Barcode on ticket stock

[ryan125hst]

I went to Sheffield last Saturday for an Applicant Day at Sheffield Hallam University. I always tend to keep the tickets after travelling by train and was surprised, when my Dad gave them to me once we got home, that they all have a QR code in the top left hand corner. I am aware that new ticket stock is being introduced, but these tickets look like normal tickets to me, just with the information at the top moved slightly to the right, and a QR code inserted.

What is the purpose of the QR code and is this a standard feature on all tickets now? It's the first ticket I've seen with it on as far as I can remember.

If it helps, there were three adults and a child travelling with a family and friends railcard, we had return tickets (both the outward and return tickets have QR codes on them) and they were bought using a card at Retford station.

I have attached a scan of one of the tickets so you can see what I am talking about. (also note that it is the updated ticket stock with "National Rail" instead of "Rail Settlement Plan" in the background of the ticket, and it has a National Rail logo at the bottom left instead of a BR logo as carried previously.

Thank you

Ryan

 

[swt_passenger]

There was a previous thread on this subject:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=94057&highlight=Aztec

The basic point discussed there is that they are 'AZTEC' codes, which don't seem to be readable by publicly available QR readers.

It's a TOC specific thing at the moment, I've never seen one on an SWT or SN issued ticket yet...

 

[Qwerty133]

Nothing that makes any sense can be found from that QR, I've been able to scan it so it must be a good in focus picture in the OP

 

[swt_passenger]

Nothing that makes any sense can be found from that QR, I've been able to scan it so it must be a good in focus picture in the OP

The earlier thread explains that it is encrypted info.

 

[Sacro]

You can't use QR readers, it's not a QR code.

 

[Hadders]

East Coast at both Stevenage and Kings Cross have started issuing tickets with this design.

 

[ryan125hst]

I see. Thank you for your replies.

I wonder why guards will be using them to check tickets are valid though? What's wrong with reading the data on them using their eyes- I can't believe that scanning them is any quicker?

 

[transmanche]

I wonder why guards will be using them to check tickets are valid though? What's wrong with reading the data on them using their eyes- I can't believe that scanning them is any quicker?

Obviously we don't know what information is in the code, but it might include additional detail such as ticket validity (restriction code) - thus scanning it might indicate to the inspector if the ticket is valid or no, without relying solely on the inspector's memory.

Plus many gates have scanners, which may prove to be more reliable than relaying on the magnetic stripe.

 

[TheEdge]

I see. Thank you for your replies.

I wonder why guards will be using them to check tickets are valid though? What's wrong with reading the data on them using their eyes- I can't believe that scanning them is any quicker?

A lot harder to forge. You might be able to alter a 6 to an 8 and so on but it would be nigh on impossible to change the data held by the AZTEC code.

EC seem to be the main TOC issuing them, almost all EC issued advances I've seen have the code on them. Also the Avantix software appears to be updated and set up for them now, when logging on as well as the Thyron (Chip and Pin) pairing some PDAs offer "Scanner Pairing".

 

[Paul Kelly]

There was a previous thread on this subject:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=94057&highlight=Aztec

I didn't see that thread as it wasn't in the fares & ticketing forum, so I'm glad it's been mentioned in here! Very interesting.

 

[CyrusWuff]

The barcode format and contents are specified in Rail Settlement Plan's standard RSPS3001 (Barcode Presentation and Data Specification). I believe the contents are basically the same as the printed information on the ticket, albeit in encrypted form.

 

[WillPS]

EMT staff (at least on Liverpool - Norwich) have scanners and read these codes on print at home tickets. They're very quick.

 

[transportphoto]

All,

Sorry for the 'bump', is anyone able to list which East Coast ticket offices are currently issuing this style of tickets?

Cheers

TP

 

[brompton rail]

All,

Sorry for the 'bump', is anyone able to list which East Coast ticket offices are currently issuing this style of tickets?

Cheers

TP

Doncaster has issued them for a while now.

 

[Hassocks5489]

As well as London Kings Cross and the East Coast ticket office at Stevenage (NLC 6068), some or (more likely) all windows at York do so. In all cases this has happened since approx. February this year.

Also, since October 2013*, the barcodes have been used on tickets issued from all four of the terminals (numbered 7001-7004) at East Coast's WebTIS facility. So when you book a ticket on the EC website and have it sent to you rather than using ToD, it will be issued through one of these terminals and will now have a code.

(* The earliest I actually have in my collection is dated 7/12/2013.)

 

[nottinghamcity]

I'm actually surprised that there hasn't been more effort to use cryptography to manage forgery. People are willing to melt metal to make £1 coins, season tickets and expensive peak tickets must be an attractive target for the counterfeiters. It clearly can't be that much of an issue at the moment. That said, I can see some general smart card storage of tickets before too long being general rather than TOC specific.