. I do not want to rely on public wi-fi putting aside registering to get connected at different stations, as a minimum need to register gor each station operator.

Whatever the technology I would like smartcard to be developed and introduced system wide not just National Rail but compatible with TfL plus all buses and trams. Simply present card to reader like contactless at a shop. At a booking office or TVM the ticket(s) are linked to the card at the point of purchase. For purchases away from a station the ticket(s) and card are linked either by the card being presented to a terminal before presenting to barrier and/or when presented to barrier. Maybe the former just at larger busy stations ?

 

[Hadders]

To have the ticket accessible on the phone without needing internet e.g. copy to folder and load on PDF reader is added hassle. I do not want to rely on public wi-fi putting aside registering to get connected at different stations, as a minimum need to register gor each station operator.

You misunderstand e-tickets. You don't need to use public wifi, or to copy them to a folder. The booking confirmation email has the pdf version of the ticket attached. You simply open this.

 

[Grumpy Git]

CCST everytime if possible.

PDF's are OK so long as your phone behaves itself.

I've only ever been issued with a 'bog roll' ticket at Euston and Milton Keynes, is this an Avanti / Virgin throwback?

 

[david1212]

You misunderstand e-tickets. You don't need to use public wifi, or to copy them to a folder. The booking confirmation email has the pdf version of the ticket attached. You simply open this.

.... but you need internet to log into email account to open email with ticket PDF attachment unless you save the attachment to phone memory / added memory card in advance.
In theory without live internet can leave browser with email website open showing ticket but not something to rely on.

Regardless do not want to be logging into email account, find appropriate email and open it at stations or for on train inspection. Tapping on file to view on PDF reader is, relatively, less hassle and more reliable.

For a Smartcard simply present just like CCST or bog roll.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I've only ever been issued with a 'bog roll' ticket at Euston and Milton Keynes, is this an Avanti / Virgin throwback?

Not necessarily. Have had "bog roll" tickets issued at Preston (Avanti managed station?) but also at Deansgate by barrier staff (Northern managed station?) as well as onboard a Northern train on the Furness line.

 

[Hadders]

.... but you need internet to log into email account to open email with ticket PDF attachment unless you save the attachment to phone memory / added memory card in advance.
In theory without live internet can leave browser with email website open showing ticket but not something to rely on.

Regardless do not want to be logging into email account, find appropriate email and open it at stations or for on train inspection. Tapping on file to view on PDF reader is, relatively, less hassle and more reliable.

For a Smartcard simply present just like CCST or bog roll.

My phone downloads email, once downloaded email messages can be accessed off line. No need to faff around logging into email accounts each time I want to look at an email.