A MEMBER of the Alton Line Users’ Association has sought to alert fellow passengers to the fact that the new ticket machines at Alton station could leave them paying more than they bargained for.

According to Diane Titterington, the new machines will only accept two railcards – Two Together and the Annual Gold Card.

“They will not accept any other railcards, including senior railcards, disabled and student cards,” she said.

Given that Alton sees a lot of fare-paying passengers who would use these particular cards, Mrs Titterington felt it to be a public service “to warn them to use the old machine, the ticket office, or to buy their tickets online two hours before travelling” to pick up at Alton or Bentley.

She also wanted to flag up the situation so that passengers didn’t stand there trying to buy these tickets “thinking they are the problem and not the machine!”.

Emma Knight, Stagecoach Group’s head of media and public relations, explained that the new machines will in fact take all railcards but the majority after 10am when they become valid. In the case of the two cards mentioned above, these can be used in the machine from 9.30am.

Having recognised the frustration caused by the system, Ms Knight said that updated software was to be installed on the Alton machine within the next two to three weeks. The machine will then accept all railcards regardless of when they become valid for use.

She also flagged up the live video link on the new machine which allows users to press a ‘help’ button to facilitate face-to-face contact with a member of staff at Basingstoke station.

Her advice for off-peak travellers wanting to use their railcards is to use the booking office or the machine to buy discounted tickets after 10am.