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Platform ticket at Waterloo?
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59CosG95
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I believe they will let you through if you make it clear that you're helping them on.
Rich McLean
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At some stations however, there is notices that this isn't possible, and that assistance must be booked in advance.
It's normally OK, but it is best to check with the TOC/Station Operator to make sure this is ok before you get there.
It's normally OK, but it is best to check with the TOC/Station Operator to make sure this is ok before you get there.
When, on several occasions, my daughter has assisted my wife (who is visually impaired) through the barriers at Leeds to the trains she has bern asked to buy a platform ticket. She does not mind doing this but there does seem to be a lack of consistency between stations.(incidentally, my wife knows she could arrange assistance and often does. However sometimes she does not want to be tied down to returning at a particular time so it is easier for our daughter to assist.)
Yes! Neither the station or South West trains have been helpful. Thanks.
steamybrian
Established Member
As far as I know.
A platform ticket only costs ...10p
A platform ticket only costs ...10p
childwallblues
Established Member
If you are travelling in to Waterloo by train make sure that your ticket is valid as far as Vauxhall.
At Leeds it's 20p, which still isn't much, but does highlight the inconstant approaches taken.
steamybrian
Established Member
Thanks. I hope to get its twin tomorrow!!
That's the first time I've encountered the concept of being "in" a train
Good to know it'll be valid in a platform, in an escalator, on a lift and on the toilets though!Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
The inconsistencies in approaches do beg the question as to what the position would be if someone turned up at a station wanting to assist the person with them to the train and the gateline staff insisted that platform tickets were not available. If the passenger was unable to get to the train without assistance, and there were no staff available to assist, it does look like a catch 22 (and, as noted above, sometimes disabled people prefer to rely on the person with them escorting them to the train because they do not want to be tied down to a booked assistance time). There isn't always a low cost fare to the next station that the person with them could buy just to get access to the platform (and even if there was, why should they have to pay perhaps £2 or more simply to be able to provide assistance?). I think a refusal to give access or issue a platform ticket could lead to a 'reasonable adjustment' challenge.
Busaholic
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In any case, wouldn't it have to be a return to Vauxhall to let you back through the barriers?
thebigcheese
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Could you break a journey on a single ticket? When does the journey start to allow you to break?
What happened next!
Very friendly gate-line staff. Once convinced that there was a genuine need, access arranged FoC.
They don't do platform tickets. Another helpful guy (apparently seconded from ticket office to help desk) suggested that if help is requested at the passenger help point, something can be arranged - or, as suggested here, arrange assistance beforehand.
General agreement that barriers preclude non-travelling passengers going on the platform. "Issue will be now flagged up at Manager level".
Three final thoughts:
1) What happens during the rush hour? - especially when you need to get back into the station having seen the passenger off.
2) It all depends on the individual gateline staff, which doesn't seem to be the right way to run the railway!
3) It seemed to have been a forgotten issue.
That's interesting as it means it is cheaper to buy a platform ticket and go and use the free platform side toilets, than it is to pay 40p to use the concourse toilets.
Do they still have a platform ticket machine at the side of the barriers or would you have to queue at the ticket office?
From the ticket office.
It's actually 10p at Leeds - I purchased one yesterday as a souvenir of my visit!
pne
Member
If you've been waiting for that train for years, you don't wait till there's just 2 minutes left on your ticket - you get out when there's still 20 minutes left (possibly missing a couple of "lesser" trains int he process) and get a new one with plenty of time left.
Not much different from "you are 2 minutes away from the station on foot and your train is leaving in 3 minutes, do you jump over the gateline or do you get a ticket from the TVM which might make you miss the train".
Get the ticket in plenty of time if it's important for you to be on (or in your case, near) the train.
Our railways become less user friendly year on year. Is it deliberate to stop growth and save investment money?
londonbridge
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Had a friend staying with me for a few days, when she went home I asked the gateline staff at East Croydon "Can I come through to see my friend on to the train or do I need a platform ticket"? and he opened the barrier and said "come through".
One scenario I can picture though is being let through the barrier and seeing someone off, then going to leave and finding that whilst you were on the platform the shift has changed and the staff member who let you through has gone, and having to convince the new staff of what you were doing when they ask why you don't have a ticket and they think you've just come off of a train.
One scenario I can picture though is being let through the barrier and seeing someone off, then going to leave and finding that whilst you were on the platform the shift has changed and the staff member who let you through has gone, and having to convince the new staff of what you were doing when they ask why you don't have a ticket and they think you've just come off of a train.
tsr
Established Member
If you are reasonable with the staff at East Croydon, I can 99.99% guarantee they will be decent in their response to you. Just explain what's going on and give the honest detail if they quiz you. They're mostly a good bunch these days (like others across most of the area), notwithstanding any prior flaws in ticket training, which shouldn't be relevant here. If the worst comes to the worst, East Croydon staff do often end up being in the area for a few moments after shift changeover, so it may be possible for them to get hold of the required person in a pinch.
However, they do mostly have to have their wits about them as there are unfortunately quite a few folks who will use any number of tactics to jump the barriers, dodge the fare or just make a nuisance of themselves. So don't worry if using Croydon area stations and you get a few questions.
As for some other TOCs, I couldn't always comment...
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From the ticket office.
It's actually 10p at Leeds - I purchased one yesterday as a souvenir of my visit!
My daughter was charged 20p How odd ...?
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