Connolly Ticket Vendor Issues

on the move · 18-01-2010, 17:08

Last night, I arrived at Connolly 15 minutes before boarding a scheduled Dart to Howth, displayed on screen at the entrance, as delayed by a further 4 minutes. So having no more than the exact change, and with no ticket office open, I had to buy a ticket at the machine. All was fine until it wouldn't accept a €2 coin. At the time, I couldn't use another method, so tried another machine, then another, then another. All 4 machines wouldn't accept it, and sent it straight to the change area. So having eventually got change, ticket was bought. This was following the "delay" announcement, with now 7 minutes free to get to platform 7 and board the train.

Instead, I looked on horrified to see the info screen at the gates, as displaying "Arrived Connolly", 7 minutes early. After going through the gates and rushing down to Platform 7, things got worse again when I eventually got to the train door, as it was just about to shunt out of the station. All I could do, was watch it sail past into the night, and take the long walk straight out of the station. I find it incredible that all 4 ticket machines wouldn't accept a genuine standard Euro coin, and this kind of nonsense only encourages fare evasion.

Does it happen anywhere else?

Thomas Ralph · 18-01-2010, 17:46

If all four machines rejected it, it would tend to suggest there's something wrong with the coin rather than the machines.

The attendant at the gate line will sell you a ticket in circumstances like this. Alternatively, vending machines accept credit and debit cards for all purchases.

on the move · 21-01-2010, 06:44

I checked the coin during the issue. It was a standard Spanish Euro coin, that is widely available. The coin was accepted by another non-train ticket vending machine.

During it too, a more common issue arose, where change wasn't available in one machine. Payment can be made with cards, but that isn't always practical or possible. The booking office wasn't open in the station at the time.

It was disappointing to not make the train after all that, but if it happened at a remote station in the country, the issue could either lead to fare evasion, or severely inconvenience the plans of passengers concerned. Neither situation is acceptable nor should it be allowed to happen by IE.

Mark Gleeson · 21-01-2010, 11:16

4 machines rejected the coin, that clearly suggests the coin was not within the tolerances expected. Dubliners will be well familiar with the classic 1999 pound coin and parking meter issue, the machines were right, it turned out there was a small change to the weight of the coin itself in that years issue due to a different alloy

Any machine which cannot give change will indicate that restriction before you begin the transaction. By design if you cancel you will be returned the exact coins as you inserted

All transactions can be paid for by credit or debit cards, no minimum amount restriction is applied

The clerk and the ticket barrier will issue a manual ticket in these circumstances

18-01-2010, 17:08	#1
on the move Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 176	Connolly Ticket Vendor Issues Last night, I arrived at Connolly 15 minutes before boarding a scheduled Dart to Howth, displayed on screen at the entrance, as delayed by a further 4 minutes. So having no more than the exact change, and with no ticket office open, I had to buy a ticket at the machine. All was fine until it wouldn't accept a €2 coin. At the time, I couldn't use another method, so tried another machine, then another, then another. All 4 machines wouldn't accept it, and sent it straight to the change area. So having eventually got change, ticket was bought. This was following the "delay" announcement, with now 7 minutes free to get to platform 7 and board the train. Instead, I looked on horrified to see the info screen at the gates, as displaying "Arrived Connolly", 7 minutes early. After going through the gates and rushing down to Platform 7, things got worse again when I eventually got to the train door, as it was just about to shunt out of the station. All I could do, was watch it sail past into the night, and take the long walk straight out of the station. I find it incredible that all 4 ticket machines wouldn't accept a genuine standard Euro coin, and this kind of nonsense only encourages fare evasion. Does it happen anywhere else? __________________ "We'd like to apologise for..."

21-01-2010, 06:44	#3
on the move Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 176	I checked the coin during the issue. It was a standard Spanish Euro coin, that is widely available. The coin was accepted by another non-train ticket vending machine. During it too, a more common issue arose, where change wasn't available in one machine. Payment can be made with cards, but that isn't always practical or possible. The booking office wasn't open in the station at the time. It was disappointing to not make the train after all that, but if it happened at a remote station in the country, the issue could either lead to fare evasion, or severely inconvenience the plans of passengers concerned. Neither situation is acceptable nor should it be allowed to happen by IE. __________________ "We'd like to apologise for..."

21-01-2010, 11:16	#4
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	4 machines rejected the coin, that clearly suggests the coin was not within the tolerances expected. Dubliners will be well familiar with the classic 1999 pound coin and parking meter issue, the machines were right, it turned out there was a small change to the weight of the coin itself in that years issue due to a different alloy Any machine which cannot give change will indicate that restriction before you begin the transaction. By design if you cancel you will be returned the exact coins as you inserted All transactions can be paid for by credit or debit cards, no minimum amount restriction is applied The clerk and the ticket barrier will issue a manual ticket in these circumstances __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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18-01-2010, 17:46	#2
Thomas Ralph IT Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 1,860	If all four machines rejected it, it would tend to suggest there's something wrong with the coin rather than the machines. The attendant at the gate line will sell you a ticket in circumstances like this. Alternatively, vending machines accept credit and debit cards for all purchases.