In message , at
12:14:48 on Sat, 23 Nov 2013, Offramp remarked:
When I tried to buy tube tickets for my children on a
visit to London a few years ago I couldn't, because the machines
wouldn't sell them and the ticket office at the station was unmanned.

Was it open and unmanned or closed and unmanned?
When the ticket office is open it is not possible to buy child tickets from th machines.
However, staff sometimes wander away from their position to make tea, do some banking etc.

It's a few years ago now, but I think it was open but in "wandered off"
mode.
--
Roland Perry