On Sun, 8 Feb 2004, Keith J Chesworth wrote:

Of course, whether this can be enforced in practice is a different
question. But if there's an automatic barrier, then it's reported
that it swallows the ticket after the return leg, which came as a
surprise to some.

It does, I have to be especially careful at Luton AP as I need my
ticket for expenses!!

I know the feeling!

At Edinburgh the other day I was behind a chap who was trying to
retain his ticket instead of it being collected by the barrier man: he
seemed to be getting a long lecture about the importance of asking for
a receipt when purchasing the ticket, as he had no right to retain the
ticket itself. Towards the end of the lecture (I must admit I swerved
across to one of the other barrier staff as it was taking far too
long) I saw that the barrier man tore the ticket across fairly
violently, and handed the remains back to the aggrieved passenger.

I handed in my outward ticket without fuss, intending (if push came to
shove) to argue the toss with the return half.

Unusually, on the way back, not only was the ticket not checked on the
train (there had been no check on entering the platform at Ed., but
that's normal), and no ticket check on leaving the platform at Gla.
Queen Street, so I still had an unmarked (SDR return half) ticket.
There were however information leaflets on the train warning that
automatic barriers will soon be in operation, and repeating the advice
to ask for a receipt at time of purchase if needed.