On 12 Aug, 09:32, wrote:
On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:43:53 -0700 (PDT)

Paul wrote:
adequately stocked with change. *Perhaps Comrade Crow would like to
explain how systems such as the Tyne & Wear Metro can be considered
safe when they have no ticket offices at all.

Having used the T&W metro and struggled to get the damn ticket machine to
accept my money I can state thats its a pain in the bloody arse not to have
a ticket office available. I imagine the same goes for a lot of unmanned
stations on the DLR.

B2003

But on London Underground the station would always be staffed, and the
station staff could help anyone who is having trouble using the ticket
machines, and as I said earlier, make sure that they are in working
order and adequately stocked with change.

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:45:58 -0700 (PDT)
Paul wrote:
Having used the T&W metro and struggled to get the damn ticket machine to
accept my money I can state thats its a pain in the bloody arse not to ha=
ve
a ticket office available. I imagine the same goes for a lot of unmanned
stations on the DLR.

B2003

But on London Underground the station would always be staffed, and the
station staff could help anyone who is having trouble using the ticket
machines, and as I said earlier, make sure that they are in working
order and adequately stocked with change.

Well it depends where the staff are. If they're standing near the ticket
machine then sure. If they're down on the platform then what are you
supposed to do? Shout loudly? Jump over the barriers to go and get them?

B2003

On 12 Aug, 10:33, wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:45:58 -0700 (PDT)

Paul wrote:
Having used the T&W metro and struggled to get the damn ticket machine to
accept my money I can state thats its a pain in the bloody arse not to ha=
ve
a ticket office available. I imagine the same goes for a lot of unmanned
stations on the DLR.

B2003

But on London Underground the station would always be staffed, and the
station staff could help anyone who is having trouble using the ticket
machines, and as I said earlier, make sure that they are in working
order and adequately stocked with change.

Well it depends where the staff are. If they're standing near the ticket
machine then sure. If they're down on the platform then what are you
supposed to do? Shout loudly? Jump over the barriers to go and get them?

B2003

In my experience, the number of staff required to help huge queues of
people who are having trouble with ticket machines (not understanding
tickets/Oyster, not taking cash/cards etc etc) is considerably more
than would be required to open the ticket office.

On 12 Aug, 09:45, Paul wrote:
On 12 Aug, 09:32, wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:43:53 -0700 (PDT)

Paul wrote:
adequately stocked with change. *Perhaps Comrade Crow would like to
explain how systems such as the Tyne & Wear Metro can be considered
safe when they have no ticket offices at all.

Having used the T&W metro and struggled to get the damn ticket machine to
accept my money I can state thats its a pain in the bloody arse not to have
a ticket office available. I imagine the same goes for a lot of unmanned
stations on the DLR.

B2003

But on London Underground the station would always be staffed, and the
station staff could help anyone who is having trouble using the ticket
machines, and as I said earlier, make sure that they are in working
order and adequately stocked with change.

Use your credit card if you're out of change. If you're having trouble
using a ticket machine, you probably shouldn't be allowed unattended
on the tube, anyway.

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:58:28 -0700 (PDT)
David F wrote:
Use your credit card if you're out of change. If you're having trouble
using a ticket machine, you probably shouldn't be allowed unattended
on the tube, anyway.

And if you don't have any cards on you but do have money which the machine
won't accept? You might pay with your company gold amex whenever you fly into
London City but not everyone is like you.

B2003

On 12 Aug, 16:11, wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:58:28 -0700 (PDT)

David F wrote:
Use your credit card if you're out of change. If you're having trouble
using a ticket machine, you probably shouldn't be allowed unattended
on the tube, anyway.

And if you don't have any cards on you but do have money which the machine
won't accept? You might pay with your company gold amex whenever you fly into
London City but not everyone is like you.

I definitely don't have a Gold Amex ... just a bog standard Lloyds TSB
debit card!

If I was really stuck, I guess I'd pop to the cash machine above
ground - withdraw a tenner and feed that to the ticket machine. If I
had no cards on me, I guess I could try another ticket machine - or
maybe be more concerned that I had counterfit pound coins in my
pocket. Worst case, I could make a short stroll down to the next
station where I am sure the machines would be working - or pick up
some change in a shop on the way. I could even get the bus.

Of course, I'd probably just use my Oyster card in the first place.

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:17:02 -0700 (PDT)
David F wrote:
If I was really stuck, I guess I'd pop to the cash machine above
ground - withdraw a tenner and feed that to the ticket machine. If I
had no cards on me, I guess I could try another ticket machine - or
maybe be more concerned that I had counterfit pound coins in my

Or a crumpled tenner or one that someone has scribbled on or ripped.

pocket. Worst case, I could make a short stroll down to the next
station where I am sure the machines would be working - or pick up
some change in a shop on the way. I could even get the bus.

Unlike the DLR most tube stations outside central london are not a "short
stroll" apart. The next station down the line from my station is a half hour
walk. I know because I've had to do it on a couple of occasions.

Of course, I'd probably just use my Oyster card in the first place.

How do you top up your oyster card then, magic?

B2003

On 12 Aug, 16:20, wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:17:02 -0700 (PDT)

David F wrote:
If I was really stuck, I guess I'd pop to the cash machine above
ground - withdraw a tenner and feed that to the ticket machine. If I
had no cards on me, I guess I could try another ticket machine - or
maybe be more concerned that I had counterfit pound coins in my

Or a crumpled tenner or one that someone has scribbled on or ripped.

pocket. Worst case, I could make a short stroll down to the next
station where I am sure the machines would be working - or pick up
some change in a shop on the way. I could even get the bus.

Unlike the DLR most tube stations outside central london are not a "short
stroll" apart. The next station down the line from my station is a half hour
walk. I know because I've had to do it on a couple of occasions.

Of course, I'd probably just use my Oyster card in the first place.

How do you top up your oyster card then, magic?

B2003

If you want to understand Comrade Crow's attitude to "safety", look at
the saga of the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line in
Scotland.

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:38:48 -0700 (PDT)
Paul wrote:
If you want to understand Comrade Crow's attitude to "safety", look at
the saga of the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line in
Scotland.

Oh Bob Crowes a dick and he just babbles nonsense 24/7. But there have been
times where my local ticket office has been closed and only one of the
ticket machines was working causing a large queue. Its bloody irritating
especially combined with the huge fair increase in january.

B2003

On 12 Aug, 16:20, wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:17:02 -0700 (PDT)

David F wrote:
If I was really stuck, I guess I'd pop to the cash machine above
ground - withdraw a tenner and feed that to the ticket machine. If I
had no cards on me, I guess I could try another ticket machine - or
maybe be more concerned that I had counterfit pound coins in my

Or a crumpled tenner or one that someone has scribbled on or ripped.

pocket. Worst case, I could make a short stroll down to the next
station where I am sure the machines would be working - or pick up
some change in a shop on the way. I could even get the bus.

Unlike the DLR most tube stations outside central london are not a "short
stroll" apart. The next station down the line from my station is a half hour
walk. I know because I've had to do it on a couple of occasions.

Of course, I'd probably just use my Oyster card in the first place.

How do you top up your oyster card then, magic?

Auto top-up. Any sensible person has this set up.