Automatic barriers at York station.

[Ferrybridge Flyer]

I Cannot believe NXEC are wanting to install automatic ticket barriers at dear old York station.I read the editors column in the Railway Magazine in stunned silence.This cannot be allowed to happen.Once they are installed-and look at the farce at Leeds-that could be the end of enthusiasts taking photographs on this wonderful old station.The editor of Railway Magazine has asked if anyone would be interested in some kind of campaign to stop this.I ask everyone who visits these forums to help.If the TOC's and the BTP get their way,station photographs will become a thing of the past.

[hq1hitchin]

They went in at London (Waterloo) over the Christmas/New Year period and seem to be working without any significant problems. Unfortunately, fare evasion means that the TOCs reckon they get their money back from ATG (Automatic Ticket Gate) schemes within 18 months so there aren't that many London terminii without them now. Can't see the TOCs, or the DfT for that matter, changing their stance. Taking photographs on stations is a different matter altogether - they seem to think every gricer is a potential terrorist, wheras in fact most of them are extremely well disposed towards the railways and unwittingly act as an extra pair of eyes and ears. Mind you, there were some really odd characters who used to spend the whole weekend on nights at Crewe in the 1980s - how sad, we hated it - and we were paid to be there.....

[Bullhead]

I'm old enough to remember having to buy platform tickets if I wanted to collect locomotive numbers, and can't really understand what the fuss is all about.

As hq1hitchin observes, fare evasion is a serious concern for TOCs and ATG schemes are generally quick to pay for themselves. I think everyone had better get used to them.

[Malcolm]

In Japan all the stations, and I mean all, have automatic barriers, but one can still buy a platform ticket very cheaply to go through. People have no problem here getting access to station platforms. I remember when I was young and we had to buy platform tickets.
I can see no problems if the TOCs allow platform tickets to be purchased.

Malcolm

[hq1hitchin]

I don't have a problem with platform tickets but it can lead to people absent mindedly boarding trains, having forgotten they don't have travel tickets. Just been reading the paper - seems Whitehall have put five TOCs (they don't say who) on a financial critical list due to them not making as much money as projected. No doubt they are hoping to put the bite on the government for financial support, watch this space. In the meantime, be sure they will also be trying to extract the last penny from their passengers.

[Dace-32A]

putting them in at Norwich now.

[CVR1865]

The Kings Cross works will fit them in there too. It is good as fare evasion costs us honest punters, they are bad though when they prevent you from using the shops as a non passenger like at Cambridge.

[52A]

I believe that large stations had barriers for a longer period in their history than they have been without them, so it is nothing new. Open Stations were one of BRs dafter ideas.

[Ferrybridge Flyer]

Thanks all for the replies.Stopping fare dodging is understandable,but what happens when visitors want to visit the NRM?That footbridge is so much better than that tramp on the footpath-smelly,and dodgy after dark.I just hope they give this some thought,and don't start gricer bashing.

[silver fox]

Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48491012482

York Press Artical http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/4116721. ... _barriers/

Especially the bit
"Mr Bowker was speaking while travelling on the Tornado steam train on Saturday, as it undertook its first passenger carrying run.

More than a thousand rail enthusiasts were on York station to wave it off.

But it is not clear how they would have been able to gain access to the platform if the ticket gates had already been in place. "

[52A]

Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48491012482

York Press Artical http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/4116721. ... _barriers/

Especially the bit
"Mr Bowker was speaking while travelling on the Tornado steam train on Saturday, as it undertook its first passenger carrying run.

More than a thousand rail enthusiasts were on York station to wave it off.

But it is not clear how they would have been able to gain access to the platform if the ticket gates had already been in place. "

They will have to do what I used to do, buy a platform ticket!

If those money grabbing sharks are going to have such a thing of course.

[CVR1865]

That is a good point. At the moment South West trains have platform tickets but no one else does. I am sure that will change as the whole network becomes re-barriered.

[Ferrybridge Flyer]

The barriers on Leeds station are regularly left open,especiallyat rush-hour.Why are they even persevering with them?Am i worrying about nothing?I'll be more than happy to buy a platform ticket-let's just hope they keep them at a fair price.

[BringBackGNER]

What's the point of barriers when you have platform tickets? Don't they just provide a cheap way for fare dodgers to open the barriers?

[Ferrybridge Flyer]

Very good point,Bring Back.The best thing they could do is LEAVE THINGS ALONE!