Ticket barriers now installed at Stoke-on-Trent

[HowardGWR]

Virgin are the station facilty owner (SFO) so more down to them.

Thanks, I presume that is a courtesy designation as I assume they don't own anything, after it has been installed, such as ticket barriers.

 

[12CSVT]

Hopefully Preston will be next up to get barriers.

Preston is not getting barriers, the layout precludes it without major modifications.

In which case barriers would be useful at Wigan NW, Warrington BQ, and Lancaster.
It should be easy enough to install barriers at Carlisle without having to do any major alterations.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wigan has a similar problem - the only place they could go (the entry to the underpass) is too small. Don't know about the others. The problem with Preston is that the de facto main entrance (the Fishergate one) has no space for ticketing facilities nor for that matter barriers, while the footbridge is too narrow to split it into a paid and unpaid side.

 

[thenorthern]

I was at Stoke-on-Trent today, they are installing more barriers in the booking hall that I thought.

The number of people on the train seems to have remained the same although I have overheard several angry people who now have to pay.

 

[Morgsie]

I was at Stoke-On-Trent on Saturday and the only barriers I noticed were on the Southbound Platform and were not operational

 

[thenorthern]

The barriers were all light up today and I think the workers were installing the last bits of equipment before they are fully operational.

 

[Starmill]

Opening himself up for prosecution with that comment

Didn't need it - before they'd spoken a word they were wide open for a Byelaw prosecution.

 

[thenorthern]

How many Welcome Hosts (Gate Staff) is normal for a station?

 

[crehld]

How many Welcome Hosts (Gate Staff) is normal for a station?

Evidence from Crewe would suggest about 4 for a couple of weeks, then they mysteriously disappear leaving just one behind.

 

[ag51ruk]

Evidence from Crewe would suggest about 4 for a couple of weeks, then they mysteriously disappear leaving just one behind.

They're working multiple shifts now, so the barriers are operational morning and evening peaks - there are always at least two people, usually three (one selling tickets and the other (s) on the gates

 

[thenorthern]

As of today the barriers in the booking hall are fully operational, I counted 6 staff at the barriers this afternoon.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

As of today the barriers in the booking hall are fully operational, I counted 6 staff at the barriers this afternoon.

Revenue should rise exponentionally then !

 

[thenorthern]

Revenue should rise exponentionally then !

I reckon before the barriers were introduced fare evasion in Standard Class on the Virgin Trains to Manchester was around 50%. On the CrossCountry and London Midland trains to Stafford the rate was even higher. So in other words yes it should rise by quite a bit.

 

[ilkestonian]

Revenue should rise exponentionally then !

Or there will be plenty more empty seats

 

[Kite159]

And all of a sudden the number of passengers claiming to have travelled from Longport (or even Longton) will increase exponentially

 

[Trainfan344]

I'll have to pop down there to take some more photographs when time allows, test out if I'll be allowed onto the station to take pictures.

 

[furnessvale]

And all of a sudden the number of passengers claiming to have travelled from Longport (or even Longton) will increase exponentially

Even if they are seen alighting from a pendolino!

 

[thenorthern]

And all of a sudden the number of passengers claiming to have travelled from Longport (or even Longton) will increase exponentially

There has been people mentioning to do that on Twitter.

There will be some people trying to claim they got on at Longton or Longport but given the only trains to Longton and Longport (bar 2 very early ones) depart within a minute of each other I reckon the gate staff will grow wise to it when someone gets off the 13:12 Manchester - Euston train claiming to have come from Longport.

 

[Mugby]

I had a look on Saturday and I noticed the way the barriers have been installed has reduced the already smallish entrance hall by about a third of it's size. Although the station retains it's overall roof, it's not the most salubrious place to be and the waiting room is someway down the platform on 1.

And the posters regarding the work say 'We are creating a better environment for you'

 

[thenorthern]

Four Welcome Hosts at the barriers seem to be the norm at the moment at Stoke-on-Trent. There is normally a British Transport Police officer at the barriers as well.

When I was waiting at the station earlier some Chav who had come from Stafford has apparently lost his ticket that he had bought with cash and tried to get through the barriers but the Welcome Hosts weren't having any of it and made him buy a ticket. I don't think he will be traveling much any more now.

 

[ag51ruk]

Just for completeness, the new exit from platform 2 to the carpark has opened this week, complete with ticket gates (and a video camera link to the barrier line in the main ticket hall for when it is unstaffed). There are a couple of ticket machines in the new entrance.

The old exit doors further south down platform 2 are now locked, despite having 'Fire Exit' signs on them...

 

[Elecman]

The old exit doors further south down platform 2 are now locked, despite having 'Fire Exit' signs on them...

I certainly hope not as that is a serious contravention of fire safety regulations and someone will be in deep doo doo for it

 

[asylumxl]

I certainly hope not as that is a serious contravention of fire safety regulations and someone will be in deep doo doo for it

If an alternative is provided it's a non issue.

 

[ag51ruk]

The signs have been removed this morning anyway

 

[thenorthern]

The new building is fancy inside and they have obviously now removed the redundant ticket machine from Platform 2 that is the wrong side of the barrier not that many people who were on Platform 2 without a ticket used it anyway.

 

[Elecman]

If an alternative is provided it's a non issue.

It is if the signs remained but as subsequently advised they have been removed.

 

[Mojo]

At some locations an emergency exit may be locked with a magnetic lock, which is released automatically by the fire detection system.