ToDler® – First Great Western’s new baby goes live

Exeter University student Annabel James collecting her ticket from the new ToDler machine at Exeter St Davids alongside Chris Wade, Exeter Ticket Office Supervisor.

From online to on-train…First Great Western is quickening up the ticket collection process at Exeter St Davids station for customers booking rail journeys on the internet.

Exeter University student Annabel James collecting her ticket from the new ToDler machine at Exeter St Davids alongside Chris Wade, Exeter Ticket Office Supervisor.

Exeter St Davids is the first station in the FGW network to install the ToDler® ticket vending machine – a small but perfectly formed kiosk that prints up to three times faster than its conventional counterparts.

The ToDler machine, developed by ticketing technology partner Parkeon, is located on the main concourse at Exeter St Davids and has been installed to meet demand created by one of the biggest trends in the rail industry – the online booking of train tickets in advance of travel.

“We’re making it easier than ever before to get from online to on-train, by installing a small footprint ticket vending machine that is dedicated to the collection of tickets booked on internet retail sites,” says Mark Paulin, Retail Systems Manager at First Great Western.

“ToDler has proven to be quick, reliable and easy to use. Customers have had no difficulty in obtaining their tickets with clear instructions, a large screen and ticket drop tray all contributing to a 100% fulfilment rate.”

While it is still early days in the life of the Exeter ToDler, transaction figures are impressive, with close to 4000 people using the machine in the first three weeks of installation.

Parkeon’s ToDler technology is seen as an important way for train operating companies to optimise retail space in station areas.

Says Paul Moirano, Parkeon’s Sales Director for UK Rail: “We are delighted that First Great Western has joined the ever increasing number of train operators that are benefiting from having ToDler as part of their retailing solution. Speed and convenience are of the essence in any form of retailing, and particularly in the rail sector where any delay can mean the difference between catching a train or missing it.”

Our picture shows Exeter University student Annabel James collecting her ticket from the new ToDler machine at Exeter St Davids alongside Chris Wade, Exeter Ticket Office Supervisor.