Graham, Tom and Ian

Your Lib Dem team for Cheadle West & Gatley Learn more

Northern Rail launch chocolate teapot smartphone app

by Lib Dem team on 15 January, 2016

“You can now buy train tickets on your smartphone anytime, anywhere with the free Northern Rail mobile app.” boast Northern Rail.

With the continued complaints about heavy-handed G4S staff at Piccadilly Station handing out fines on behalf of Northern Rail, we were hoping this new app might help Gatley’s hard-pressed commuters.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Yes, you can buy a ticket to travel from Gatley on the free app. But you have to collect it from a ticket machine, and you’ll be looking a long time before you find one of those at Gatley.

For some lucky travellers you can have the joy of an e-ticket: just flash your phone at the ticket collector to prove you’ve paid. Not from Gatley though (apparently an issue to do with more than one train operator running trains through the station, though we don’t know what).

So Gatley is no better off than we were. No ticket machine. Ticket office frequently closed or with long queues. Staff at Piccadilly keen to slap an £80 fine on you.

However, we’ve now seen a few cases where people have appealed – or we’ve interceded on their behalf – and got fines reduced or eliminated altogether, so please do appeal any fines.

Another option is to avoid the G4S staff by going up the steps at the rear of the platforms at Piccadilly and coming down via a different platform – allowing you to buy a legal ticket in the station concourse.

   2 Comments

2 Responses

  1. Tracey says:

    Priceless.

  2. Alan Gent says:

    What’s also amazing is now they’ve lost the franchise they spend money on a power operated door and every train I’ve caught since the announcement has been on time, previously unheard of. I guess all
    The drivers are hoping for a job with arriva?

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