Open Stations

[GordonT]

York and Edinburgh Waverley

There continues to be a line of ticket activated barriers in front of several of the West End platforms at Edinburgh overseen by staff.

 

[JonathanH]

So that’s now two sets of barriers to access the national rail platforms? Or have the platform level barriers now gone?

Platform level barriers have gone.

There continues to be a line of ticket activated barriers in front of several of the West End platforms at Edinburgh overseen by staff.

There is also a gateline for platforms 6, 7, 11 and 12, in addition to the 13-18 gateline.

 

[Dave W]

The down platform barriers are still being removed at FP (or at least there are still hoardings around where they used to be). The up side were removed a lot sooner but that's because the platform became a lot quieter once new platforms 1 and 2 opened.

The tube corridor was always barriered even in the old Wells Terrace days - but you could get to the tube platforms without passing a gate line by virtue of the spiral staircase. It was the national rail underpass which was unbarriered (on the main bus station side - once the City North entrance opened the two corridors now share a gate line from the other side) - and this has now been done too.

 

[Tester]

Bushey - 5 or 6 platforms (depending how you count!) with 12 trains an hour off peak at four of them.

 

[WizCastro197]

Although it doesn't completely fit the criteria, all of Redhill's 4 platforms, can be accessed without using the ticket barrier.

 

[sdrennan]

Paisley Gilmour Street.
However manual checks normally in place at peak times

 

[greyman42]

Sheffield and York are two examples I can think of (mainly due to the right of way that exists through the station)

I don't think York station is a public right of way.
A number of years ago they wanted to install barriers at York, similar to Newcastle, but the council refused planning permission.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Preston. It would be quite hard to gate it fully without a major redesign or a massively sub-optimal layout. Though you sometimes get a manned revenue block at the bridge to P1/2 or very occasionally the subway to catch people out using that to avoid it. I wonder if they might do something about it when the area is redeveloped over the coming years; at the moment the main entrance and exit is the tight bridge and small door to the Fishergate Centre, which wouldn't lend itself well to being gated - the actual grand main entrance down the ramp is hardly used other than by taxis.

Carlisle similarly (though I don't think there's one place that has RPIs hanging around specifically).

 

[Elecman]

Manchester Piiccadilly from the car park via the overbridge

 

[zwk500]

I don't think York station is a public right of way.
A number of years ago they wanted to install barriers at York, similar to Newcastle, but the council refused planning permission.

Correct, I believe they've tried to put barriers in several times at York and it always gets refused because of the impact on the historic nature of the station, thr council seemingly unawares that there's electronic departure boards, PA systems and Electric trains which weren't around when the station opened.

The rear access only leads to Leemam road, so even if it is a public right of way there is a reasonable alternative route avoiding the station. What the legal position is on it I have no idea.

 

[ricoblade]

Though there is a manual ticket check there in the morning peak.

Yep - There was one at the bottom of the stairs when I was there the other week.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

At Sheffield you occasionally get a bank of revenue inspection officers when your train arrives in the bay platforms 3 and 4 before you can exit via the stairs. I have no idea if you have any right to walk straight past them as there is no physical barrier.

At Doncaster there are occasional revenue teams at the top of the exit stairs, but from time to time there has been an actual physical temporary barrier in the subway that you are funnelled through. (If you don’t know Doncaster, all platforms have to be accessed by a subway). Of course, the checks had to be done personally rather than a machine passengers insert tickets into like a ‘real’ barrier.

Naturally, I am not condoning any form of fare evasion.

Regarding Doncaster : am I right in thinking that access to the new platform 0 (which is completely to the east side of the tracks) requires all passengers to use both the subway to platform 3 and then a footbridge to platform 0? I haven't had the pleasure [?] of using Doncaster station since the new platform was built

 

[martinsh]

Has Warrington Bank Quay been mentioned yet ?

 

[johnnychips]

Regarding Doncaster : am I right in thinking that access to the new platform 0 (which is completely to the east side of the tracks) requires all passengers to use both the subway to platform 3 and then a footbridge to platform 0? I haven't had the pleasure [?] of using Doncaster station since the new platform was built

Yes you are absolutely right. It is quite a trek.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Not sure it fully meets the OP's criteria for large/busy, but Shipley has five platforms and is fully open with multiple entrances.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

The barriers are left opened and unstaffed at stations like Crewe and Chester and P13/14 at Manchester Piccadilly at less busy times.

On the other side of the coin, you can't even go to the toilet or get something to eat or drink when changing at Manchester Victoria without twice passing through forbidding looking staffed barriers (unless the coffee shack is open). There isn't even a waiting room "train-side".

 

[Bryson]

Meadowhall also has 4 platforms, is reasonable busy and no barriers.

Revenue protection officers are frequently in attendance though.

 

[Clip]

Preston. It would be quite hard to gate it fully without a major redesign or a massively sub-optimal layout. Though you sometimes get a manned revenue block at the bridge to P1/2 or very occasionally the subway to catch people out using that to avoid it. I wonder if they might do something about it when the area is redeveloped over the coming years; at the moment the main entrance and exit is the tight bridge and small door to the Fishergate Centre, which wouldn't lend itself well to being gated - the actual grand main entrance down the ramp is hardly used other than by taxis.

Carlisle similarly (though I don't think there's one place that has RPIs hanging around specifically).

Its very well used as the buses stop at the top of the ramp - though if it was strong enough and the tram project ever gets off the ground it would be good to have it terminate there - as an aside the tram certainly needs to link the station to the bus station if it ever goes ahead

 

[swt_passenger]

Correct, I believe they've tried to put barriers in several times at York and it always gets refused because of the impact on the historic nature of the station, thr council seemingly unawares that there's electronic departure boards, PA systems and Electric trains which weren't around when the station opened.

The rear access only leads to Leemam road, so even if it is a public right of way there is a reasonable alternative route avoiding the station. What the legal position is on it I have no idea.

That’s grade 2* listed York. Yet a good proportion of the grade 1 listed railway stations do have ticket barriers. I suspect LNER‘s predecessors didn’t try hard enough…

 

[zwk500]

That’s grade 2* listed York. Yet a good proportion of the grade 1 listed railway stations do have ticket barriers. I suspect LNER‘s predecessors didn’t try hard enough…

You underestimate the power of the local heritage movement in York. It's as old as the town, although it only really got going in the latter half of the 19th Century. Much of the Walls are Victorian reconstructions, especially where bus and tram routes required changes for clearance. The LNER war memorial was long disparaged for being a 'pagan erection' so close to the beautiful walls. Nowadays it's difficult to so much as scrape your boot without the heritage people making sure you haven't disturbed some hobnails or whatever.

 

[Dryce]

Springburn

2 bay platforms and the platforms can be accessed directly by stairs from the main road bypassing the ticket office.

I've not stopped at Kilmarnock for years - I'd assume it is also likely to be without barriers.

 

[3RDGEN]

York and Sheffield are the usual two noted, plus Doncaster, Stafford, Preston and Carlisle.


Hull's barriers are due to be fitted shortly.
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/new...ws/automatic-ticket-barrier-plan-aims-7770023

The barriers at Hull came into use this week, still some work to complete but the barriers are working.

 

[Recessio]

Wellingborough? Not been there in years, so maybe they've added them in the meanwhile, but I remember they kept dithering about it because there wasn't room in the booking hall to fit barriers and maintain both windows. Was three platforms but I think the fourth is rebuilt now?

 

[Peregrine 4903]

London Euston Platforms 4-7 and 12-16 are unbarriered. Although if you your taking an Avanti train your ticket will almost always be checked before boarding.