Seemingly trivial things that intrigue you

shirley_basso

monkimark said:

The ticket machines at my station weren't working this morning, there were notes on the machines saying people should buy the ticket at the destination.
I'm not sure there is anyone on the train with a ticket machine, I've never seen one (although I rarely travel by train).
Presumably they put a not out to other stations on the line to confirm the machines aren't working.

Conductor always has a machine. Has done for at least the last 15 years, if not 20.

monkimark

I don't think I've ever seen a conductor on the train so if there is one, they aren't walking through checking/selling tickets.
Presumably the sign would have said to get a ticket from the conductor if that was available.

monkimark

.

pangolin

It's very location dependant. Line nearest to me in Bristol has no machine at the station and everyone buys from the conductor.

But never saw a conductor in London.

Pross

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

shirley_basso

I make a point of finding the conductor so they have no excuse to fine me.

rjsterry

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

First.Aspect

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

rjsterry

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

First.Aspect

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

TheBigBean

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Tickets are better anyway.

morstar

Scotrail did have smart cards. I assume the SNP have bought the system as there were machines everywhere.
I used it a few times. Was better than an app or ticket. No power or data required but only one card to look after rather than lots of tickets.

Pross

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

That's living in the sticks for you.

Pross

TheBigBean said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Tickets are better anyway.

I normally go with a ticket still, always wary my phone battery will die on me with etickets

TheBigBean

Pross said:

TheBigBean said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Tickets are better anyway.

I normally go with a ticket still, always wary my phone battery will die on me with etickets

That, and barriers are faff. Even more so if you have multiple tickets on one phone.

pinno

Pross said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

That's living in the sticks for you.

Yeah.

monkimark

...orry....can't....ear....yo.....
...ery....ba...ignal...in...he...Audi

rjsterry

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Scotrail has an app. The barriers at Waverley and Glasgow Central have readers on the barriers. https://www.nfcw.com/2019/04/26/362431/uk-upgrades-to-smart-rail-tickets-looks-to-introduce-innovative-new-types-of-fare/

rjsterry

TheBigBean said:

Pross said:

TheBigBean said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Tickets are better anyway.

I normally go with a ticket still, always wary my phone battery will die on me with etickets

That, and barriers are faff. Even more so if you have multiple tickets on one phone.

As opposed to a handful of almost identical orange-edged card tickets.

rjsterry

Pross said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

That's living in the sticks for you.

Tulse Hill in particular has no signal at all. Surrey at least has cuttings and tunnels.

First.Aspect

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Scotrail has an app. The barriers at Waverley and Glasgow Central have readers on the barriers. https://www.nfcw.com/2019/04/26/362431/uk-upgrades-to-smart-rail-tickets-looks-to-introduce-innovative-new-types-of-fare/

Fair enough. I haven't been on a train since the pandemic.

rjsterry

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Scotrail has an app. The barriers at Waverley and Glasgow Central have readers on the barriers. https://www.nfcw.com/2019/04/26/362431/uk-upgrades-to-smart-rail-tickets-looks-to-introduce-innovative-new-types-of-fare/

Fair enough. I haven't been on a train since the pandemic.

😆

TheBigBean

rjsterry said:

TheBigBean said:

Pross said:

TheBigBean said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

First.Aspect said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

On my commute to Bristol the conductor never comes around which I think is a throw back to when it was too crowded for them to move around. I have had to get a ticket on arrival at Templemeads once as the ticket office at the station where I start my journey was closed and no-one came around on the train but they were aware of the situation and sold the normal price ticket.

There have been a few times in the past (different service) where I was running late and got a ticket onboard. They usually just sold the tickets at normal price, possibly as there were several stations without ticket offices on the route, but one conductor did say they are allowed to make you buy a single if you board without a ticket.

With electronic ticketing these days there is no real reason to reach your destination without a ticket though.

This. Buy the ticket on your phone and it appears as a QR code to let you through the barriers at the end. Does require a decent data signal, which for some reason is always pretty rubbish in South London and Surrey.

God it is so primitive up here. There are routinely queues to leave the platform at Glasgow Central and Waverley for all of the people who can't buy tickets where they get on. And what's a qr code and does it fit in the little slot in the barrier machine?

Your rail operating company will have an app. Or use the Trainline one.

As far as I'm aware the machines don't read qr codes. And the train operator is the SNP now.

Tickets are better anyway.

I normally go with a ticket still, always wary my phone battery will die on me with etickets

That, and barriers are faff. Even more so if you have multiple tickets on one phone.

As opposed to a handful of almost identical orange-edged card tickets.

Yes, that's better.

orraloon

(Sitting waiting for W10 update to complete before heading for early night, silly time to opt for updating, but anyway...)

Intrigued. Last night at Calais Eurotunnel in the queue lines for French border control. Hello! Group of 4 fully armed with the automatics, the holstered pistol on the belt, full body armour, etc etc soldiers appear and pace slowly along the lines of mainly Brit cars. Scary stuff. Never seen that before in now 30 years of Shuttling.

Is this another Brexshit bonus?

pinno

orraloon said:

(Sitting waiting for W10 update to complete before heading for early night, silly time to opt for updating, but anyway...)

Intrigued. Last night at Calais Eurotunnel in the queue lines for French border control. Hello! Group of 4 fully armed with the automatics, the holstered pistol on the belt, full body armour, etc etc soldiers appear and pace slowly along the lines of mainly Brit cars. Scary stuff. Never seen that before in now 30 years of Shuttling.

Is this another Brexshit bonus?

Nothing to do with the migrating peoples trying to get across any old how?

orraloon

In the absence of our former expert in such matters manc33 I post this.

Nutter conspiracy theorist today, "learning" just so so much off the internetz 'n' soshul meejah. 9/11, vaccines, Grand Canyon has ancient doors and windows in its walls, free electricity from the ground, and on and on. Flat earth, e.g. how does the 70% water stay 'up' if this is a globe? Sun and moon are same size and 4,000 miles from earth, which they go around and around.

I failed (deliberately) to ask him to describe how the sun and moon circle around Earth if Earth is flat.

'Kin weirdo.

pinno

How many beers did you have at the micro brewery 'Loon?

First.Aspect

pinno said:

How many beers did you have at the micro brewery 'Loon?

I think it is relatively lucid for Orraloon.

monkimark

Flat earth videos are my guilty pleasure, although they are so clearly wrong that I suspect half of them are just trolling.

Ben6899

I read something just now which intrigued me and makes me think I need to start doing tax self assessments, despite being PAYE and having always been.

Something to do with paying tax in the higher brackets, and deductions not coming out before/after (? - you can see I'm clueless) pension contributions, depending how in order your employer's payroll processes are?

Anyway, it reads like I might be paying too much tax. I know @Stevo_666 could probably shed some light. Anyone else?