Problems with a high-speed ticket machine led to queues up to 50-strong at Finchley Central Tube station on Monday.
The recently upgraded Multifare ticket machine caused mayhem when it broke down at the Ballards Lane station during peak-time in the morning rush hour. The computerised machine, which was installed in December last year, has been riddled with temporary credit card, bank note and coin related faults over the last six weeks.
A Transport For London (TfL) spokesman blamed the malfunctions on "teething problems". He added: "Our sincere apologies go to residents and we assure them that the performance of the equipment will be closely monitored.
"The faults seem to have been made by coin jams and the station says, although two ticket offices were open, customers were advised to pay at their destinations."
Hampstead Garden Suburb councillor John Marshall was among residents caught up in the queue.
He said: "On Monday the queue was so long and eventually we were told to pay at the other end.
"However, this machine was only installed a year ago so it is unbelievable that money has been spent on a machine which doesn't work properly."
November 28, 2001 20:12
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