Nottingham Station Footbridge - No Weekend Access To Platforms

[LTJ87]

The issue of access to the platforms of Nottingham station from the footbridge is back on the agenda again.

In addition to no access to platforms after 7pm on weekdays, there will be no access on weekends from 6th February.

Nottingham footbridge: Entry to platforms to be closed at weekends after safety data reinforces earlier decision to limit access | East Midlands Railway News

EMR to close access to platforms from the station’s footbridge at weekends starting from February 6 Changes informed by data showing a significant reduction in assaults when footbridge closed Restrictions will improve security and safety, deter vandalism and reduce fare evasion EMR has...

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is to close access to platforms from the station’s footbridge at weekends after data showed that a recent extension of restrictions led to a significant reduction in assaults and abuse towards both staff and customers.

In August, EMR restricted access to platforms via the footbridge between 7pm and 6am each day, replacing the previous 11pm to 5am window. It will now restrict access on weekends, closing at 7pm on Friday and reopening on Monday at 6am. Starting from February 6.

The company, which is part of Transport UK, will now further extend the restrictions to weekends after data showed a 45 per cent drop in assaults and abuse on staff and customers during the closure times. The company also recorded a 38 per cent reduction in slips, trips and falls.

Despite these changes, the footbridge will continue to serve as a public right of way 24/7, maintaining access between Station Street and Queen’s Road, including connections to the tram network.

EMR will also retain the ability to open the gates during major events, times of crowding, or in response to emergencies, ensuring operational flexibility.

 

[LowLevel]

You can guarantee it'll keep reappearing until it's shut or someone puts up the money for a better solution. People have a short memory. Still no shortage of "can't pay, won't pay" or pay when challenged types wandering in and still undesirables having unchecked access to the bogs.

Working example - I took out a train starting from Nottingham recently in the early evening. Ticket check on departure, 48 passengers on board, I sold 10 tickets and had 1 "what you going to do?".

They're every demographic too.

Then the same people whinge that they have a short walk to the front.

My personal gripe is having the walk to the front only to find the barriers wide open and walking in anyway.

 

[ChrisC]

Robin Hood Line trains usually arrive at the centre of platforms in Nottingham close to this central bridge. At weekends when crowded trains arrive the majority of people from these trains exit the station by this route. I wonder how many of these people have not paid for a ticket. Well done @LowLevel for checking tickets. Unfortunately my experience is that I very rarely have my ticket checked on RHL trains these days. Preventing passengers from exiting by the central bridge may encourage more people to buy a ticket.

 

[sheff1]

Oh joy. Encounter every time now then with clueless numpties effectively accusing me of being a criminal when trying to exit/enter with a valid ticket.

 

[Farigiraf]

Is this the footbridge that offers an easy connection to the trams? Quite the detour for those travelling on weekends wanting to access the NET now. Makes sense why, and it's really just an extra 2-3 minutes' walk, not a huge issue, but surely it'd be better to just employ some staff around the footbridge on weekends and evenings? Alternatively, could install single-gate ticket barriers on the footbridge as some quieter tube stations have.

 

[MikeWM]

I've probably said this before, but I think it is totally unreasonable to close this bridge without first putting in an alternative bridge further east to get between the platform islands - actually necessary even with this bridge open, but even more necessary with it closed. Nottingham is already a very irritating station to have to change trains, closing this bridge makes it even worse.

 

[styles]

Is this the footbridge that offers an easy connection to the trams? Quite the detour for those travelling on weekends wanting to access the NET now. Makes sense why, and it's really just an extra 2-3 minutes' walk, not a huge issue, but surely it'd be better to just employ some staff around the footbridge on weekends and evenings? Alternatively, could install single-gate ticket barriers on the footbridge as some quieter tube stations have.

Yes it's that footbridge.

I've probably said this before, but I think it is totally unreasonable to close this bridge without first putting in an alternative bridge further east to get between the platform islands - actually necessary even with this bridge open, but even more necessary with it closed. Nottingham is already a very irritating station to have to change trains, closing this bridge makes it even worse.

I don't really think the bridge itself needs closing. I think the public right of way needs removing, and barriers adding to each end. It is exceptionally rare for me to argue for removing public rights of way but I honestly think the Carrington St option is fine. It's very hard to remove a public right of way though.

 

[Ian Hardy]

I don't really think the bridge itself needs closing. I think the public right of way needs removing, and barriers adding to each end. It is exceptionally rare for me to argue for removing public rights of way but I honestly think the Carrington St option is fine. It's very hard to remove a public right of way though.

As you can now walk across the tramline bridge from one side of Nottingham station to the other, that could become the public right of way and barriers be installed at either end of this bridge.

 

[Kite159]

Don't worry even with the middle footbridge being closed, those who think payment is optional can still bypass the gateline by using the entrance on platform 7 and interchange via the main concourse as chances are the staff won't bat as eyelid with people changing platforms.

Just means it's a long walk for anybody arriving from Skegness wanting to connect into something from P4.

Doesn't help that revenue checks on EMR regional services can be very hit and miss

 

[m_m]

This is ridiculous. Making everyone's life more difficult in the pursuit of profit, then trying to dress it up as crime reduction and the protection of taxpayer's money.

It's a pain when the bridge is shut. It takes ages to change from the Matlock train to other platforms, there's overcrowding at the main gates making it further stressful and more time consuming to get through. There aren't enough gates and emr won't be wanting to shift them through into the main room to have more.

 

[pint]

Maybe they should not have built this bride in the first place if its causing all of these issues

 

[bunnahabhain]

This is ridiculous. Making everyone's life more difficult in the pursuit of profit, then trying to dress it up as crime reduction and the protection of taxpayer's money.

It's a pain when the bridge is shut. It takes ages to change from the Matlock train to other platforms, there's overcrowding at the main gates making it further stressful and more time consuming to get through. There aren't enough gates and emr won't be wanting to shift them through into the main room to have more.

They can't be in the main hall because the parquet flooring is listed. I'd guess that the Porte Cochere would be too far out and would affect retail opportunities.

What would've been nice is a new exit from the dispersal bridge onto Station Street through the blank doors at the P1 end.

 

[Nottingham59]

Maybe they should not have built this bride in the first place if its causing all of these issues

They shouldn't have knocked down the other footbridge which in the past carried the public footpath across the station from one side to the other.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jan 2026 ==

What would've been nice is a new exit from the dispersal bridge onto Station Street through the blank doors at the P1 end.

.... And direct access to the Car Park from the P7 end.

 

[duffield]

Maybe they should not have built this bride in the first place if its causing all of these issues

It's part of the original 1904 listed station and when it was built none of these issues existed or could reasonably have been foreseen.

 

[Chriso]

I was shocked recently using the trains around Nottingham just how few ticket checks I had and on top of that as soon as the bridge shut at 7 the gates were opened rendering the entire thing pointless . In Stagecoach even NX days this would never have happened

EMR really need to pull there head out of their arse in relation to revenue. The main line and connect are far too barrier focused as well

 

[duffield]

One of the issues caused by total closure of the station access to the footbridge was a considerable reduction in footfall for the shops at the North end of the bridge. Closing the bridge just in the evening would probably have had no effect on these shops but closing all weekend, particularly Saturday, could be a serious blow to them and even make them nonviable. It doesn't appear that EMR care about this aspect at all.