Could ticket barriers be installed at Doncaster?

[CharlieMac30]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know whether Doncaster train station will receive ticket barriers? I have been wondering this for a while now and cannot find any answers on the internet just by searching alone.

When I say ticket barriers, I mean automated electronic barriers - not just staff checking tickets.

I understand that none are there now but are there any plans and if they are implemented, will they have facilities for smartcards?

Many thanks,
Charlie

 

[brompton rail]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know whether Doncaster train station will receive ticket barriers? I have been wondering this for a while now and cannot find any answers on the internet just by searching alone.

When I say ticket barriers, I mean automated electronic barriers - not just staff checking tickets.

I understand that none are there now but are there any plans and if they are implemented, will they have facilities for smartcards?

Many thanks,
Charlie

To install barriers at Doncaster would be fairly difficult. to access all platforms passengers have to descend/ascend one of two staircases, or a lift. To barriers these three off would require almost all of the concourse. The travel centre would need its entrance replaced (Travel Centre currently has a metal screen to block off all but one ticket window for early mornings etc). Many of the passengers using Doncaster have to walk the full length of the Concourse from the Frenchgate Shopping Centre & Interchange to reach the Travel Centre. The concourse is too narrow to allow this and an area behind the barrier position.

Ticket checks have in the past been made in the subway, but there is only limited space here. For Race Days the exiting passengers are shepherded through crush barriers at the top of one staircase. This however requires quite a number of staff, including BTP.

So, no, I doubt barriers are likely anytime soon. Similarly don't expect any at York or Sheffield, except for special checks etc.

 

[lincolnshire]

To install barriers at Doncaster would be fairly difficult. to access all platforms passengers have to descend/ascend one of two staircases, or a lift. To barriers these three off would require almost all of the concourse. The travel centre would need its entrance replaced (Travel Centre currently has a metal screen to block off all but one ticket window for early mornings etc). Many of the passengers using Doncaster have to walk the full length of the Concourse from the Frenchgate Shopping Centre & Interchange to reach the Travel Centre. The concourse is too narrow to allow this and an area behind the barrier position.

Ticket checks have in the past been made in the subway, but there is only limited space here. For Race Days the exiting passengers are shepherded through crush barriers at the top of one staircase. This however requires quite a number of staff, including BTP.

So, no, I doubt barriers are likely anytime soon. Similarly don't expect any at York or Sheffield, except for special checks etc.

Virgin Trains East Coast would also require more staff to attend the barriers with them been remote from the platforms where most of the staff are busy attending to and departing trains.
Also Hull Trains and Grand Central you are able to purchase your ticket on the train, so are they going to let you through as you might then just hop on a Virgin train instead or a any other companies.

When they have a ticket check they are a pain the you know where especially if your running a bit late for your train, you zip down the steps to find the subway to the platform blocked by barriers and them checking tickets and the problem is it makes a back up of passengers at the bottom of the steps area.

My thoughts always is they put barriers in at stations and then you often find them all left open at certain times of day to save having staff attend them.

Who paid for all the barriers that have been put in? the usual paymaster for the railways then.

 

[westv]

Re Hull Trains and being able to buy tickets on board, how do they get on with that at Kings X? Just curious.

 

[Crossover]

Re Hull Trains and being able to buy tickets on board, how do they get on with that at Kings X? Just curious.

I think you'd be within your rights to ask to be let through the barrier!

 

[ainsworth74]

Re Hull Trains and being able to buy tickets on board, how do they get on with that at Kings X? Just curious.

You ask and they have to let you through (same goes for Grand Central). I have not heard of anyone having an issue doing that in quite a while.

 

[Simon11]

My thoughts always is they put barriers in at stations and then you often find them all left open at certain times of day to save having staff attend them.

Who paid for all the barriers that have been put in? the usual paymaster for the railways then.

The future in the next few years will be remote monitoring, with staff only by the gates during busy hours. Otherwise, they will be unmanned. Any problems, you use the machine, showing your ticket to a member of staff at the station who will let you in.

 

[scrapy]

I'd have thought Doncaster would be quite easy to barrier. Just put them across the subway between the entrance stairs and the 1st access stairs/lift to platforms. The subway is wider than at Stockport or Shrewbury and could probably fit 5 or 6 gates.

 

[Crossover]

I'd have thought Doncaster would be quite easy to barrier. Just put them across the subway between the entrance stairs and the 1st access stairs/lift to platforms. The subway is wider than at Stockport or Shrewbury and could probably fit 5 or 6 gates.

There will probably be a H&S issue of potential of people queuing down the stairs, which is generally not highly thought of!

 

[Starmill]

There will probably be a H&S issue of potential of people queuing down the stairs, which is generally not highly thought of!

Doesn't look like there's going to be any problems with it happening at Stockport :P

 

[thirdriding]

With the current layout it is impossible to put ticket barriers at Doncaster Station. The only place they could be placed would be down in the tunnel and that isn't safe at all...it's the only way out in case of emergency. You'd also have people queuing on steps, which is probably an infringement of fire regs.

 

[swt_passenger]

With the current layout it is impossible to put ticket barriers at Doncaster Station. The only place they could be placed would be down in the tunnel and that isn't safe at all...it's the only way out in case of emergency. You'd also have people queuing on steps, which is probably an infringement of fire regs.

Basingstoke. Barriers at entrance to subway, stairs immediately adjacent. Getting on for twice as many passengers as Doncaster. There are bound to be many more.

 

[Crossover]

Doesn't look like there's going to be any problems with it happening at Stockport :P

The barriers there are nowhere near the steps

 

[Skimble19]

The future in the next few years will be remote monitoring, with staff only by the gates during busy hours. Otherwise, they will be unmanned. Any problems, you use the machine, showing your ticket to a member of staff at the station who will let you in.

Meanwhile the fare evaders jump straight over them completely unchallenged as there is nobody there to even notice... You might as well not even bother having them!

 

[Starmill]

The barriers there are nowhere near the steps

They are only a little bit further than they would be at Doncaster.

 

[TEW]

The future in the next few years will be remote monitoring, with staff only by the gates during busy hours. Otherwise, they will be unmanned. Any problems, you use the machine, showing your ticket to a member of staff at the station who will let you in.

It amazes me that unmanned gatelines are allowed. The number of people who get stuck in barriers, or do things that could risk injury to themselves or other is astonishing.

 

[ainsworth74]

It amazes me that unmanned gatelines are allowed. The number of people who get stuck in barriers, or do things that could risk injury to themselves or other is astonishing.

That's before we get to the huge number of tickets that don't work the barriers!