Southeastern still unable to accept King Charles III banknotes at ticket machines

Southeastern is unable to say when its ticket vending machines (TVMs) will be able to accept the new King Charles III banknotes.

Now in widespread use, the notes came into circulation on June 5. Before this, the Bank of England asked all businesses to upgrade their machines’ software, ready for the notes’ introduction.

The only change to the notes is the monarch’s portrait.

Responding to a Freedom of Information request, Southeastern said the new notes “cannot be read by the TVM without an equipment upgrade. We do not have a date by when they will be accepted.”

It has told staff and marked the TVMs to make this clear. At non-staffed stations, passengers “will not be penalised if they are unable to buy a ticket,
in line with the Penalty Fare Regulations”.

In response, Alicia Andrews, Southeastern’s Commercial Director, said: “Some of our ticket machines are more than 20 years old and it is not cost-effective to upgrade them to accept new banknotes, when the majority of customers no longer pay using cash.

"We are working with the Department for Transport to identify ways to replace these. In the meantime, we ask customers with the banknotes to use alternative payment options, such as ticket offices.”