Clapham High Street

[RJ]

This station locks itself up at night - as I just found out after seeing 56311 and 56301 in tandem seriously breaching the peace with 4O90 at 2333 hock:

After the last train to Victoria goes at 2328, a message warning people to get off the station shows on the screens - then the shutters at the exit close themselves at 2330. I suppose its a measure to tackle graffiti and other vandalism.

 

[Guinness]

What happens if the 2328 is 3 minutes late arriving? Surely there is some Human element involved?

I can't see HSE sleeping at night with station lock ins - Unless it was at Carlisle

 

[RJ]

I guess so - I got the feeling someone was watching me like a hawk and expected a Big Brotheresque voice to sound when I tried to leave.

I wasn't very amused when I read the screens, worded to the effect of "WARNING, there are no more trains, leave the station immediately as the shutter is about to close." Only noticed it after the 56s went!

I got to the bottom of the stairs at 2334 and it was already shut :neutral: hock:

 

[1D53]

I guess so - I got the feeling someone was watching me like a hawk and expected a Big Brotheresque voice to sound when I tried to leave.

I wasn't very amused when I read the screens, worded to the effect of "WARNING, there are no more trains, leave the station immediately as the shutter is about to close." Only noticed it after the 56s went!

I got to the bottom of the stairs at 2334 and it was already shut :neutral: hock:

oh noes! How did you get out?

 

[Mojo]

How exactly are they allowed to do this? The Railway Group Standards for automatic ticket gates recommend multiple "safety" features including emergency opening buttons; "push through" and automatic opening in line with power cuts or fire alarm triggering; plus some other considerations like the increased trespass risk.

Why is the same not covered? I also wonder what happens if someone doesn't read the screens.

 

[RJ]

It was a proper shutter at the entrance of the station, the type that ticket offices/shops use. There were 3 options at that time;

1. Go back upstairs and press the emergency button and declare myself stranded hock:

2. Take a walk in the rain to Wandsworth Road which is left open overnight.

3. Try working with the shutter.

I didn't fancy explaining to anyone that I was waiting for a freight train at Clapham at 11pm and I didn't fancy my chances of making it to Wandsworth Road alive so I fiddled with the shutter and eventually it opened itself