Ticket machines crash... in rush hour

THOUSANDS of commuters were unable to buy rail tickets from machines during the rush hour yesterday morning after a nationwide IT glitch.

Most machines in the UK shut down just as passengers arrived at stations for their journey to work.

They reported missing their trains because of long queues at ticket offices – and some complained that ticket offices were not even open.

Screens on the machines appeared either blank or carried an ‘out of service’ message.

Commuters told to pay at their destination complained they were then fined by conductors.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, apologised for the problem, which was fixed by 9am. It said it appeared to lie with German firm Scheidt & Bachmann, which supplies software and systems for ticket machines. The firm did not respond to requests for comment.