Ticket Vending Machine at Melksham

[whole diary]

[John R]

That's true of many, and it's an acceptable reason to board a train if you only have cash and a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) is the only means of payment. A bit of an anomaly, although probably better than TVM's being trashed at tens of thousands each time, just to nick a couple of hundred quid.

[Rob on the hill]

Having only bought tickets at a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) or from a human being, how do pre-booked tickets work - do you have to purchase a specific seat on a specific train? And how do you obtain tickets from the machine? Also what if the machine is out of order?
Thanks in advance!

[paul7575]

Having only bought tickets at a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) or from a human being, how do pre-booked tickets work - do you have to purchase a specific seat on a specific train? And how do you obtain tickets from the machine? Also what if the machine is out of order?
Thanks in advance!

I think you are merging two separate things here.   You can buy tickets 'in advance' and you can also buy an 'Advance' ticket type.  Many people still refer to the latter as an 'Advance Purchase' fare, but this name is not used on the ticket any longer.

If you buy an 'Advance' ticket type online and select collection from a TVM, then as part of the purchase process you will have selected a specific train, (or trains) and you will also be given compulsory reservations.  The latter will usually allocate a seat, but with some TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) they will simply allocate you a specific train.

If you buy an 'Anytime' or 'Off-peak' fare online, and again select collection from a TVM, you go through the same basic process of selecting a train time, so that you can be shown the appropriate ticket type for when you want to travel, but reservations are slightly different here, because they are effectively optional.  Some TOC retail systems (e.g. SWT^▸ (South West Trains)'s to my knowledge) will ask if you wish to have a reservation or not.  You may for instance know your intended outward journey time but wish to remain flexible on the return. This would be OK.

The difference is the Anytime and Off-peak fares allow you to use different trains to those you may have reservations for. This is not a problem.

The actual process of collection is basically that you are emailed a summary of what you have bought, and it will include an 'instruction' section something like this example:

Journey Information

Getting your tickets: Self-Service Ticket Machine

Collection ref: 9LBNG34T

Tickets will be available to pick-up at EASTLEIGH station from any self-service ticket machines 2 hours after booking.

To collect your tickets, use the same payment card used to book your tickets and key in your collection reference.
Journey 1: EASTLEIGH to LONDON WATERLOO

Travel on Wednesday 22 September 2010 returning on Wednesday 22 September 2010

At the machine, you choose the collection option and follow the prompts, you'll have to insert your payment card for ID, and then enter the collection reference.

If the TVM is out of order, either go to the ticket office or consult the guard, or lastly staff at the destination.

Hope this helps

Paul

[Rob on the hill]

Hi Paul,
Many thanks for your comprehensive and knowledgable reply - most helpful!

I suppose my question relates to buy-on-the-day tickets 'in advance' as an alternative to queuing at a ticket office. At my home station (Swindon), there is a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) (often a queue at busy times). There is also a separate machine (no queue!) for the collection of pre-booked/pre-paid  tickets, which I would like to use, but not be tied to a particular seat or train, dependant on time of day of course.

I will give it a go on my next journey!

Rob

[paul7575]

I've been using pre-ordered walk up tickets for a few years with no problems whatsoever. (At least since 2010 given the email I found to get the example!)

The main reason I do so is that my local TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) are set up so that the 'offpeak' fare I want only becomes available on the screen once all the earlier trains (for which the tickets aren't valid) have left.  Add to this the Network Railcard option not appearing until shortly before 1000 on weekdays, this can give a very short window of opportunity if there's a big queue at the TVM or ticket office window.

Buying before leaving home allows a much more leisurely pickup on arrival at the station, without having to wait for those delaying factors...

Paul

[Brucey]

I almost always buy my tickets online in advance now, even if they are just walk-up fares.

I would rather know in advance how much my journey will cost and what the restrictions are, rather than have to query what you've been sold, e.g. walk up to any ticket office and ask for "an off peak return from Clifton Down to Cosham" - seven times out of ten, you'll get sold the 'Not Via London' ticket rather than the more logical (and cheaper) 'Via Salisbury' fare.  At almost every ticket office, you're guaranteed a tut from the staff when telling them the ticket they've quoted is not the one you wish to buy.

There are also Nectar points to be collected on First and Virgin East Coast; Virgin Atlantic miles on Virgin West Coast; and cashback through various sites.

The other thing to bear in mind is the possibility of losing tickets if you collect them too far in advance.  I misplaced my ticket wallet (containing my railcard, single from Cambridge to Edinburgh for next day, single from Stansted to Cambridge for later in week and a couple of Plus Bus tickets) in Wetherspoons at the weekend.  Fortunately someone handed it in at the bar, otherwise it would've been ^125.60 just to replace one of the tickets (ouch).