Great Western Coffee Shop

Playing around this evening at H&H I was somewhat gob-smacked that the new TfL ticket machines apparently can't issue tickets for GWR services.

In the past I have purchased Hayes to / from Reading off-peak senior day returns. These have succeeded although the slowness of the machines means that if you want a ticket in a hurry then no-way.

But I decided to try and purchase tickets from Hayes to / from Castle Cary for say tomorrow.

Firstly I had to type the name 'Castle Cary,' then click 'Tomorrow,' then chose Senior RC - each time the machine went to sleep for minutes. Finally a series of fares was offered - all 1st class.

But there was a small 'More..." button. Clicking that the machine went to sleep again, but finally displayed 2nd class fares.

I clicked the one month return off peak fare. The machine then went to sleep again. Finally coming up with a statement that the ticket could not be issued and to go to a ticket office.

The display then reverted to its home page.

Time wasted 15 minutes.

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So I tried another destination - Penzance. I spelt out the destination. Then I clicked on Senior. The machine went to sleep as usual. But when I clicked on 'Tomorrow' the machine went to sleep for 5 minutes, then reverted to its home page. Useless.

Time wasted 10 minutes

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I shall try other destinations - but it does not bode well for the machines issuing tickets for GWR services.

BTW I wonder how often the touch-screens are cleaned - likely never?

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Surely not wasted unless you really intended to visit Castle Cary or Penzance - rather, 25 minutes spent learning  unexpected lessons about the ticket machines.  And the unexpected lessons are often the most interesting.

So it appears that the TfL ticket machines are supposed to sell 'walk on today' and 'travel tomorrow' tickets for all routes and services.

So why does an attempt to purchase tickets fail almost every time.

Has anyone actually succeeded in purchasing tickets on other traincos services?

At Southall I've had no issues buying an Off Peak Day Return for Boundary Zone 6 to Reading, and for Southall to Reading.

With all the "machine went to sleep" it sounds like a fault either in the machine or perhaps more likely the connection to wherever the database is.

Are tickets printed on normal orange national rail ticket stock? I've bought tickets before from LU machines to Southend which are pink.

Try Bristol, Penzance, Castle Cary, Yeovil, Brighton, etc., etc. Whist the process of purchasing seems to follow a defined path, the machines I tried at H&H gave up at various stages.