Hatfield down side stopping controversy.

[Mickey]

I just thought that i would inform forum member's of a 'controversy' on another forum site (non-railway) of member's of the public complaining about down trains stopping at Hatfield station on the down slow line at the very far end (north end) of the platform and then for the punter's having alighted at Hatfield are then faced with about a 200-250 yards walk back along the platform to the staircase of the footbridge to cross the main line to exit the station. This controversy looks like it has been going on on this site for several years and has even drawn the local MP Grant Shapps (Tory housing minster) into the fray!.
Apparently the 'problem' stems from there only being ONE MIRROR provided at the very far end of Hatfield station for driver's of northbound stopping trains to 'look into' so a x3 car EMU will stop opposite the platform mirror at the very far end of the down platform with the consequents of about a 200-250 yards walk for the punter's back along the platform to reach the footbridge. One 'wag' remarked that they didn't seem to have these problems back in the 1960s when trains use to stop at Hatfield on the down slow line platform with the back end of the train opposite the footbridge staircase no problem?.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Pity they did'nt do what they do on the Southern a put little numbers up to tell the driver where to stop.............. but that don't help with the mirror.............. bring back guards, ding-ding !..............sorry to much money............... to Hard... let Em walk.



manna

[Mickey]

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[giner]

250 YARDS! Poor dears.

[Mickey]

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[PinzaC55]

I was one of the guards displaced by DOO at King's Cross. In the early days it was not unknown for drivers to open doors on the wrong side and one of them opened the doors wrongly at Harringay! Of course that was before the current H&SE regime so it was all hushed up.

[StevieG]

Sometimes I just can't help being slightly pedantic.
The official length of Hatfield Down Slow platform these days as far as operational use is concerned, is 185.9 yards (or 185yds 2' 9"). So I reckon those detraining from a 3-car 313 at the far end would have a walk back to the bridge of between around 180 and 117 yards. Of course, depending on things like the weather and how much one is having to carry, it could easily seem more like 250 - 300 yards!

[ I'm reminded of a cartoon from quite a few years ago.
Two men standing outside the porticoed entrance to a large georgian terraced house, are looking at a large brass-style plaque on one of the portico's columns, which reads "The Pedantic Society".
And one man says to the other "Surely that should say The Society Of Pedants."

[Mickey]

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[manna]

G'Day Gents

I don't suppose this matters, but years ago did'nt there use to be a buffet on the platform at Hatfield, after a long hike along the platform at least you could get a cuppa half way along.

Oh!-- and there was a nice big awning to cover everyone from the rain/snow.........progress..Ha! come back 1959

manna

[Mickey]

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[StevieG]

G'Day Gents

I don't suppose this matters, but years ago did'nt there use to be a buffet on the platform at Hatfield, after a long hike along the platform at least you could get a cuppa half way along.

Oh!-- and there was a nice big awning to cover everyone from the rain/snow.........progress..Ha! come back 1959

manna

Reckon you're about right there manna. And I got a distinct impression that there could be some quite fearsome staff there as well.
On travelling there by bike to visit for a while an acquaintance manning Hatfield No.3 box once in about '68/'69, it got arranged that I could have a first-ever look in No.1. The obvious route to it was via the platforms on both sides of the station and the intervening footbridge, but I remember feeling in a bit of a boot-quaking state crossing the slower down lines to the down platform, and then along it, for fear of being stopped by the foreman for having been seen crossing or to be challenged to show a ticket!

The buildings were pretty expansive though. And No.3 box had what I'm pretty sure, was the 'GN's last green lever in the whole London and home counties area; to ring a wire-worked mechanical platform gong, situated facing south on the wall of a small brick building at the north end of the platform. Wish I'd taken a photo!

[Mickey]

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[kudu]

Must be very irritating for passengers when all they have to do is shift the platform 100 yds north. But maybe that would make the exit nearer the town? Stations have been shifting the other way for years now eg at Bradford both stations have moved outwards.

Kudu

[Mickey]

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[PinzaC55]

If you can believe this some guy on this other website reckons that instaed of alighting at Hatfield on the down slow line platform he (thinks he's being clever here?) stays on the train to WGC then rides on the return working back up the slow line from WGC to Hatfield alighting on the up slow line platform at Hatfield. Seems abit OTT if you ask me

Dunno what disabled access is like at Hatfield but if you were in a wheelchair it might be the only option?