A few questions about stations

[ryan125hst]

I have a few questions about railway stations:

1) Are rail enthusiasts able to access the platform at stations with ticket barriers? I'm lucky at Retford as the station does not have barriers and the staff never seem to mind enthusiasts when rail tours come through. I've seen videos on You Tube of enthusiasts at barriered stations. Do they asked to be let through? Do they buy a platform ticket? Do they have to buy a ticket to the nearest station?

2) If you are on the platform and need the toilet, and the toilets are on the non ticket area of a barriered station (e.g. Durham), do the staff let passengers through and then back on to the platform again without a problem?

3) Finally, some stations close their toilets far earlier than their last train but the station remains staffed later than this. For example, Newark North Gate station is staffed until 01:15 Mondays to Fridays, yet according to a photograph on National Rail enquiries, the toilets close at 21:00.
If you needed the toilet, would a member of staff open them for you?

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nng/details.html

Thanks

Ryan

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I have a few questions about railway stations:

1) Are rail enthusiasts able to access the platform at stations with ticket barriers? I'm lucky at Retford as the station does not have barriers and the staff never seem to mind enthusiasts when rail tours come through. I've seen videos on You Tube of enthusiasts at barriered stations. Do they asked to be let through? Do they buy a platform ticket? Do they have to buy a ticket to the nearest station?

Personally I just ask at the gate and they usually let you through, unless I'm getting off a train there where I just walk to the end of the platform

A point of interest from NRE

Before you enter the platform
At major stations please inform the Duty Station Manager of your presence. This will ensure that station staff are aware that you are on the station and they can go about their duties without concern as to your reasons for being there. At smaller stations you should ensure that you advise a member of the station staff of your activities.

You may require a platform ticket to allow access to platforms.

Platform tickets are 10p

(From NRE)

2) If you are on the platform and need the toilet, and the toilets are on the non ticket area of a barriered station (e.g. Durham), do the staff let passengers through and then back on to the platform again without a problem?

Again, I just ask

Finally, some stations close their toilets far earlier than their last train but the station remains staffed later than this. For example, Newark North Gate station is staffed until 01:15 Mondays to Fridays, yet according to a photograph on National Rail enquiries, the toilets close at 21:00.
If you needed the toilet, would a member of staff open them for you?

I doubt it if they're locked

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nng/details.html

Thanks

You're welcome

Happy to help

 

[Charlie2555]

I have a few questions about railway stations:

1) Are rail enthusiasts able to access the platform at stations with ticket barriers? I'm lucky at Retford as the station does not have barriers and the staff never seem to mind enthusiasts when rail tours come through. I've seen videos on You Tube of enthusiasts at barriered stations. Do they asked to be let through? Do they buy a platform ticket? Do they have to buy a ticket to the nearest station?

2) If you are on the platform and need the toilet, and the toilets are on the non ticket area of a barriered station (e.g. Durham), do the staff let passengers through and then back on to the platform again without a problem?

3) Finally, some stations close their toilets far earlier than their last train but the station remains staffed later than this. For example, Newark North Gate station is staffed until 01:15 Mondays to Fridays, yet according to a photograph on National Rail enquiries, the toilets close at 21:00.
If you needed the toilet, would a member of staff open them for you?

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nng/details.html

Thanks

Ryan

1) Most staff would be willing to let you through if you explain clearly you're a rail enthusiast and are not trying to fare-dodge. Some TOCs issue platform tickets for access to the platforms. I rarely use this method if I'm photographing because almost always I've got the train to that particular station and have simply stayed there without passing the barriers. I'm sure if you follow all the guidelines, you'll be fine. It's only if you meet a member of staff ("jobsworth") who've had a particularly bad day then you might get a little hassle but that's rare.

2) Most stations I've been to have toilets on the platform side of the barriers so I don't worry about that. You could always go before you go onto the platforms! Staff will probably be amused at your request but I expect they'll let you out and in again!

3) I'm not sure they'd open a toilet specially for you if it's closed. Again some might and some might not. Most stations in large towns or cities might have a large supermarket close open most or 24 hours a day. Not sure if I'd want to stay at a station until 1 o'clock in the morning though!

Not a lot of help but perhaps some forum members who work on ticket barriers can be of more assistance

 

[steamybrian]

1. In the South East suburban stations and most principal stations have ticket barriers. On the occasions when the barriers have been manned I wanted access only to the platform then I have purchased a platform ticket for the princely sum of 10 pence.
2. Speak to staff on duty at the ticket barrier to let you through.
3. At many stations toilets close early to prevent late night vandalism particularly where stations have reduced levels of staffing in the late evenings.

I have a few questions about railway stations:

1) Are rail enthusiasts able to access the platform at stations with ticket barriers? I'm lucky at Retford as the station does not have barriers and the staff never seem to mind enthusiasts when rail tours come through. I've seen videos on You Tube of enthusiasts at barriered stations. Do they asked to be let through? Do they buy a platform ticket? Do they have to buy a ticket to the nearest station?

2) If you are on the platform and need the toilet, and the toilets are on the non ticket area of a barriered station (e.g. Durham), do the staff let passengers through and then back on to the platform again without a problem?

3) Finally, some stations close their toilets far earlier than their last train but the station remains staffed later than this. For example, Newark North Gate station is staffed until 01:15 Mondays to Fridays, yet according to a photograph on National Rail enquiries, the toilets close at 21:00.
If you needed the toilet, would a member of staff open them for you?

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nng/details.html

Thanks

Ryan

 

[wintonian]

2, using station facilities is not a break of journey.

3, I very much doubt it and in any case I find it impossible normally to find a member of staff at such stations when it gets late.

Whether or not you should additionally pay to access the toilets when they are on the inside of barriers is IMO very open to debate - yes SWT I am thinking of you.

 

[ryan125hst]

Personally I just ask at the gate and they usually let you through, unless I'm getting off a train there where I just walk to the end of the platform

A point of interest from NRE

Platform tickets are 10p

I was wondering as I live near a station without barriers and after hearing stories on here, I thought it might be difficult to get onto the station if they were ever to install barriers. Is that 10p per hour?

Again, I just ask

Would the ticket operate the barrier if you had come through and then gone out again or would it remember the barcode and think you are fare evading? If the former was the case, you wouldn't even need to ask. Of course, the latter is more secure.

Staff will probably be amused at your request but I expect they'll let you out and in again!

Do you think? It must be common as I've seen videos of enthusiasts spending hours at stations with toilets outside the barriers. What about passengers as well, if they go onto the platform and then their train is delayed. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a regular occurrence (providing that you need to ask in the first place, see my question above).

I doubt it if they're locked

3) I'm not sure they'd open a toilet specially for you if it's closed. Again some might and some might not. Most stations in large towns or cities might have a large supermarket close open most or 24 hours a day. Not sure if I'd want to stay at a station until 1 o'clock in the morning though!

The reason why I ask is that Newark North Gate is a main station on the ECML, so I was surprised when I noticed this when I was having a look at the station layouts and photographs. The photos are from NEEC days though, so things may have changed now.

Another reason why I asked is that I have noticed that Huddersfield station's toilets close at 21:00, but are "Open on request outside these times". I wondered whether this is common for railway stations, particularly at large stations why they are staffed into the early hours of the morning.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/HUD/images/photos/800/o2163-0000119.jpg

Slightly easier to see on the ladies door:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/HUD/images/photos/800/o2163-0000155.jpg

 

[142094]

For 3), I'd guess that staff wouldn't open them as they will normally have something far more important to do instead. The logical reason why station toilets are closed early is due to either a lack of staff to keep an eye on them, or the state they are left in by late night users.

On a related note, doing an overnight stay at Carlisle was banned a few years back after someone complained that there were a lack of toilet refreshment facilities in the early hours.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Is that 10p per hour?

Yes it is.

 

[ReverendFozz]

To answer the OPs no.2 question about needing the toilet which is not platform side of the barriers, I have been allowed back out to use the loos at Durham

I have even been let back out of the platform for a cigarette, but that was always at staff discetion