New ticket barriers at Lime Street

[fowler9]

Had an interesting experience with the new barriers at Lime Street tonight. I arrived on the 17:04 Parkway to Preston. Got to the wide exit barrier because I have a Trio which won't go through the machine. Two RPI's were there and the one who wasn't gripping someone couldn't let me through for some reason. He directed me to the wide barrier leading on to the platform. I could see the poor lady working it wasn't going to be able to let me out due to the number of people going on to the platform at about 17:15. She looked at me like I was stupid (Which I must have appeared) and asked why I was trying to get out through the entrance. I told her that the fella at the exit sent me there. By this point someone had appeared at the exit that could let me out. This really needs sorting out. God help the poor people who work the barriers (Apart from the RPI fella who made me look stupid, although the fact the RPI's can't let you off the platform with a valid ticket is probably not his fault).

Hope that rant made sense. Ha ha.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Had an interesting experience with the new barriers at Lime Street tonight. I arrived on the 17:04 Parkway to Preston. Got to the wide exit barrier because I have a Trio which won't go through the machine. Two RPI's were there and the one who wasn't gripping someone couldn't let me through for some reason. He directed me to the wide barrier leading on to the platform. I could see the poor lady working it wasn't going to be able to let me out due to the number of people going on to the platform at about 17:15. She looked at me like I was stupid (Which I must have appeared) and asked why I was trying to get out through the entrance. I told her that the fella at the exit sent me there. By this point someone had appeared at the exit that could let me out. This really needs sorting out. God help the poor people who work the barriers (Apart from the RPI fella who made me look stupid, although the fact the RPI's can't let you off the platform with a valid ticket is probably not his fault).

Hope that rant made sense. Ha ha.

Have you noticed how they like to work TPE services into P6?
This is very narrow at the buffer end, so 3 packed coaches are trying to get off, while the outgoing crowd are blocking the platform with luggage etc.
On my last trip, the crew immediately put out a ramp for the trolley at the front end, so NOTHING could move on or off the platform.
Talk about logjam.
Meanwhile, there were at least 3 totally empty platforms alongside...

 

[fowler9]

Have you noticed how they like to work TPE services into P6?
This is very narrow at the buffer end, so 3 packed coaches are trying to get off, while the outgoing crowd are blocking the platform with luggage etc.
On my last trip, the crew immediately put out a ramp for the trolley at the front end, so NOTHING could move on or off the platform.
Talk about logjam.
Meanwhile, there were at least 3 totally empty platforms alongside...

Yeah, Platform 6 is a pain in the bum even if you get off a single 156 like I did this evening on the 17:39 (I think) from Parkway. The 17:47 TPE from Parkway to Lime Street is often a crowded double 185 and arrives in 6 behind the Northern service. Carnage.

Last night was crazy when there were 2 Northern RPI staff by the barriers beither of whom could let you out if you had a ticket that wouldn't let you through the barrier.

South Parkway needs sorting out to. The big gate is left permanently open so everyone is aiming for it. I have to use the big gate because I have a Trio but I can't get through if loads of people have just got off an EMT, TPE or LM service.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Boarding TPE trains at Lime Street is a pain. Because of short turn-round times, They seldom open the doors until 5 mins or less before departure and then it's a mad rush to find one of the few seats that is unreserved.

I think TPE allow too many reservations. Many people use their services frequently for relatively short journeys e.g. Liverpool - Manchester or Huddersfield - Leeds and so don't want to go through the hassle of booking seats every time. Indeed such passengers don't always want to commit to a particular train. Passengers joining at intermediate stations like Warrington Central and Huddersfield have particular problems finding seats.

 

[fowler9]

Boarding TPE trains at Lime Street is a pain. Because of short turn-round times, They seldom open the doors until 5 mins or less before departure and then it's a mad rush to find one of the few seats that is unreserved.

I think TPE allow too many reservations. Many people use their services frequently for relatively short journeys e.g. Liverpool - Manchester or Huddersfield - Leeds and so don't want to go through the hassle of booking seats every time. Indeed such passengers don't always want to commit to a particular train. Passengers joining at intermediate stations like Warrington Central and Huddersfield have particular problems finding seats.

Kind of drifting off topic there. TPE trains are too short and badly laid out and are pretty much a compromise.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

grin and bear it guys, new trains coming in 2 years!

Barriers are woefully inadequate. there isn't enough space between the buildings. We know this, we can see it as do the barrier staff. but they are stuck with what they have been given. no doubt the cost of shaving the buildings a little to increase the platform access space would have made the cost prohibitive. perhaps the folly of putting the buildings where they did is now proving itself as the daft idea it was at the time.

 

[8A Rail]

grin and bear it guys, new trains coming in 2 years!
Barriers are woefully inadequate. there isn't enough space between the buildings. We know this, we can see it as do the barrier staff. but they are stuck with what they have been given. no doubt the cost of shaving the buildings a little to increase the platform access space would have made the cost prohibitive. perhaps the folly of putting the buildings where they did is now proving itself as the daft idea it was at the time.

Very true, but what is actually in that particular building? Never thought about it until now. I (we) am aware what is in the main building as it is obvious to see but the Platform 6 one?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The rebuild may improve platform accessibility (not holding my breath).
I think some of the "black cubes" will go (mail/parcels was it?).
I don't think the rebuild changes the concourse though.

 

[fowler9]

What they have done is a disaster and I feel sorry for the staff. If two trains arrive at once it is a nightmare. For anyone who hasn't been there imagine what they may have for a couple of platforms in London and make it 6 with long distance trains.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

The building on P6 is staff accomodation of some sort. Who for I dont know as Northern are in the buildings on the end of P1 and TPE are in Rail House, and I havent seen virgin staff use it either. There is house keeping behind the building used by station cleaners contractors and the pub. This makes use of the srea where the station roof is supported so is relatively out of the way. The former mail and parcels buildings are at the far end of P7-8 well out of the way.

The problem is thr location of the generic chain coffee shop and M&S either side of the narrow platform access. Removing and relocating the coffee shop and trimming back the building is really the only answer here but of course that could affect the building structure.

 

[Polarbear]

I seem to recall that the current arrangement is only temporary, as when Lime Street is rebuilt next year, the shops that are situated on the same said as the current barriers are due to go?

My impression was that the ideas was to "double deck" the shops under the clock at Lime St, (the same side as Boots & Smiths) and bring back the buffer stops slightly, as well as accommodate a barrier gate of some description.

I can't find anything specific at the moment, so it's possible I've imagined all of this..

 

[notlob.divad]

I seem to recall that the current arrangement is only temporary, as when Lime Street is rebuilt next year, the shops that are situated on the same said as the current barriers are due to go?

My impression was that the ideas was to "double deck" the shops under the clock at Lime St, (the same side as Boots & Smiths) and bring back the buffer stops slightly, as well as accommodate a barrier gate of some description.

I can't find anything specific at the moment, so it's possible I've imagined all of this..

I think you have got the wrong end of the stick on this. I have not seen any plans to do anything with the boots/smiths side of the concourse. and the plans for the big black cubes are much less drastic than you imply. From the plans I have seen, on the Liverpool Council Planning department site, the Old Taxi Rank on Lord Nelson Street Side is going to be built on to create a new supermarket and what is currently Burger King and M&S is going to become one unit that is labeled on the mock-ups as a Cafe. Presumably this means what is currently Costa can be opened up and provide a wider gap through to the platforms providing more space for an expanded gate line.

The 'double deck' is on the same side, as there is going to be a Virgin First Class lounge and a standard passenger lounge above all of this, replacing the shacks that are being knocked down between platform 7&8. However this will basically take the place of the current pub that is up there currently.

 

[WatcherZero]

I seem to recall that the current arrangement is only temporary, as when Lime Street is rebuilt next year, the shops that are situated on the same said as the current barriers are due to go?

My impression was that the ideas was to "double deck" the shops under the clock at Lime St, (the same side as Boots & Smiths) and bring back the buffer stops slightly, as well as accommodate a barrier gate of some description.

I can't find anything specific at the moment, so it's possible I've imagined all of this..

I seem to remember they were planning to remove the ground floor shops from that line and put more restaurant space on the 1st floor.