A Spot of Bother

[Max]

An interesting, and fairly balanced item tonight on BBC Look North tonight about trainspotting and photography, and accusations of unfair treatment by the BTP:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7713708.stm

Apparently the story will be featured in more detail on The Politics Show this Sunday, although I'm guessing this could just be the Yorkshire version of the show (could be available on BBC iplayer or on Sky though for those who don't live in Yorkshire!).

 

[Guinness]

Nice to see some media coverage about this. Hopefully something will be clarified over this stupid Terror Laws.

 

[First class]

If you have a platform ticket every 60mins, and there are no signs on display specifically prohibiting photography then you are permitted to.

For a byelaw to be enforced, it must be displayed otherwise no action can be taken against you.

My advice to you who BTP stop would be to give a name & address and to reply 'no comment' to any question asked.

Nevertheless, I have worked on platforms with a TOC during/after terrorist attacks, and I always had my own guidelines for what I felt was acceptable (at my one of the top 20 most used stations).

1. Ask non-rail employees, or those not on duty to remove any Hi-viz clothing.
2. Would not permit photography of security equipment bar the barriers.
3. Would not permit cameras on a tri-pod.
4. Would not permit flash photography, our drivers find it irritating.
5. Would refuse platform ticket sales/ 'spotting' during 'peak' periods as per the byelaws.
6. Would not permit more than 5 'spotters' on a platform.
7. Any spotter who failed to comply would be asked politely to refrain. If it continued then would remove from station as an 'authorised person' and ask Rail House to file a TOC usage prevention order [UPO].
8. Any platform ticket exceeding 65-70mins would be treated as invalid and if a Revenue Protection Officer was available, would request a £20 penalty fare.

 

[class 313]

BBC don't want to use enthusiast much? Just throwing us all into one group of 'trainspotters' :roll:

 

[Nym]

I'd like to see the BTP find where I go to spot to try and throw pepole off there Was hard enough for me to find that station entrance let alone anyone from the BTP, GMP, or PCSOs of either

 

[Benn88]

Don't bother going to Reading station, it's prolific there... 3 times I got bods coming up to me and pestering me last Sunday.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Personally I only bother enthusiasts if they are in non public areas, using flash or being a general nuisance. Other than that I find it can be helpful to have extra eyes about the station.

 

[markusgl1]

have had no problems at temple meads, but martyn and i did arrive by train and apart from one person asking us not use flash we were left alone, in the past the BTP have asked if they could look at my photos to see if i had caught something that had happened.

 

[devon_metro]

have had no problems at temple meads, but martyn and i need arrive by train and apart from one person asking us not use flash we were left alone, in the past the BTP have asked if they could look at my photos to see if i had caught something that had happened.

Most "west" stations are fairly laid back. Not paranoid that everybody is a terrorist thank god

 

[Jim]

Most "west" stations are fairly laid back. Not paranoid that everybody is a terrorist thank god

I agree with you actually. Infact, the only station is the Western Region where I have had problems - was Swindon. Little bugger of a security guard decided to wave his hands around whilst 43034 was making take off. But even then we settled it with a 'I'll look the other way this time'!

 

[kyrano]

Don't bother going to Reading station, it's prolific there... 3 times I got bods coming up to me and pestering me last Sunday.

also lime street i was taking a pic of 57307 , its ashame the BTP can't follow immigrants robbing telephone boxes like i have seen them on lime street, and man picc.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

I agree with you actually. Infact, the only station is the Western Region where I have had problems - was Swindon. Little bugger of a security guard decided to wave his hands around whilst 43034 was making take off. But even then we settled it with a 'I'll look the other way this time'!

Not trying to turn this into a how lovely GW is but I agree

Not once have I had problems on a GW Station. Most staff are accomodating.

 

[markusgl1]

Not trying to turn this into a how lovely GW is but I agree

Not once have I had problems on a GW Station. Most staff are accomodating.

a senior manager at GW told me that he sees people on the station taking photos etc as and extra pair of eyes "lets face it if something isn't right you guys will soon spot it"

 

[Phoenix]

When It comes to London termini I tend to not spend way to long and only venture onto certain platforms of which I have tickets to travel from (accept kings-X) but to be honest from now on if no one can give me a decent reason to move then I wont because many of you have reasons for asking people to leave so I feel that if someone else can give me a decent reason to leave then I will otherwise Ill consider it as harassment.

 

[90019]

The only issue I've had was when a few of us were told to move back a bit because we were past the trespassing sign whilst waiting for a railtour to leave (the one in my avatar).
Apart from that, I've never had any problems at all. I've only ever got photos at Waverley, and been beyond the trespassing signs on the platform many times (often without noticing) and nobody has any problems about it.
I find the staff at Waverley to be very friendly and I've never had a problem with them.

 

[GB]

The only issue I've had was when a few of us were told to move back a bit because we were past the trespassing sign whilst waiting for a railtour to leave (the one in my avatar).
Apart from that, I've never had any problems at all. I've only ever got photos at Waverley, and been beyond the trespassing signs on the platform many times (often without noticing) and nobody has any problems about it.
I find the staff at Waverley to be very friendly and I've never had a problem with them.

Doesn't mean you should continue to do it though.

 

[90019]

Doesn't mean you should continue to do it though.

Indeed not, but often it'll be because I'm not paying attention to them (I'm rather easily distracted from stuff like that).
Also that I always forget where they are and dont remember to look for them.

Mind you, the fact that no one cares at all, the others who I see doing it, and that, of the times i remember, I'm only just beyond them so's I can get a photo of the front of the train, added to the drivers actually being quite happy about it tells me that it obviously isn't a problem for anyone. They know what I'm doing and, hell, they've even come and spoken to me a couple of times (in a friendly way, not telling me to get back)

Yes, yes, I know I really shouldn't, but hey, if I get told not to, I'll stop (the guy who spoke to us with the railtour said it was only a problem because of the number of us)

 

[First class]

I personally feel the way forward is an improved platform ticket.

I would have an 'enthusiast ticket' which requires you to pay say £1, and allows you unlimited access to the station for that day. You would be required to give your name and the ticket would be non-transferable. You would also be given a small information booklet regarding the rules and regulations.

OR

You would receive a photocard and a 'enthusiast' ticket which is valid for a year or something which could allow you unlimited access to an operators stations or specific stations, and priced no more than £20/year. To purchase you would need to bring ID for the first time. That way BTP can't argue you're a terrorist, the system is more secure, and you have a 'gate-pass', as well as an information booklet saying what you can/can't do.

 

[class 313]

I personally feel the way forward is an improved platform ticket.

I would have an 'enthusiast ticket' which requires you to pay say £1, and allows you unlimited access to the station for that day. You would be required to give your name and the ticket would be non-transferable. You would also be given a small information booklet regarding the rules and regulations.

OR

You would receive a photocard and a 'enthusiast' ticket which is valid for a year or something which could allow you unlimited access to an operators stations or specific stations, and priced no more than £20/year. To purchase you would need to bring ID for the first time. That way BTP can't argue you're a terrorist, the system is more secure, and you have a 'gate-pass', as well as an information booklet saying what you can/can't do.

What's to stop a terrorist to buy such a ticket would probably be the argument against that.

 

[GB]

What's to stop a terrorist to buy such a ticket would probably be the argument against that.

Whats to stop a terrosist buying any ticket?

Im sure in the passed there was a "platform ticket" you could buy that would allow you access to the station...have they stopped that these days then?

I do like the idea of a photo card for enthusiasts tho

 

[class 313]

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea, I just feel that's the excuse they would give.

 

[Tom B]

I find the staff at Waverley to be very friendly and I've never had a problem with them.

Aside from the ones who won't let you past the barriers to meet a friend on the platform, and then profess no knowledge of what a platform ticket is when you ask to buy one?

 

[Spaceflower]

Durham station was issuing platform tickets in the late eighties!

 

[nath9425]

What's to stop a terrorist to buy such a ticket would probably be the argument against that.

I have to agree here, I mean then you might have cases such as 'Black Man refused platform ticket' which would make the TOC look as if they have discriminated against someone ... which would cause a whole other debate as to wether the white man could be a terrorist!?

I mean Charles de menezes was looked up as one! - And look what happened to him. hock: It's a scary world we live in today.

 

[90019]

Aside from the ones who won't let you past the barriers to meet a friend on the platform, and then profess no knowledge of what a platform ticket is when you ask to buy one?

Which is exactly why I avoid that

 

[Mintona]

Good God, ID cards to go and take a few photos of something we have managed to enjoy for years without? Overkill :roll:

 

[Royston Vasey]

Durham station was issuing platform tickets in the late eighties!

I remember those! 20p from an ancient little red machine, wasn't it?

 

[martyn29]

The new railyway magazine has a feature on Platform tickets because Nxec are putting barriers in most of their large stations and its causing outcries especially at York!

 

[metrocammel]

I remember those! 20p from an ancient little red machine, wasn't it?

Jeez, 20p for a platform ticket in the 1980s. Until 1989, normal platform tickets cost 6p, when they were increased to their current price of 10p! (No complaints of price hikes there! )

 

[WillPS]

When they put barriers in at Sheffield, will I be able to buy a platform ticket to be able to wait with my girlfriend on the platform for her train home?