In message , at 16:23:31 on Thu, 7 Nov
2013, Michael R N Dolbear remarked:
Can you explain what you mean by "so much human intervention"?

presume he means when buying the card, and when spending hours talking
to the helpline to sort out unresolved journeys etc.

Plus of course the effort of getting printouts for "expenses
purposes" when all you need do with a paper ticket is hand in the
ticket itself.

Huh ?

Has it escaped your notice that the final exit gate swallows your paper
ticket ?

It has not escaped my notice that many of them don't, eg Kings Cross.

And you can always ask the person manning the gates if you can keep the
ticket for expenses purposes. As well as asking for a receipt from the
ticket seller (human or machine) when buying.

First time this made a difference to me was attending a job interview
at the Met Office.

Bracknall station had just been fitted with barriers.

Which I doubt are operating 24x7, but also see above.

Before mag stripe tickets the the barrier attendant

or no-one at all

took your ticket.

--
Roland Perry