Thanks to all who responded for your thoughtful comments on this.  Based on the comments, things look good for the magnetic stripped cards.

 
Depends on wht has been programmed into the TVM.

SWT's machines start off by prompting for the card that was used to make the transaction to be inserted.

Paul

 
In any case, when collecting pre-purchased tickets from a ticket office, they don't actually swipe the card (just check the number).  On one occasion, I was never even asked for the card.

Sort of reminds me of the days when you could insert any card into the ticket machines and it would still issue your tickets provided you got the reference number correct.

 
I've issued tickets on Avantix that have been paid for on USA and Canadian credit cards, simply swipe and they go through, so I presume Star (station ticket machines) will accept them.

 

Yours (and the cards issued in the UK to people who can't use a PIN) may be "chip and signature" - we don't come across them very often. USA cards do just have a stripe, but that can be read by the readers (swiped) and it will dial through to the authorising centre in what is, I think, the same way.   Then ask for a signature.   We're very used to them in our line of business, and I would expect Bob to find them accepted for his group as easily as a chipped card in almost any place that they go that's on the regular tourist / visitor trail.

 

Is that not chip and signature though?  Thats what I have to ensure  any fraud is not my liability :-)  I just tell em I'm dyslexic and they have to issue one - they hate doing it though!

The problem is the US credit cards have no chip at all which means they cant be read by the readers at all, as far as I know - my friend had this problem when she visited last year.

 
Hi, Bob.   At work (nothing to do with the railways - I'm just a passenger / customer), we take credit and debit cards, and we are required as part of our credit card agreement to accept cards without a PIN number verification at times - the particular case where I know it's a requirement that we do is for cards issued to people who can't enter a pin because of a disability - so the train companies must have something in place. Looking somewhat wider, we're a hotel and many of our guests come from ourside the UK, including a significant proportion from the USA and we're well used to credit cards which have a stripe only.

 
If the ticket machine won't issue your tickets, just go to the ticket window with your reference number and card.  They should be able to print the tickets themselves.

 
The card is only used to verify the booking so only the magnetic strip is needed if you booked the tickets online. Hope this helps

 
An issue which is getting more and more attention in the US is the fact no US banks are issuing the type of credit card with the chip and pin that is in use in Europe.  Sadly, all of our credit cards have only the magnetic strip.  I have run into two situations during European travels, thus far, where I could not use my credit card, once at a fast food restaurant in Richmond, and the other to purchase train tickets in Barcelona.

I have been told by a GFW customer service person that it would be no problem to buy tickets on line and then pick them up using my credit card once I arrive from overseas.  He stated unequivocally that all the machines will accept the magnetic strip card.  Experience has told me that it is good to verify such critical information, so that is what I am asking.  Thanks, again.