On May 27, 2:42*pm, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 11:30:53 on
Sun, 27 May 2012, Paul Scott remarked:

CJB has failed to prove that PTT machines are a legal requirement,
which is the main plank of his argument...

iirc they are requirement if you want to operate a "Penalty Fares"
scheme.

Why? PTT machines predate TVM machines, and a TVM is in essence a PTT
machine with more options. In the conditions of carriage, it's clear
that if you can't (for some value of can't) buy a ticket or a PTT,
then a PF can't be enforced. However, if you can (again, for some
value of can) buy a ticket, then not doing so and then complaining you
couldn't buy a PTT either won't avail. The doubt over "can" is this
issue of "is a TVM which does not take cash an opportunity to buy a
ticket?" and, in the end, that's something that only a court can
decide. I can't see why an operator can't under current regulations
offer only TVM machines and then waive the PF if you can convincingly
show that the TVM wasn't working (again, with the cash/card debate
still to be had).

In twenty years' time, the railways will be exclusively ITSO/Oyster,
with some magic so that you can just use your debit card directly as a
ticket. No one is going to get too excited over the precise details
of cash purchase of tickets, because it's clearly not going to last.
There might still be a facility, as there is now, to buy a pre-loaded
card with cash, but the presumption will be that every who wants to
travel will have an ITSO-alike in some form.

ian