NCP Carparking charges at Newark Northgate

[blacknight]

Just beware as car park operated by NCP nolonger as a free 30 minute or short stay rate of a £1.00, if meeting or seeing off after 10 minutes it charges full day rate of £9.00:-x.
As carpark is in hands of NCP & operated by NCP station staff have no control of that car park & charges levied by NCP so beware.

 

[Failed Unit]

Just beware as car park operated by NCP nolonger as a free 30 minute or short stay rate of a £1.00, if meeting or seeing off after 10 minutes it charges full day rate of £9.00:-x.
As carpark is in hands of NCP & operated by NCP station staff have no control of that car park & charges levied by NCP so beware.

Can you still park on the street outside the station for free?

£9.00 is certainly not going to entice someone to use the train for a shorter distance journey like going to Lincoln or Grantham, at least Lincoln people can use castle. I suppose on the other hand people living at places like Collingham and Market Rasen may consider using thier local station rather than driving to Newark to save some cash.

I guess shouldn't moan too much, airport parking isn't cheap either and some airports don't give you any time to pick up passengers. Whatever it is annoying when you pick someone up an get a big bill because thier flight is late. You see a lot of cars hanging around layby's close to the airport waiting for the call. I guess this will happen at Newark now and the person been picked up will phone once the train has arrived to save the transporter getting a big bill!

 

[Shunt]

I was absolutely disgusted at being charged £9 to park for 10 mins at newark station!!
I was seeing off my 70 year old mother. There were no obvious notices warning of a change from the previous £1 for 30 mins fee.
Parking near the station is all residents only.
I'm sure the taxi drivers won't be too impressed if their drop off points are clogged with cars.
I'm not being charged £9 to help my mum to climb the stairs alone so I guess I'll have to use another station.
COME ON NEWARK STATION STAFF!! Abandon your NCP parking managers.
You could all find yourselves out of a job.
If using a station isn't easy people won't use it!!!!

 

[blacknight]

As I said in original post this particular carpark is owned by NCP & is not railway property any more, even though NCP call it a "station car park" it is not NCP are nothing to do with Newark Northgate station this thanks to franchise system.
Your complaint should be directed at NCP who set this trap by changing T&Cs without warning & when station staff put up notices on entrance warning passengers of charges levied NCP took them down the same day:-x
I would urge you to complain to trading standards re size of signage is it DDA compliant I thought it came from Spec Savers, local press & TV even your MP but station staff can do nothing about NCP policy
Personally I would say if the official station car park is full then use the nearby Robin Hood carparks which gives 30 minutes free parking & charges a cheaper daily rate than NCP.
I would urge other forum readers to do likewise.

 

[mumrar]

purely to play devils advocate, penalty and charges signs aside, I'm sure NCP can argue that if you don't like the fee you shouldn't park in their car park. Whilst not morally right, there is no absolute requirement for a station to have it's own car park, or even road access, but logic dictates it's good practice. But the use of the NCP facilities is entirely optional, so if the signs are right, they can get away with whatever they fancy I guess.

 

[blacknight]

Reason for starting this thread is NCP p1$$ poor signage & lack of warning notices, the car park tariff board is roughly A4 size when viewed from drivers seat & as far as I know no other signage to warn of charges applicable.
To confuse matters further on Saturday & Sunday you can still get 1 hour parking for £1.00 but that changes Monday to Friday Bank Holidays included as Shunt & others have found out to their cost.
Only one word for NCP policy Entrapment as no warning are given for changes to T&C.
I dont know if NCP are being green & environmentally friendly or just haven't paid electricity bill lately as most lights were out on car park last week not very passenger friendly late at night.

 

[caughtonatrain]

purely to play devils advocate, penalty and charges signs aside, I'm sure NCP can argue that if you don't like the fee you shouldn't park in their car park. Whilst not morally right, there is no absolute requirement for a station to have it's own car park, or even road access, but logic dictates it's good practice. But the use of the NCP facilities is entirely optional, so if the signs are right, they can get away with whatever they fancy I guess.

This is not just a moral issue, it makes a mockery of integrated transport planning. They wouldn't stand for it in other countries. It's the problem of unbridled and unregulated capitalism. I'm sure if we look into the history of the car park, NCP did not build it... it would have been built by a railway company or BR, was probably public land at one point (either BR or Local Authority) and sold for a pittance to NCP. I'm just speculating of course.

NCP had no right to take down notices provided on railway land. That just goes to show what sort of company they are. It also makes me wonder about the callous, self serving, 'copmpany men' that work for them. Do they have no morals?

It's the same issue in Sheffield: private company picks up publicly funded infrastructure (in this case a footbridge) and closes access to it.

Sorry to get political, but that's what Toryism and privatisation is all about: pit different sections of society against each other, all the while furthering the interests of the few.

Discuss.

 

[blacknight]

This is not just a moral issue, it makes a mockery of integrated transport planning. They wouldn't stand for it in other countries. It's the problem of unbridled and unregulated capitalism. I'm sure if we look into the history of the car park, NCP did not build it... it would have been built by a railway company or BR, was probably public land at one point (either BR or Local Authority) and sold for a pittance to NCP. I'm just speculating of course.

Car park was develpoed by GNER under their stewardship of ECML but land was registered to Sea Containers which DfT failed to spot. So when GNER were stripped of the franchise Sea Containers in sticking 2 fingers up to Dft sold car park to highest bidder, in this instance NCP
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

NCP had no right to take down notices provided on railway land. That just goes to show what sort of company they are. It also makes me wonder about the callous, self serving, 'copmpany men' that work for them. Do they have no morals?.

Technecally its nolonger railway land but public have a right to know that they are about to be ripped off. As for NCP staff never blame the workers everyone as bills to pay. Blame lies with NCP as a company who set the tariffs

 

[mumrar]

Car park was develpoed by GNER under their stewardship of ECML but land was registered to Sea Containers which DfT failed to spot. So when GNER were stripped of the franchise Sea Containers in sticking 2 fingers up to Dft sold car park to highest bidder, in this instance NCP

So it seems that it's not the fault of the 'capitalist pigs' for selling it for a pittance. The statement that parking charges are A4 viewed from drivers seat bears no relevance, how big are they physically?? If you park at the far end I'm sure they're tiny. As for no prior notice to change of charges, I've never handed out anything to travelling railway passengers to give them prior notice that their fares are about to increase, it just happens. If NCP changed the signs when they changed the charges then they've done nothing wrong. It's the car parkers fault for not reading the sign and not noticing the change of ownership,because please don't tell me that massive NCP sign is exactly he same colour as it was before they took over, it's standard NCP corporate colours. A company can put up lots of posters, but it doesn't mean anyone reads them.

 

[caughtonatrain]

Car park was develpoed by GNER under their stewardship of ECML but land was registered to Sea Containers which DfT failed to spot. So when GNER were stripped of the franchise Sea Containers in sticking 2 fingers up to Dft sold car park to highest bidder, in this instance NCP
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for this information. It's really interesting, if a bit dispiriting.

... As for NCP staff never blame the workers everyone as bills to pay. Blame lies with NCP as a company who set the tariffs

I do take your point, but there are people that work for companies that gain enjoyment, gratification even over putting the interests of their company over the public good, society as a whole, humanity. I'm generally always behind 'the workers', but remember that managers, and their managers and even the CEO are all 'workers' to some master. Where do you draw the line?

There are countless dicussions on this forum that remind us that 99% of rail staff are genuine and want to help the passenger/customer/whatever, but there will always be that 1% that actively don't give a t*ss and, moreover, appear to act in a spiteful way. These sorts of people can be found everywhere but especially in certain sorts of private companies. People need to take a look at themselves sometimes: can you really feel happy doing a job that goes against your principles? But many will not take a principled stand. If I worked for NCP and my manager told me to take those signs down, I would tell him/her to get stuffed. Because I don't want to sell my soul to the machine. There are plenty other jobs for good people. I am sure I am not alone in feeling this (although I may be proved wrong! hope not...)

 

[blacknight]

So it seems that it's not the fault of the 'capitalist pigs' for selling it for a pittance. The statement that parking charges are A4 viewed from drivers seat bears no relevance, how big are they physically?? If you park at the far end I'm sure they're tiny. As for no prior notice to change of charges, I've never handed out anything to travelling railway passengers to give them prior notice that their fares are about to increase, it just happens. If NCP changed the signs when they changed the charges then they've done nothing wrong. It's the car parkers fault for not reading the sign and not noticing the change of ownership,because please don't tell me that massive NCP sign is exactly he same colour as it was before they took over, it's standard NCP corporate colours. A company can put up lots of posters, but it doesn't mean anyone reads them.

Does top of the sign state this car park is run by NCP? No it says Welcome to Newark Northgate station car park Total misinformation by NCP trading as some thing it most definately is not. Where do it say on sign this car park is owned & operatered by NCP.
Then to change free parking that had been inplace for years without warning thats Entrapment
Actual tariff size is A4 towards bottom of totem hence ref to Spec Savers look at photo judge for yourself.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for this information. It's really interesting, if a bit dispiriting.



I do take your point, but there are people that work for companies that gain enjoyment, gratification even over putting the interests of their company over the public good, society as a whole, humanity. I'm generally always behind 'the workers', but remember that managers, and their managers and even the CEO are all 'workers' to some master. Where do you draw the line?

Workers can only abide by company policy where as managers can implement policies. Privately you may not like it but principles dont pay bills, you may tell your manager where to stick it but you could rapidly find yourself minus a job. Knowing how NCP treat their customers cannot see them treating workers any better.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Does top of the sign state this car park is run by NCP? No it says Welcome to Newark Northgate station car park Total misinformation by NCP trading as some thing it most definately is not. Where do it say on sign this car park is owned & operatered by NCP.

It's advertising an NCP season ticket, it has the NCP's web address and it's not in National Rail/East Coast corporate colours! What more do you want?!

Then to change free parking that had been inplace for years without warning thats Entrapment

Surely the new ticket machines and barriers may have been a clue?

Actual tariff size is A4 towards bottom of totem hence ref to Spec Savers look at photo judge for yourself.

A lot bigger than A4, and you have to drive past the thing!

 

[90019]

One thing I find interesting about NCP is how they show the tariffs on their car parks. There's usually no prior warning of what you have to pay before you get up to the barrier to get in and can read the sign next to it. These are often a few feet within the premises already, and if you've got people behind, reversing out is awkward and can be embarassing, meaning that some people end up using a car park that they don't really want to.

 

[9K43]

NCP are a Private Parking Company, with no legal powers at all. NCP cannot fine you or demand information from you at all.
They will spout about railway bye laws, but depend on the law of contract to ensnare unwary parkers.

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

You should all read the link above, as it spells out in full details wot a PPC can do.
You could always search the site for railway car parks for the up to date legal position on the legality of the unenforceable invoices that NCP dish out.

Have a look at this link re NCP at railway station.

http://www.pepipoo.com/search-resul...forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30#956

Read all the threads then make a decision.

 

[mumrar]

From looking at the picture I'm going to make a couple of assumptions. Firstly, as it says Hello and is by a barrier, I'm going to assume it's at the front as you drive in to get a ticket. So, the sign reads -
'Hello
Welcome to
Newark North Gate
Station Car Park'
With an NCP logo immediately underneath (admittedly, quite small). There is then a massive yellow notice advertising NCP season tickets, and I would make my second assumption that NCP would advertise season tickets for car parking only at car parks they operate. Directly under that huge NCP word is then the car park tariff, and although quite small I'll make another assumption that you drive a right-hand drive car and were approaching a lowered barrier quite slowly, so it's easy to read from your side of the car if my assumption is correct. In all, along with the website URL I can see four mentions of NCP on that sign, and this is all via viewing the attatched photo on a mobile phone screen.

 

[Greenback]

It's a bit naive to assume that because something is called 'XXX station car park' it must be operated by the railway.

The nearest mulit stroey car park to Swansea station is known, variously as High St MSCP, or Swansea Station Car Park. It's also operated by NCP.

If someone doesn't read the tariff anywhere they will get caught out. If they do, they can choose whether to pay the charges or not. It's the same in restaurants. Read the menu before ordering and you will have some idea of what you will be charged. If it's too expensive, go somewhere else.

 

[Zoe]

It could be argued that high station car park charges are a good thing as it will encourage people to walk/cycle/use public transport to get to the station.

 

[Greenback]

It could be argued that high station car park charges are a good thing as it will encourage people to walk/cycle/use public transport to get to the station.

I would argue that myself, but as local buses etc don't normally start running at a useful time (at least outside the big cities), and some people are unable to walk far and/or have heavy luggage, I feel it would be counter productive and attract a great deal of criticism!

We never drive to a station, but some people have to.

 

[Mojo]

It could be argued that high station car park charges are a good thing as it will encourage people to walk/cycle/use public transport to get to the station.

You could also argue that it doubles the amount of traffic as 4 trips are made instead of 2 as a passenger asks someone to drop them off/pick them up

 

[theblackwatch]

It could be argued that high station car park charges are a good thing as it will encourage people to walk/cycle/use public transport to get to the station.

Or not travel at all. When I drive to York station (and use a car park equally as close to the station as the official station car park, but is some 50-80% cheaper than the station car park!), I normally do so because I cannot get there any other way - if there was a train from here to get me into York station in order to catch (say) the 06.00 to London, I would use that, but the car is the only way of getting there. When it costs more to park at the station that in does to travel to London or Edinburgh, then I end up thinking again about whether to bother with the entire trip at all.

 

[Lampshade]

It could be argued that high station car park charges are a good thing as it will encourage people to walk/cycle/use public transport to get to the station.

That's fine just as long as the station is conveniently sited and with good public transport links to/from it. I live a good 40 minutes from Preston station, there are no direct buses to the railway station (well there is, but it takes nearly an hour) and the bus station to the railway station is itself a ten minute walk. Luckily, there is a short stay car park for getting dropped off/picked up and the long stay car park charges are fairly reasonable.

There is always a taxi, which will put you in the hands of Preston's rip off merchants taxi drivers, the only ones where you have to tell them how to get there.

 

[Greenback]

There's a great deal to be said for living 5 mins walk away from the station!

Seriously, as I said above, there are many people for whom using a car is the only realistic option. In those cases, car parking charges have to be factored into the overall costs, just like how have to add on many extras with Ryanair, or budget for getting to the airport for your holiday.

 

[networkrail1]

i allways walk to newark northgate it may take me an hour to walk from my home to NNG but i enjoy it.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

That's fine just as long as the station is conveniently sited and with good public transport links to/from it. I live a good 40 minutes from Preston station, there are no direct buses to the railway station (well there is, but it takes nearly an hour) and the bus station to the railway station is itself a ten minute walk. Luckily, there is a short stay car park for getting dropped off/picked up and the long stay car park charges are fairly reasonable.

There is always a taxi, which will put you in the hands of Preston's rip off merchants taxi drivers, the only ones where you have to tell them how to get there.

Preston's taxis aren't that bad . mind you, I live on the Bbn-Preston bus route, so I cna be back for 2245 and still get home from preston for half past

 

[blacknight]

It's advertising an NCP season ticket, it has the NCP's web address and it's not in National Rail/East Coast corporate colours! What more do you want?!


Surely the new ticket machines and barriers may have been a clue?

Same barriers & pay machines were in place when NCP offered 20 minutes free & 1 hour parking for a £1.00. So no indication of any change to NCP T&C's
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A lot bigger than A4, and you have to drive past the thing!

Overall the sign is larger than A4 but the important information regards charges applicable is no bigger than A4 envelope & price font size is tiny compared to the "Hello" at top of sign.

 

[Oswyntail]

The biggest challenge that passenger rail faces is how to attract car drivers. Once a driver is in his car, it is infinitely more difficult to entice him out and onto a train. In particular, the costs of the car journey tend to be seen as invisible overheads (insurance, maintenance) or incidental (fuel), simply because this is something paid for routinely. This is why trains have things like catering and wifi, that cannot be provided (as well) in cars. Because car parking at a station will be seen as a consequence of travelling by train, I would suggest that the perception raised by excessive charges will be that the train, rather than the car, is more expensive. Result, the traveller starts his journey in a worse frame of mind, and feels less disposed to accept any failings in railway provision. This is why anyone with the interests of rail at heart should resist this sort of thing.
From the NCP point of view, it is probably quite poor business as well. The best business model is to find out what the customer wants, then provide it. A 30-minute free dropping off period may be a loss-leader, making drivers more inclined to accept higher charges at other times. However, from the apparent pushing of season tickets, it would suggest that NCP think they can fill the car park from regular travellers.
And does anyone know what a car park fee actually gets you. Certainly not any security!

 

[GearJammer]

Hi, i read all this with interest and have to agree that £9 for all day parking is a bit steep, so i got a question that maybe people from Newark can answer....... If had £9 to spend on a train ticket from Newark, how far could i get?

 

[networkrail1]

From NNG:-

NNG- LCN £4.50 return.
NNG- NOT £5.10 return.
NNG- GRA £6.50 return.

From NCT:-

All the above plus.

NCT- DBY £8.10 return.

thats mainly all you can do for £9 and under.

Codes (for people who dont know)

NNG = Newark NorthGate
NCT = Newark Castle
NOT = Nottingham
LCN = Lincoln central
DBY = Derby

 

[Shunt]

From looking at the picture I'm going to make a couple of assumptions. Firstly, as it says Hello and is by a barrier, I'm going to assume it's at the front as you drive in to get a ticket. So, the sign reads -
'Hello
Welcome to
Newark North Gate
Station Car Park'
With an NCP logo immediately underneath (admittedly, quite small). There is then a massive yellow notice advertising NCP season tickets, and I would make my second assumption that NCP would advertise season tickets for car parking only at car parks they operate. Directly under that huge NCP word is then the car park tariff, and although quite small I'll make another assumption that you drive a right-hand drive car and were approaching a lowered barrier quite slowly, so it's easy to read from your side of the car if my assumption is correct. In all, along with the website URL I can see four mentions of NCP on that sign, and this is all via viewing the attatched photo on a mobile phone screen.

When you are rushing to see a friend/ relative onto a train at a station you have used many times before,the last thing you will do is read a car park sign in minute detail.
Don't forget it does actually say £1 for 1 hour. It is only when you read the small print that you notice that this reasonable tarriff only applies on Sat & Sun. To expect anyone at any time to pay £9 for a few mins parking is quite unreasonable on any day of the week, NCP or not NCP. Surely no one would dispute this. Newark station will be the long term loser. I certainly won't be using it again!!

 

[Greenback]

When you are rushing to see a friend/ relative onto a train at a station you have used many times before,the last thing you will do is read a car park sign in minute detail.
Don't forget it does actually say £1 for 1 hour. It is only when you read the small print that you notice that this reasonable tarriff only applies on Sat & Sun. To expect anyone at any time to pay £9 for a few mins parking is quite unreasonable on any day of the week, NCP or not NCP. Surely no one would dispute this. Newark station will be the long term loser. I certainly won't be using it again!!

There are lots of things that I personally think are unreasonable. I wouldn't disagree that £9 for a few minutes parking is one of them! Along with this, I also consider the cost of food at service stations and airports, some of the quotes I've been given for business insurance and the price of cocktails at a local bar are all unreasonable!

Having said that, provided the charges are displayed, I don't think it's illegal - the best recourse a consumer has is not to use the services again! And to telle veryone about the charges so that no one is ripped off again, which has also been done now!