Lack of Seating on Stations

[yorksrob]

Has anyone else noticed a distinct lack of platform seating on some stations?

I‘ve always thought that seating was pretty scarce at Leeds for example, yet there seem to be even fewer than before. Platform 10 doesn‘t even have one !

This is a particular nuisence with these modern sliding door trains as you often end up waiting on the platform for somreone to open the train doors even when the train‘s there !

 

[Pumbaa]

Especially when work is underway! Stafford (yesterday) had none at the 'business' end of P5/6 and the situation has improved over the last few months, when the entirety of P3/4/5/6 was undergoing work.

 

[Greenback]

Since I moved to Llanelli in 2007, one (possibly two - my memory is failing!) of the benches on platfrom 2 have been removed but not replaced.

Most people now sit on the edges of sides of the flower beds, if they don't want to stand.

 

[yorksrob]

Let‘s hope this isn't some sort of policy !

Leeds isn't even having any work done at the moment.

 

[Condor7]

When staying in Leeds I try and get a room overlooking the station.

What I have noticed is that on a sunny day, the platforms not under cover understandably have a lot of people waiting there rather than in the shade, yet all the seating is undercover which can often be very cold and breezy.
This does not just apply to Leeds of course it is the same at Carlisle, and I am sure many other major stations.

 

[edwin_m]

Possibly because seating in the open air gets wet when it rains, so even after the rain has stopped nobody wants to use it.

 

[1e10]

There isn't much seating available at Bristol Temple Meads. There is only room for about 12 people to sit on each platform which is no where near enough.

 

[yorksrob]

Possibly because seating in the open air gets wet when it rains, so even after the rain has stopped nobody wants to use it.

Even in this country it's not raining all the time
. Plus, platform 10 is mostly under cover so that's no excuse.

 

[TEW]

I ended up sitting on the floor at Stalybridge recently because the only seats on the whole platform were in the locked waiting room. It did seem ridiculous not to have even one seat outside. It had been a perfectly dry day so I would have been quite happy to use it, indeed the floor was fine and dry to sit on.

 

[Condor7]

Even in this country it's not raining all the time
. Plus, platform 10 is mostly under cover so that's no excuse.

Exactly, we have this perception that it rains all the time in the UK.
Obviously we do get our fair share of rain, but we often mix overcast days with rainy days.

A limited number of seats should not be such an issue.

 

[bronzeonion]

I agree the number of platform benches is terrible and also one to add to the list is bins.

 

[tsr]

London Victoria is pretty bad. A lot of people sit on the bars/pipes round the edges of parts of the concourse, and I can tell you myself that it's pretty uncomfortable to do so! I reckon there is space to fit in a few more seats in alcoves, etc., without disrupting the passenger flow. (Indeed, small benches can actually aid passenger flows even if they are strategically placed in large spaces, because they can direct people into neat flows rather than swarms, if you see what I mean. I seem to remember this is called "silent usher" theory. I think it was trialled in places like theatres and cinemas, which by very nature have areas where lots of people enter or exit simultaneously.)

Some of the platforms at Guildford are quite miserable in the winter. You might get a seat in an unheated, draughty waiting shelter, if you're lucky. It's quite a contrast when getting off a Desiro upon which you were crammed next to an over-enthusiastic radiator.

 

[142094]

Has anyone else noticed a distinct lack of platform seating on some stations?

I‘ve always thought that seating was pretty scarce at Leeds for example, yet there seem to be even fewer than before. Platform 10 doesn‘t even have one !

This is a particular nuisence with these modern sliding door trains as you often end up waiting on the platform for somreone to open the train doors even when the train‘s there !

Noticed the ones at Leeds on plt 10 have been moved recently - are they elsewhere in the station (main concourse)?

 

[RichmondCommu]

My memories of Spain in the early 1980's are that people sat on the edge of the platform!

 

[broadgage]

I agree the number of platform benches is terrible and also one to add to the list is bins.

The lack of bins is generally justified on the grounds that terrorists might place bombs in them.

In most cases there is no excuse for lack of seating.
Bench or other seats are cheap, last decades, and require little maintenance, most stations have ample room.

I suspect that complaints about train delays would be slightly reduced if more seating was provided at stations. A delay of say 30 minutes does not seem as long if one is seated rather than standing and might therefore be less likely to result in complaint.

 

[TEW]

Some of the platforms at Guildford are quite miserable in the winter. You might get a seat in an unheated, draughty waiting shelter, if you're lucky. It's quite a contrast when getting off a Desiro upon which you were crammed next to an over-enthusiastic radiator.

They may be quite miserable but when the weather is better there is at least plenty of outside seating. Even most the seating is under the canopies which keeps the rain off. You can normally find a bench to sit on at Guildford I find even at busy times.

 

[edwin_m]

Sometimes the lack of seating gives the impression of being a ploy to force people to buy something. Look at the number of "free" seats at St Pancras compared with the number that are outside one of the eateries and therefore presumably only availiable to their customers.

I was very glad to see a Network Rail sign on the food court upstairs at Kings Cross saying that anyone can use the seats and tables on side nearest the edge of the balcony. The food outlets have their own seating areas on the other side.

 

[yorksrob]

Noticed the ones at Leeds on plt 10 have been moved recently - are they elsewhere in the station (main concourse)?

I've not noticed any extra seats on the concourse though they may have moved them there. For somewhere like Leeds though, the concourse is so far away from some of the platforms, I prefer to be there when the doors open.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In most cases there is no excuse for lack of seating.
Bench or other seats are cheap, last decades, and require little maintenance, most stations have ample room.

Quite. plenty have been around since the mid 80's and just need a lick of paint every few years.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was very glad to see a Network Rail sign on the food court upstairs at Kings Cross saying that anyone can use the seats and tables on side nearest the edge of the balcony. The food outlets have their own seating areas on the other side.

It does annoy me at places like Man Pic where NR obviously licenses all of the food outlets but it can't seem to open out the food court seating to customers of all those outlets.

 

[Markdvdman]

you think it is bad on mainline stations - check out some of the Valleys lines - Merthyr has one 'bench' undercover, and seats in the small ticket office (not many just 2!) when it is open and it never is when I use the train!

Llanelli is poorly served as Greenback says - the poor passenger is just not cared about one iota!

 

[PHILIPE]

At Chester on Platforms 1/2/3 side, there is just a pokey little hut described as a Waiting Room which seats about 5 people.

 

[broadgage]

Sometimes the lack of seating gives the impression of being a ploy to force people to buy something. Look at the number of "free" seats at St Pancras compared with the number that are outside one of the eateries and therefore presumably only availiable to their customers.

I was very glad to see a Network Rail sign on the food court upstairs at Kings Cross saying that anyone can use the seats and tables on side nearest the edge of the balcony. The food outlets have their own seating areas on the other side.

At major stations, yes I suspect a conspiracy to encourage use of the catering outlets.
At Kings Cross, there are indeed signs as you describe, but the catering outlets do their best to discourage use by ordinary passengers who have not patronised their establishments. This is done by frequent enquiries such as "would you like to order", by aggresive sweeping and tidying around non customers, and by placing menus and adverts on the tables.

At small stations without catering I doubt any conspiracy, more a simple case of sod the customer I think.

 

[PHILIPE]

At Aberystwyrh, you can sit in the garden of "Yr Hen Orsaf" Wetherspoons on the fenced off former concorse and see a train every 2 hours.
At Cardiff Central, there is an outside Happy Crust bar with nowhere to sit. This is disgracefully the only catering outlet on the platforms of the station of the capital city of Wales since they were all closed (3 of them whe FGW had the stewardship of the station. There is a Pumpkin/Happy Crust combined down on the Concourse which is reached by going down to the subway and out through the ticket gates and also remote from trains and information regarding them. There is also a marked lack of signage on the platforms.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

At Aberystwyrh, you can sit in the garden of "Yr Hen Orsaf" Wetherspoons on the fenced off former concorse and see a train every 2 hours.
At Cardiff Central, there is an outside Happy Crust bar with nowhere to sit. This is disgracefully the only catering outlet on the platforms of the station of the capital city of Wales since they were all closed (3 of them whe FGW had the stewardship of the station. There is a Pumpkin/Happy Crust combined down on the Concourse which is reached by going down to the subway and out through the ticket gates and also remote from trains and information regarding them. There is also a marked lack of signage on the platforms.

This was posted under wrong thread and should have been on "Bonapartes etc thread". Perhaps a Moderator would be kind enougj to move. Apologies.

 

[reb0118]

There is a policy to have less & less seats at stations. This is to stop jaikes using them to sleep on! Have you noticed that most modern seats, where provided are angled so sleepers would roll off. Edinburgh is being fitted with perches rather than seats.

 

[yorksrob]

There is a policy to have less & less seats at stations. This is to stop jaikes using them to sleep on! Have you noticed that most modern seats, where provided are angled so sleepers would roll off. Edinburgh is being fitted with perches rather than seats.

Well, it's a stupid and counterproductive idea. It's easy to design seats with fixed arm rests that you can't sleep on. I hope whichever dimwit came up with that one isn't paid a lot.

If they don't want people sleeping on the station, close it after the last trains have gone, don't wage a war of inconvenience against the passenger.

 

[causton]

At major stations, yes I suspect a conspiracy to encourage use of the catering outlets.
At Kings Cross, there are indeed signs as you describe, but the catering outlets do their best to discourage use by ordinary passengers who have not patronised their establishments. This is done by frequent enquiries such as "would you like to order", by aggresive sweeping and tidying around non customers, and by placing menus and adverts on the tables.

At small stations without catering I doubt any conspiracy, more a simple case of sod the customer I think.

Used the seats yesterday (was closest to the balcony edge though) and didn't experience this! Maybe it's different in the middle row of seats closer to the food establishments, or were you actually sitting in the different colour seats belonging to Giraffe or someone else

 

[Be3G]

I did once read, years ago, that passengers are supposed to be able to use any seats in eateries at stations even if they don't purchase anything – this particularly applying to stations that have little mini ‘cafés’ on platform islands which contain a small enclosed waiting room branded with the chain of the eatery. I've never been able to find a source for that, though, so I don't know how true it was.