'System failure' blamed for nationwide rail ticket machine outage

Travellers unable to collect pre-paid tickets from machines advised to take confirmation emails as proof of purchase

Rail travellers across the country have been unable to collect pre-paid tickets from ticket machines following a ‘system failure' this morning.

Passengers of Greater Anglia, Thameslink, Stansted Express, Southern, Southeastern and ScotRail have all been affected.

"Due to a nationwide system failure, advanced tickets cannot be collected at this time, a notice on one of the ticket machines reads. "Staff are being advised to permit you to travel by showing your collection e-mail/text message."

National Rail, though, has urged passengers to collect their tickets direct from ticket offices before travelling - causing long queues of agitated travellers to form at stations across the country.

It's unclear how many machines have been affected, although the BBC reports that "every machine" at London Liverpool Street has been taken down by the systems failure. Virgin Trains, which operates high-speed services, claimed that their ticket machines had not been affected

A spokesman from the Rail Delivery Group told the BBC: "We're sorry for the inconvenience caused and are working with the relevant supplier to fix the problem as soon as possible.

"People affected should speak to their train company or visit the ticket office."

He confirmed the issue was affecting multiple operators but wouldn't affect all machines across the country.