TfL: The one London station with a ticket machine for people not catching a train

In early September, platform tickets were removed from all vending machines in London stations due to limited demand, according to Transport for London (TfL). All stations, that is, bar one; Southwark.

The tickets were always a fairly niche product, as they were solely for customers who were not planning on using the network but required access to the platform, such as assisting someone onto a train.

The change was introduced with little fanfare, with TfL explaining the lack of a consultation was due to the tickets not falling within transport services or facilities.

In a recent written question submitted to mayor Sadiq Khan by Liberal Democrat assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, who queried why they had been removed and if they were a  statutory requirement, officers wrote that the tickets have largely fallen out of use “with the expansion of digital fare collection”.

In 2022, TfL sold just four tickets on average per day, and some of those the authority said may have been used for fare evasion.

Customers who require support getting onto trains are now advised to speak to a member of staff to use TfL’s ‘turn up and go’ service, with help provided without the need to pre-book.

Southwark, however, remains the sole station where platform tickets can still be purchased. This is to “help maintain the customer flows between Southwark and Waterloo East station”, says TfL, enabling passengers to continue walking through the former to get to the latter’s gateline.

A spokesperson for the authority told LondonWorld:  “As part of TfL’s regular review of its fares and ticketing system to ensure it can be delivered as efficiently and affordable as possible, since early September we have no longer sold platform tickets from ticket machines at our stations.

"Any customers who need help onto trains can still speak to a member of staff to use our ‘turn up and go’ service.”