Gatelines without EMO

[kijeta]

Having travelled extensively on the TfL network, I noticed that the vast majority of gatelines have an easily visible EMO plunger (Not sure what it stands for - the emergency red panic button that turns the barriers off and sometimes disallows tap-ins) on the in-gateline side. However, Hampstead Heath and Tottenham Court Road (lift-only wide aisle gate near the centre of the concourse), and possibly others I've missed, do not. Hampstead Heath's gateline has a station control unit, but is physically located on the wrong side (facing the outside of the station).

Are there other similar examples anywhere in the country? Would anyone be able to advise if this is in accordance with safety policies/guidelines/regulations? The situation at Tottenham Court Road is especially concerning, as customer-operated lifts are prone to failure at anytime, meaning passengers who have just exited prior (leading to passback when trying to exit again) would be effectively trapped.

 

[Haywain]

Hampstead Heath's gateline has a station control unit,

Every station has a SCU.

 

[kijeta]

Every station has a SCU.

Even those without gatelines?

 

[Haywain]

Even those without gatelines?

I think you know full well what I mean.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I think you know full well what I mean.

Even those with the superior gates?

 

[RPI]

Even those with the superior gates?

Superior gates?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Superior gates?

LNER have Scheidt & Bachmann gates at most of their gated stations. Kings Cross being the exception, given it's in London so (currently) has to have Cubic gates for Oyster and CPAY compatibility.

 

[Deerfold]

Every station has a SCU.

SCU?

 

[RPI]

LNER have Scheidt & Bachmann gates at most of their gated stations. Kings Cross being the exception, given it's in London so (currently) has to have Cubic gates for Oyster and CPAY compatibility.

Phew, I was thinking that @Wallsendmag may be referring to Vix gates, which are absolutely terrible

 

[sharpley]

SCU?

Station Control Unit. A touchscreen that can control Cubic gates. Validators and POMs (Passenger Operated Machines). Often located in the SCU cabinet next to a gateline, which also has the EMO (Emergency Open) plunger in it. Plungers and SCUs can also be located in ticket offices, control rooms or (plungers only) in small boxes mounted on a wall.

Just to add that a Cubic gate won't go into service if its not connected to the EMO circuit. Fire alarm interface as well as the EMO plungers all make up the EMO circuit on a Cubic gateline

 

[MikeWh]

I think you know full well what I mean.

And if you read the rest of the sentence beyond what you quoted, I think you know full well what is being talked about.

 

[saismee]

Even those without gatelines?

Some yes. Stowmarket, Newmarket, and Watlington to name a random few. The platform validators need a station control unit/computer to talk to.

Ipswich has two SCUs, one for the gateline and one for half of the barcode scanners. Not sure why.

 

[sharpley]

Some yes. Stowmarket, Newmarket, and Watlington to name a random few. The platform validators need a station control unit/computer to talk to.

Ipswich has two SCUs, one for the gateline and one for half of the barcode scanners. Not sure why.

A SCUs only purpose is as in interface so operators can open / close / reverse direction of a gate, set revenue monitoring or view any errors on individual devices. A gateline or validator doesn't need a SCU to operate as some functions like direction of travel or viewing errors can be done via the device keypad, but obviously a working SCU makes life easier for staff. A SCU doesn't deal with handling transactions, table updates and the like. It's purely a staff interface