(21 Jun 2014, 6:38 am)aureolin wrote I can't see that being the case. if I was a driver, I wouldn't want everyone's dirty mitts all over a ticket machine I have to use.I think it is still up for discussion between management at the moment, but I'm definitely on the "I don't think it will happen" side - primarily because Customer Services were advising passengers on the B5TL photo on Facebook that external readers aren't being phased out.
It will be down to the fact there's quite a few of the external readers which don't work, and if there is only one place to scan passes, I don't think as many issues will arise.
If they all are removed, GNE have paid for 700 of these external readers only for them to be removed later - especially after a whole campaign was launched around the external readers too. Seems unlikely to me.