Assisting relatives onto a train. Platform ticket needed?

[spag23]

This morning I drove my daughter and two grandchildren (aged 7 and 4) to St Albans City for the first leg of their trip to Scotland. To help with the luggage and manage the children, we decided it was best if I escorted them all to Platform 3.
I was expecting a "discussion" at the gateline about this but, to their credit, the staff just let me through; with me promising to come back in five minutes.
I'd already warned my daughter about getting evidence (written or video'd) of any concession she encountered in response to any disruptions to her three train trip. As their train departed, I realised that I had not taken my own advice, about this platform access.
But there was no problem on exit, as the gateline staff hadn't changed in those five minutes.
I asked her about Platform Tickets (the old fashioned way of performing this task). But she said they are no longer issued, as people would just use them to start a (ticketless) journey.
Is there an industry policy on assisting boarding? Technically, was I potentially exposing myself to a PF by an "enthusiastic" RPI?

 

[Alex365Dash]

Technically, was I potentially exposing myself to a PF by an "enthusiastic" RPI?

No - you can’t be penalty fared for being on the ticketed side of the gateline if the station does not have a Compulsory Ticket Area.

There are few of these in the country (mostly TfL stations), and St Albans City is not one of these.

I’m unsure on policy, but gateline staff tend to be pragmatic with accompanying passengers to the platform.

 

[Kilopylae]

I frequently used to go on to the platform at Exeter St Davids to wait with friends or see my girlfriend off, all of us being able-bodied and often without luggage, and we never encountered any resistance. I would have been really surprised if I had been told I couldn't.

 

[urpert]

The gateline staff at Peterborough are similarly accommodating (they have also let me through with my younger son 'to watch the trains' on numerous occasions).

 

[SynthD]

There are increasing legitimate reasons (toilets and bike racks in my recent experience), is it time for something more formal than staff kindness? It should be compatible with contactless, with staff out of sight.

 

[FGW_DID]

There are increasing legitimate reasons (toilets and bike racks in my recent experience), is it time for something more formal than staff kindness? It should be compatible with contactless, with staff out of sight.

The toilets and bike racks are there for people using the train services and therefore will likely have a ticket.
The facilities aren’t there for the use of the general non travelling public therefore the Gateline doesn’t need to let you in if you aren’t using the train services.

 

[SynthD]

The toilets and bike racks are there for people using the train services and therefore will likely have a ticket.
The facilities aren’t there for the use of the general non travelling public therefore the Gateline doesn’t need to let you in if you aren’t using the train services.

Yes, they don't need to, but they do. I don't want to do away with these benefits that come from staff discretion.

 

[FGW_DID]

Yes, they don't need to, but they do. I don't want to do away with these benefits that come from staff discretion.

Not arguing that, the majority will be helpful and use their discretion. If you aren’t using the services though then there’s not an “increasingly legitimate reason“ to be let through, it is very much purely down to the staff discretion.

Unfortunately, whilst I’m sure your intentions are always honest and it is just a visit to the loo and back out, there are many who aren’t quite so honest and will use the excuse to bunk a train.

My OH works Gateline so hears the excuses and stories every single day.

 

[fandroid]

At Leiden station in the Netherlands, the route through the station from one side to the other is used by thousands of people daily. It's fully gated and there are no staff on the gateline. As a visitor I had no clue how to cross. Lucky for me, the ticket office was staffed. They said to just use any contactless bank card, and that worked perfectly. I think that there's a time limit, but I don't remember what that is.

At Guildford station there's a footbridge which connects to an entrance on the west side. That entrance is gated and the other end of the bridge is within the main gateline. However, I think there's some grandfather rights to using that bridge as a public way across the railway, and I think that they have some form of "bridge ticket" which only allows people to cross on the bridge

 

[cadder toad]

The facilities aren’t there for the use of the general non travelling public therefore the Gateline doesn’t need to let you in if you aren’t using the train services.

At Glasgow Central the lift from Argyle St entrance takes you to the train side of the high level barriers but not within sight of them. You then must persuade barrier staff that you didn't come in with the 200+ passengers who've just arrived from Ayr or wherever but simply came up on the lift

 

[Trackman]

I just ask very nicely, never had a problem. They can see what is going on, me lugging cases for Mrs Trackman! (She has her own bags too!!) Then I board the train to issue final instructions on where to change etc.. and lots text messages later on.
This must have happened about a couple of times in years, but I have never had any descent or questioning from any gate line staff.

 

[Willie Bee]

I've helped our daughter and grandchildren on to trains at NCL a few times and all staff have been brilliant. I've even gone through the barrier to assist when she has returned.

I think it's an LNER run station, so it's a big thumbs up from me to LNER

 

[FOH]

In my experience it's just a case of passing the attitude test and I've never had someone say no. That said, if you were going to be dishonest, unlike onboard staff/RPIs, the gate line staff don't often differ day to day and you'll soon be recognised.

 

[Krokodil]

Platform tickets still exist, though I don't know how widespread they are

 

[Dstock7080]

Platform tickets still exist, though I don't know how widespread they are

On 3 September 2023 platform tickets are to be withdrawn from all LU ticket machines; LO and Elizabeth Line ticket offices; (except Southwark which keeps its connection with Waterloo East)