First-time user - Ticket gate etiquette at busy termini?

[aron2smith]

When TFL ran mobility buses, one of them used to come past my workplace on a Thursday afternoon and I would sometimes use it to travel home, I had more than one person have a go at me saying I wasn’t meant to be using it because I wasn’t disabled.

See to me that attitude is as rotten as any discrimination disabled people face. I've had people have a go at me for using disabled toilets before and I'm like you can't tell who's disabled and who isn't! As I said in the earlier post, the problem is with them not you! Also I've used the 969 before, no one even batted an eyelid!

 

[8ace]

I have prostate issues and a lazy bladder so got given a radar key and a no waiting card. No one would be able to tell this (unless I'd wet myself lol). As already mentioned not every disability is visible.

 

[TUC]

See to me that attitude is as rotten as any discrimination disabled people face. I've had people have a go at me for using disabled toilets before and I'm like you can't tell who's disabled and who isn't! As I said in the earlier post, the problem is with them not you! Also I've used the 969 before, no one even batted an eyelid!

There is a world of difference between taking invisible disabilities seriously and able bodied people taking advantage of that by occupying services and facilities intended for disabled people.

 

[aron2smith]

There is a world of difference between taking invisible disabilities seriously and able bodied people taking advantage of that by occupying services and facilities intended for disabled people.

As true as that is, people in everyday situations don't have that sort of nuance. I'm autistic but I don't 'look' disabled. I also follow a number of people on Youtube who are young and appear healthy but need a wheelchair or mobility scooter to do anything outside the house. In many cases, no one can really tell if someone is disabled, possibly close to as many where disability is obvious. Life is hard enough with any disability, we don't need the rash judgements of ignorant people, I say if a non-disabled person is using disability facilities, let them and make more available, it shouldn't matter and it really wouldn't matter if all facilities in public spaces were accessible.

Going back to the wider ticket barriers, as long as a person who needs them can access them when it's convenient for them, let everyone else use them in the meantime.

 

[TUC]

As true as that is, people in everyday situations don't have that sort of nuance. I'm autistic but I don't 'look' disabled. I also follow a number of people on Youtube who are young and appear healthy but need a wheelchair or mobility scooter to do anything outside the house. In many cases, no one can really tell if someone is disabled, possibly close to as many where disability is obvious. Life is hard enough with any disability, we don't need the rash judgements of ignorant people, I say if a non-disabled person is using disability facilities, let them and make more available, it shouldn't matter and it really wouldn't matter if all facilities in public spaces were accessible.

There are few enough accessible toilets for wheelchair users (including those who use one in certain circumstances) and those who need additional space for other reasons such as colostomy bag users or guide dog owners who need to fit the dog in the cubicle, without those without any need to use such spaces occupying them. Not even having a disability is in itself justification for using them. There are plenty of disabilities which have zero impact upon the ability to use mainstream toilets and other facilities.

Ticket gates are a different matter. No problem with able-bodied people using them as it is a two second issue.

 

[DelW]

There are few enough accessible toilets for wheelchair users (including those who use one in certain circumstances) and those who need additional space for other reasons such as colostomy bag users or guide dog owners who need to fit the dog in the cubicle, without those without any need to use such spaces occupying them. Not even having a disability is in itself justification for using them. There are plenty of disabilities which have zero impact upon the ability to use mainstream toilets and other facilities.

That doesn't really work on trains. The non-accessible toilet may be much further away, if there even is one. On a lot of shorter trains, there is only an accessible toilet, so restricting who can use it isn't possible.

 

[TUC]

That doesn't really work on trains. The non-accessible toilet may be much further away, if there even is one. On a lot of shorter trains, there is only an accessible toilet, so restricting who can use it isn't possible.

I'm talking about station toilets (and accessible toilets and facilities more generally).

 

[Trainfan2019]

I use wide aisle gates when there are no people around with bulky luggage, pushchairs, wheelchairs, mobility problems etc who are a higher priority in my opinion.

Staff have seen me use wide aisle gates to enter and exit, never been stopped or told these are for disabled only.

 

[stuu]

It has never occurred to me that there would be any issues with using a wide gate, if it's nearest and no one is using it then I will.

 

[Falcon1200]

I have never seen a wide gate for disabled use only.

Same here - I have never seen a wide gate so labelled either. They are surely for use by anyone for whom a normal gate is too narrow (in my case, when travelling with my bike) or indeed anyone at all as long as no other passenger is disadvantaged.

 

[birchesgreen]

You'll be fine using the wide gate, i did so myself at Leicester at the weekend, i did not hear any tutting behind me.

 

[duffield]

It's never occurred to me to use the gates in other than the most efficient manner, i.e. whatever doesn't have a queue or has the shortest or fastest moving queue. But then I don't block the gate by fumbling with tickets or phones, I'm through in a couple of seconds so I can't see how my using the wide gate or not is of any consequence to anyone else. I've certainly never detected any disapproval (or the slightest interest) from any staff from using the wide gate.

 

[TUC]

It's never occurred to me to use the gates in other than the most efficient manner, i.e. whatever doesn't have a queue or has the shortest or fastest moving queue. But then I don't block the gate by fumbling with tickets or phones, I'm through in a couple of seconds so I can't see how my using the wide gate or not is of any consequence to anyone else. I've certainly never detected any disapproval (or the slightest interest) from any staff from using the wide gate.

I don't think anyone is suggesting the wide gate shouldn't be used.

 

[MattyH]

I'm disabled, got a stick and everything. Use the wide gates. I didn't think that they were reserved for disabled people, just that they are easier to use (mostly because you have longer to pass through).

The toilet thing, interesting. I like that I don't have to queue for so long at some places, so I suppose if you don't have a disability and are using it you are making it less accessible, so that might be a thing.

Accessibility is a positive for everyone, regardless of any constraints.

 

[PeterC]

I've many times seen people struggling to get large suitcases or bicycles through narrow gates - immediately adjacent to a wide gate... so nothing other passengers can do with gates will surprise me these days...

There is always somebody who will find the most inconvenient of doing things.

 

[Bigfoot]

It doesn't help that it isn't obvious that you can do that. At Manchester Piccadilly you didn't used to be able to (but aside from 13/14 I think you can now).

At Waterloo, you can access any platform from any gate.

 

[TUC]

There were plenty of people using the wide gates at Leeds this morning. They were no problem. Not sure why there is so much agonising about this.

 

[quartile]

At Waterloo you can always use the barriers a fair distance from your platform and walk across on the paid side to your platform. In extreme scenarios the paid side subway under the platforms is a better place to wait.

 

[Palmerston]

At Waterloo you can always use the barriers a fair distance from your platform and walk across on the paid side to your platform. In extreme scenarios the paid side subway under the platforms is a better place to wait.

Although people moan about the proliferation of tannoy messages, I'd be in favour of something saying "move down and use all the barriers"

 

[norbitonflyer]

At Waterloo, you can access any platform from any gate.

Not quite - it's split into three I think - one being the former Eurostar terminal.

And haf the gates are exit only, so you can't access any platform from them.

One particular irk of mine is that the gates directly leading to platforms 1 and 2 are all exit only, which means when a train is eventually announced for platform 1, typically at 4 minutes notice because of the tight turn rounds, everyone piles through the gates opposite 3 & 4 and squeeze past the narrow gap between the barrier line and the buffer stops of 2 and 3.
The issue is not so bad at other platforms because, for example for 5 and 6 you can use the 3/4 gates or the 7/8 gates

 

[saismee]

You'll be fine using the wide gate, i did so myself at Leicester at the weekend, i did not hear any tutting behind me.

I'd honestly be shocked if someone did say something when someone who appears able-bodied uses a wide-aisle gate. It isn't only for disabled people, and in my experience it is very helpful when people spread themselves out across all gates, including the wide-aisle one(s). The only issue I have is when people start tailgating while using wide-aisle gates, and it is extremely common. In the situations where I have been operating a gateline (station control unit is directly next to the wide-aisle gate in this case) at a busy time and someone has had a ticket rejection, they go to the wide-aisle gate to get let through manually. The problem with this is that others will stand too close behind and either walk through without presenting/using a ticket, or everyone will start showing their tickets to me rather than using the barrier properly. I'd be happy to manually check tickets as it's a bit more fun, but I need to be able to look around for people entering the other side with bikes/buggies/wheelchairs, and I need to be paying attention to any problems with the standard gates. Another issue with the wide-aisle gate usage is that everyone is afraid to use it until one person does, and 90% of the time it's someone with a rejected ticket and it causes the exact problem I mentioned above.

Beyond this, people stand too close to the gate when presenting a ticket so it won't open, and they have little space to step back as people are too close to them. The worst situation is when people are attempting to use one bi-directional wide-aisle gate to enter and exit simultaneously (with large objects so they can't use the standard gates), or when a cyclist enters against the flow of people (2 trains worth of people leaving, 1 cyclist entering). The cyclist certainly gets priority as they actually need to use the gate, but no matter how much you tell the people exiting to stand back and wait, they will always try to walk through when the cyclist tries to enter.

My summary for etiquette would be:
Use a standard gate if there aren't queues, they're just slightly quicker.
Use a wide-aisle gate if you are travelling with anything heavy/large. If the gate is free, take children through it as well as it is easier and safer.
Allow anyone who needs to use the wide-aisle gate to go through first. This includes cyclists, people with reduced mobility (wheelchairs, walkers, etc), buggies, and heavy luggage.
Stand off of the barrier's metal platform until the gate is actually open, and keep any items off of it as it might not open otherwise.
Tap your card/scan your ticket/insert your ticket unless any member of staff is directing you through - I have seen gateline staff keep the gate open and manually check tickets to keep things flowing more quickly. You still need to tap your card if using contactless or a smart card though.

Also, what kind of gateline staff would glare or give a death stare for using the wide-aisle gate? That's just ridiculous, everyone is entitled to use it. I hope it was just an underpaid and bored worker who unintentionally gave a dirty look. I've had my own funny encounters at Liverpool Street such as exiting a gateline to check a departure board, and being let back through without presenting my travel pass before being shouted at (non-aggressively) by another member of staff. The first person explained it and it was all resolved in a friendly manner and a smile.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Not quite - it's split into three I think - one being the former Eurostar terminal.

You can get from platform 20 to 19 without going through the gateline; there's a way down just inside the gateline on the former International side.

Platforms 1 - 19 are all accessible from each other, albeit there is a long diversion around the back of the Boots shop to get past that.

Therefore, yes - it is possible to get between any of the platforms without passing through the barriers more than once ( or not at all if you're changing from one train to another! ).

 

[sheff1]

The Another issue with the wide-aisle gate usage is that everyone is afraid to use it until one person does, and 90% of the time it's someone with a rejected ticket and it causes the exact problem I mentioned above.

If I know my ticket is going to be rejected by the barrier, I go to the nearest gate to an attendant. Usually this is the wide gate.

Experience shows that at most stations there is no point in telling the attendant that the ticket won’t work, as they will only insist I insert it anyway, so looks like I am one of the 90%.

 

[Bigfoot]

Not quite - it's split into three I think - one being the former Eurostar terminal.

It's most definitely possible to walk from platform 1 to 24 without passing through a gate line.

And haf the gates are exit only, so you can't access any platform from them.

Unless you make every gate bi directional how else could ~50/50 in and out gate usage be managed? Some gates are flipped in the peaks for the direction of flow.

 

[dcbwhaley]

Not saying that they don’t at Waterloo, but I’ve never seen a wide eye gate to say that they are for disabled access only.

Can't get a bike or a pram through a standard gate

 

[jon0844]

The gates have stickers that show they're for more than just wheelchair users. Given many people only equate a disability as being in a wheelchair.

They're for people with children, bikes, buggies, boxes and other large carried items, people who need more time to get through, and of course large luggage that would likely see the gates close and trap someone if they go through a standard gate.

They serve so many purposes that at some stations (especially airports) you have more wide gates than normal, sometimes all wide gates.

I've seen staff ask people to use a wide gate for a multitude of reasons and never seen staff tell anyone else off for using one. Why would they? They've almost certainly had training about not all disabilities being visible, but probably 90% of wide gate usage is for things unrelated to a disability anyway.

 

[saismee]

If I know my ticket is going to be rejected by the barrier, I go to the nearest gate to an attendant. Usually this is the wide gate.

Experience shows that at most stations there is no point in telling the attendant that the ticket won’t work, as they will only insist I insert it anyway, so looks like I am one of the 90%.

I completely missed on the tone of my post, apologies. That is the correct thing to do, I meant that people are afraid to use the wide-aisle gate until they see someone else use it. It's just that most of the time it's a person with a ticket problem, and people are sheep and copy them when they present their ticket instead of inserting it into the gate. By all means, head to the wide-aisle gate if that's where the staff are.

I've seen staff ask people to use a wide gate for a multitude of reasons and never seen staff tell anyone else off for using one. Why would they? They've almost certainly had training about not all disabilities being visible, but probably 90% of wide gate usage is for things unrelated to a disability anyway.

I've told countless families or groups of people to use the wide-aisle gate, mainly so I can count X tickets and let them all through in one go. Most people who use the wide-aisle gate likely don't have any disability (visible or invisible), but it's convenient and often preferable.

 

[plugwash]

It doesn't help that it isn't obvious that you can do that. At Manchester Piccadilly you didn't used to be able to (but aside from 13/14 I think you can now).

Piccadilly is a bit of a mess.

At the concourse end of the station.

Platforms 1-7 have automatic ticket gates, the gates for platforms 4-7 are operated by Avanti while those for platforms 1-3 are operated by TPE, but there is no barrier between platforms 3 and 4. IIRC when the platforms 4-7 barriers were installed a gate was installed blocking access from platform 3 to platform 4 but it was removed when the barriers for 1-3 were installed.

There is a gate blocking access from platform 7 to platform 8 at the concourse end which is usually closed when the barriers are in operation.

Platforms 8 - 11, including the travelators to/from the link bridge lounge (for 13 and 14) have ticket checks by staff in northern uniforms with the assistance of temporary barriers. There is usually a temporary barrier at the councourse end of the travelators to split the inward and outward flows for platforms 13/14 which also splits 10 from 11 at the concourse end (though you can freely cross further down the platform past the end of the first set of travelators). there is also usually a temporary barrier blocking access from platform 11 to platform 12.

Platform 12 does not normally have ticket checks.

At the overbridge end of the station there are no barriers.

 

[xotGD]

Aren't we conflating two things here?

At most stations, the wide gates are available for anyone to use.

At other stations, there are signs to advise that only certain categories can use the wide gates.

Posters are providing anecdotes from Type 1, and trying to apply them to Type 2.

 

[Deepgreen]

My take is that any gate is fair game as long as by using it you are not disadvantaging someone else who has more limited options. Any so-called "death stares" may be just imagined - staff would surely want as good a flow of passengers as possible if all else is equal.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jun 2025 ==

Why I do find odd/annoying is when the gates are open but when some people insist on holding everyone up by feeding their ticket in anyway,

I suspect those are because they are concerned that a ticket non-registration may somehow cause an issue later on.