210561 ✨ [Q]Feb 28

Approximately 15 months after submittng FoI requests for the UK Railway's Barcoded Ticketing specifications, I've just managed to settle the appeal on the cases (on a Saturday of all days).

So, presenting for your reading enjoyment, some PDFs that the Government really didn't want me to get until the last minute: https://magicalcodewit.ch/rsp-specs/

Rail Settlement Plan Barcode Specs

The specifications for UK Railway Barcoded Tickets, provided under the Freedom of Information Act.

Show threadBogginFeb 28
@q Why weren't these specifications publically available? Or, perhaps a better phrasing, what was the UK's excuse for not making these freely available?
Show thread210561 ✨ [Q]Feb 28
@boggin publishing them would enable fraud
Show threadOliver Blanthorn

@q yeah. fraudsters will now know that barcodes are pure black and white. they'll be able to bypass visual inspection trivially now

@boggin

Feb 28 at 1:07pmWeb
Show threadSebastian Crane 🏳️‍⚧️Feb 28
@bovine3dom @q @boggin little known fact: a pink-on-white barcode allows you to have the driver's seat, valid via any permitted route refundable and exchangeable for a fee