Greenhithe Railway Station's only ticket machine out of action for fourth day running

Frustrated commuters faced more delays as a station's only ticket machine remained out of action for a fourth day running.

The ticket machine at Greenhithe railway station was still broken this morning causing delays.

Despite huge queues for tickets during rush-hour yesterday morning rail operator Southeastern had still not fixed the machine, which has been broken since Saturday.

And forward-thinking commuters predicting the inevitable rush-hour queues were not even able to buy a ticket in advance.

It was confirmed to KentOnline yesterday delays could yet stretch on until later this week with the rail operator explaining a completion date had not yet been confirmed for the machine's repair.

Passenger Ellie Connolly, from Greenhithe, said: "I get my ticket on the Southeastern app, but cannot load it to the Key as it's not a valid ticket type.

"With the machine not working, people who do this cannot collect tickets the night before, like others can, if they know there is going to be a queue."

Ellie gets a zone two to six travel card and says the only option is to collect at the station as she claims you can only load travel cards for these zones.

She is hoping the rail operator might chose to extend the contactless scheme to cover zone one, adding: "It would make things much easier".

Although there was there was not quite a repeat of the long and winding queues of yesterday as extra staff had been brought in to ease congestion.

Ellie added: "There was an inspector on the gate was asking people in the queue if they needed to get the next train and then just letting them through.

"It's not ideal but it was helping keep the queue down and reduced the stress of missing the train."

Fellow passenger Marina, of Eagles Road, said she also has problem with her Key card as it is the 16-25 Railcard, which she claims can only be used on the app after 9.30am.

"I have the Southeastern app downloaded on my phone with the Key card but I always get an error every time I try and purchase a ticket through the app."

She points out that lots of people in her age bracket need to be places before 9.30am.

"It might be fine for those going to late lectures at college," she said. "But it isn't useful for most young people as we need to arrive before 9am for classes or to go to work."

A spokesperson for Southeastern said; "There are no plans to extend contactless payment to Greenhithe. If you have the Southeastern app you can quickly load your tickets on to your Key card at home, allowing you to reduce the time you spend at the station.

"You can use your Key card to buy single, return and season tickets." More information on use of the Key smart ticket is available here.