Left luggage, was it always so expensive

[jon0844]

The last time I used the facilities (or should I say friends who were visiting us) I believe it was £5.50 a bag - so that's quite a jump in a few years.. and using the same scanning equipment that they're either leasing or have now paid for.

They also handle lost property, but would you think to hand in a lost phone or wallet to these people?

 

[theageofthetra]

Was thinking about how IRA & more recently Muslim terrorism has resulted in station lockers being a no no in the UK. How did DB/DR react during the height of Baader Meinhofs attrocities? Did all left luggage facilities close? Similarly do Turkish rail/bus stations have to screen all the luggage due to PKP terrorism? I do wonder how much the present less than ideal situation is down to Network rail not wishing to provide a facility or profiteering by the franchisee.

 

[island]

Not sure about luggage, but many public buildings including shopping centres in Turkey have walk-through metal detectors and bag X-rays on the entrances.

 

[howittpie]

Always use Victoria Coach station left luggage when I am in London about half the price of what the op said they have always been cheaper than the rail station.

 

[Optimo]

Does seem to be a UK/Euro thing, as JR rail stations in Japan manage to provide a lot of self-service lockers for £2/3 for 3 days! Customer service ahead of private profit? It'll never work...

 

[Cletus]

Here's Victoria Coach Station left luggage:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1216.aspx#left

Deposits up to 2 hours: £2 / No weight consideration
Deposits 2-24 hours: £3.50 / Under 20 kg
Deposits 2-24 hours: £5.50 / Over 20 kg
Multiple Days charged at daily rate as above (£3.50/£5.50 by weight)

Periods greater than 24 hours are charged at multiples of the full 24-hour rate per item.

 

[BrianTheLion]

+1 for Victoria Coach Station!

The only thing I would say about leaving luggage here is try and time your return when there isnt any coaches due for departure...

I was there last Sunday and I had to fight my way through the crowds that were waiting to board the coach.

It's not the easiest of tasks especially as there are people queuing at the kiosks for food too....

 

[fairysdad]

I thought this thread was going to be about being charged to reclaim lost property (until reading this, I thought that 'left luggage' was a quaint railway term for 'lost property'... )

 

[LE Greys]

Does seem to be a UK/Euro thing, as JR rail stations in Japan manage to provide a lot of self-service lockers for £2/3 for 3 days! Customer service ahead of private profit? It'll never work...

In 2008, VIA Rail allowed me to check in my trunk in at Halifax, leave it in Montreal Gare Centrale for two days, then collect it at Toronto Union. All for free.

 

[jon0844]

I thought this thread was going to be about being charged to reclaim lost property (until reading this, I thought that 'left luggage' was a quaint railway term for 'lost property'... )

Left luggage is luggage that you know where it is. But if you left luggage somewhere else, it would become lost property.

 

[island]

Left luggage is luggage that you know where it is. But if you left luggage somewhere else, it would become lost property.

No, it'd probably become exploded

 

[D6975]

In the summer of 2011, while doing a NE rover I made use of the lockers in the NRM at York. £1 IIRC.
They're in the subway bit that connects the 2 parts of the site.

 

[barrykas]

I remember an interesting "hybrid" system at Leeds maybe in the 1990s where there were ordinary coin-operated lockers, but with a barrier and someone checking your bags manually before you could use the lockers

They had similar at Waterloo International as well, located by the exit from the Underground station into Arrivals.

The left luggage at St Pancras was also significantly cheaper than the other London terminals before it was redeveloped into a shopping mall, it used to be run by a different company.

Prior to the takeover by Network Rail, the Left Luggage and Lost Property Office at St Pancras was staffed by MML. Employees got TUPEd over to the Excess Baggage Company when it transferred.

 

[Mikey C]

I used the one at Liverpool Street station last year, I was surprised it existed as it's not very obvious, being ticked away next to Platform 10. Yes the price is a rip off, but I don't think there are any alternatives in the immediate area...