Minimum platform announcement to train departure time

[Taunton]

If there are people unable to make it in time, presumably at Euston there will be a stream of passengers still coming down the ramp. What is the procedure. Is any effort made to tell the ticket staff that it was announced late? Are they instructed to slam the gates at the stipulated 2 minutes before departure time?

 

[MatthewHutton]

They don't need to delay the train to the full minimum connection time (which in many cases would inconvenience hundreds of people), but they should be willing to give out the appropriate delay repay to passengers who miss a train because they couldn't make it across the station in time.

They do need to give enough time for the elderly, disabled and people with young children to board. And if that means there is a late departure. So be it.

Or announce the platform earlier.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Given Marylebone doesn't have reserved seat trains and the station is pretty small 4-5 minutes isn't unreasonable to board a train. Especially as the staff can let you wait by it ready.

Not if the train goes from platfroms 4 to 6, which are half way to Lords Cricket Ground

 

[Woolos 22]

If there is a crew change at a station where there is short notice of a change of platform do they have advance notice of this ?

 

[Meerkat]

If they won’t hold the train then there should be a standard procedure for dealing with the consequences.
A machine that will read your ticket and print you a chit saying your train was called late, you were there, and giving permission for alternative options, which should include getting the next train at no extra cost, a free seat reservation if you had one before, etc etc. And preferably some kind of freebie like a free drink while you wait
The railway has let you down, they should look after you, and it should be as stress free as possible (hence an official piece of paper rather than worrying about whether you understood correctly or might get a fine)

 

[MatthewHutton]

Not if the train goes from platfroms 4 to 6, which are half way to Lords Cricket Ground

Fair. But they can get you to wait close to those platforms for trains from them.

 

[ianBR]

I have witnessed last minute platform changes at Gatwick where there is no way for passengers with luggage to get from one platform to the other in time.

The fact that customers on advance tickets will be forced to buy a new ticket at the most expensive possible price if they miss a train in this scenario is just more evidence of why the whole industry is not fit for purpose.

Maybes the government should get a customer forum to come up with the rules they’d do a much better job than the TOCs.