Blackpool North Station passenger management

[ChrisC]

Had Central remained open the station would be more attractive to use. At today’s Blackpool North the surly paranoid staff and brutalist building go hand in hand.

It must be around 12 years since I was last at Blackpool North. I have heard that the staff are nowhere as unpleasant these days as they were back then. I still remember how rude they were to me when I was staying with friends in Blackpool and for a week and I dared to use a 7 Day North West Rover which wouldn’t go through the barriers.

 

[Geswedey]

But I did say ‘spare‘ drivers. We would just be cutting others out or get sent home after approx 5hrs. Usually we would do little or no driving on such days.

And if there were no spare Drivers and a train weas cancelled as a result the same type of people who complain that there are spare drivers would then complain that there train is cancelled why are there no spare drivers, you just can't win.

Glyn

 

[Lemmy99uk]

Had Central remained open the station would be more attractive to use. At today’s Blackpool North the surly paranoid staff and brutalist building go hand in hand.

Blackpool North in not a brutalist building, by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[dk1]

And if there were no spare Drivers and a train weas cancelled as a result the same type of people who complain that there are spare drivers would then complain that there train is cancelled why are there no spare drivers, you just can't win.

Glyn

Exactly. It’s all quite comical really. Everyone thinks they have the perfect answer to solve such problems.

 

[NCT]

I wouldn't lament the choice of North over Central. Keeping the North route means Poulton and Layton have retained their rail access.

There's nothing inherently wrong with North Station itself, or the distance to the sea front. Talbot Road is looking pretty smart these days, and it'll only get better once the rest of the masterplan gets completed.

 

[edwin_m]

I wouldn't lament the choice of North over Central. Keeping the North route means Poulton and Layton have retained their rail access.

At the time there was still service to Fleetwood, so most of the North route would have had to stay open.

 

[LancasterRed]

Fantastic staffing at Blackpool North tonight. 1818 to York canceled so the 18 37 to Liverpool has been opened early so everyone can get a seat and connect at Preston/onwards - love that! Staff have been great with it too

 

[Brush 4]

Some seem unaware of what North used to look like. It is a shadow of what it was. The excursion platforms have no shelter at all. Not my photos

 

[Bletchleyite]

Some seem unaware of what North used to look like. It is a shadow of what it was. The excursion platforms have no shelter at all. Not my photos

It doesn't need to be as big, you don't have excursions in the same way so you don't need as many platforms.

The lack of shelter is not that important because you don't wait on the platform.

 

[zwk500]

It doesn't need to be as big, you don't have excursions in the same way so you don't need as many platforms.

Agreed, the station seems appropriate in size of both platforms and main concourse for the job that it does. The interchange with the tram could be improved, but coach trips are probably more important to Blackpool than the train now.

The lack of shelter is not that important because you don't wait on the platform.

Slight disagreement here, Blackpool frequently has inclement weather and when walking up the platform on a long train (say a Pendo) then having a decent length canopy is important. Also, if there were canopies, then perhaps the staff would be less fussed about letting people on to the platform, at least for local trains.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agreed, the station seems appropriate in size of both platforms and main concourse for the job that it does. The interchange with the tram could be improved

I'm not sure it could really be much better! It's shorter than the walk to Metrolink at Piccadilly by the time you've gone downstairs.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2026 ==

Slight disagreement here, Blackpool frequently has inclement weather and when walking up the platform on a long train (say a Pendo) then having a decent length canopy is important.

There are hardly any long trains using the station. The longest trains that use it frequently are 6 car 331 formations and as these are "walk through" (except the middle cabs) you can walk through the train instead of along the platform if you're that bothered.

Also, if there were canopies, then perhaps the staff would be less fussed about letting people on to the platform, at least for local trains.

I very much doubt that. The method of operation is chosen because of the unique behavioural issues you get at that station and not so much anywhere else. And in any case it's no different to Euston (much as I don't overly like that either it's not exactly unique). I have never heard of the idea of keeping people off platforms because it might rain and can't think of a single station where that would be the case.

 

[hawk1911]

Blackpool South every time, the staff are much better there .

 

[QueensCurve]

Blackpool North has been like this since the 1980s. I presume the terrible passenger management has been passed down from senior staff to junior staff for the last 40 years.

Cultures that develop in workplaces can be very enduring.

 

[David Bullock]

I think I’ve seen in mentioned that holding everyone in the main concourse at KGX is a risk mitigation thing in case a train fails to stop at the buffers. And I suspect against platform overcrowding.

Not sure if something similar is in place at BPN but could be an answer

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think I’ve seen in mentioned that holding everyone in the main concourse at KGX is a risk mitigation thing in case a train fails to stop at the buffers. And I suspect against platform overcrowding.

Not sure if something similar is in place at BPN but could be an answer

It seems unlikely to relate to overruns because people wouldn't stand at the end of the track behind the buffers.

It is more likely to relate to operational convenience - easier to empty and clean/supply a train if people aren't on the platform. In BPN's case the number of drunks will also likely be relevant.

 

[NCT]

Passengers aren't held in the main concourse at King's Cross. If someone 'in the know' gets onto the platform before their service shows up on the board there's no-one telling you to get back in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Passengers aren't held in the main concourse at King's Cross. If someone 'in the know' gets onto the platform before their service shows up on the board there's no-one telling you to get back in.

At Euston they sometimes will, but only because you've circumvented the ticket check if it's an Avanti service. Nobody cares if it is WMT. I was once asked where I was going by BTP, but it was because he thought I was going into the staff only tunnel area, which I wasn't, I was just going to position myself for the rearmost door on P8. On having my intentions explained he was fine with it.

 

[Kadot]

I personally think it's a good method of work. You don't drive towards the buffers with large crowds of people on the platform. Passengers can disembark quicker. Staff can clean the trains and tank the units before the next round of passengers are let through.

 

[davehsug]

As someone who uses the station a few times a year, I find it difficult, as I can't stand for extended periods. There aren't that many seats inside, and they're usually occupied. Some seating outside, but given the amount of rain they get, not always possible. This queuing is really annoying, just let people on to the train as soon as it's ready.

 

[NCT]

I personally think it's a good method of work. You don't drive towards the buffers with large crowds of people on the platform. Passengers can disembark quicker. Staff can clean the trains and tank the units before the next round of passengers are let through.

That's a very Spanish mentality. On balance I think the Germanic approach of open platforms (or in the case of the Netherlands, of FWIW most British gated stations, platforms accessed through general barriers) to be much more passenger friendly.

 

[duffield]

As someone who uses the station a few times a year, I find it difficult, as I can't stand for extended periods. There aren't that many seats inside, and they're usually occupied.
...

Drifting off slightly it still riles me that a few years ago waiting at Kings Cross, my late wife who could barely stand with the aid of a stick badly needed a seat and a man point blank refused to remove his luggage, which was occupying two seats. I might have moved it for him but the train was called just at that moment. [End Rant]

 

[faltskog36abba]

Blackpool North has been like this since the 1980s. I presume the terrible passenger management has been passed down from senior staff to junior staff for the last 40 years.

I remember as a Teenager in the 80s having to wait in the booking hall. There are a load of rowdy inebriated partygoers in Blackpool -Especially at weekends.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I remember as a Teenager in the 80s having to wait in the booking hall. There are a load of rowdy inebriated partygoers in Blackpool -Especially at weekends.

I think in the end the reason for operating as they do will relate to how many of their customers are drunk - many of them so drunk Merseyrail would likely turn them away entirely. This does necessitate a degree of additional supervision, or at least keeping people away from moving trains as far as is practicable.

 

[philthetube]

As someone who uses the station a few times a year, I find it difficult, as I can't stand for extended periods. There aren't that many seats inside, and they're usually occupied. Some seating outside, but given the amount of rain they get, not always possible. This queuing is really annoying, just let people on to the train as soon as it's ready.

There is a seating area just inside the gateline provided for passengers needing assistance, you may find it beneficial to request assistance as you will be loaded onto the train before the majority as well as having seats to wait at.

I do agree though that more seats are needed.