Sorry the ticket machines don’t work – it’s raining

6:57am Sunday 11th February 2007

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No, it wasn't your imagination - South West Trains (SWT) has admitted that rain is causing its new flashy touch-screen ticket machines to malfunction.

Customers complained that when getting to a machine, a choice of destination and ticket type had already been made for them without pressing any options. SWT admitted that recent storms and bad weather have been playing havoc with the machines, which it spent £6.7million installing.

“I’m pleased they are doing something about the problem but it’s beyond belief that in a country with as much rain as we have they didn’t see this coming.”

Stations known to be affected were Kingston, Worcester Park, Weybridge and Barnes in south-west London.

Among those puzzled by the problem was Susan Kramer, the MP for Richmond Park.

She said: "I had trouble getting a ticket at Barnes Station. When I asked the man at the office he said they didn't work in the rain."

SWT has 259 touch screen machines at 177 stations across its network.

It plans to roll out another 160 machines over the next few years as part of its new 10-year franchise, which began this weekend.

A SWT spokesman said: "When we get heavy rain the touch screen thinks that someone has touched it because it's so sensitive."

She said the company was working with suppliers to rectify the fault.

She said: "We have identified the problem and are half way through a programme of installing canopies."

The company has identified 44 sites in need of canopies and said 30 were already installed.

The spokesman was keen to stress that complaints were not received about all 44 sites and that the roofs were only being erected as a precaution.

The spokesman added: "The feedback we had when we were introducing these machines was very positive.

"They do offer a whole host of fantastic benefits, including touch-screens."

Mrs Kramer said: "I'm pleased they are doing something about the problem but it's beyond belief that in a country with as much rain as we have they didn't see this coming."