stations with Barriers

[martyn29]

Do you get issue with platform tickets or just let on if you ask. Would be interested to hear what people experience?

 

[Mintona]

The only local station I visit with barriers is Hereford. The barriers are very often open, but when they aren't, the platform staff tend to let me through to take photos, as I know quite a lot of them now

 

[class 313]

All of my local stations apart from St Albans Abbey has barriers, though I've never asked St Albans City staff to only go on the platforms to photo as I've always been going somewhere, I feel they are strict on that kind of thing. The barriers are only open early morning such as 1 - 3 maybe? I havn't stood there to find out the times

 

[Mojo]

At B'ham New Street I've had platform tickets given on the gateline by all members of staff (except one horrible woman who I now avoid) when the person with them has a valid ticket. (Central Trains)

Bristol Parkway they just let you through, and at Temple Meads they don't even care! (FGW)

Myself and others have tried to get platform tickets at Chiltern Stations & been told they don't do them, but they let you through if you have a valid excuse. I've heard people get them for "souvenir" purposes though.

On many occasions I simply purchace a single ticket to the cheapest station. Once a ticket office staff member told me when I wanted to leave I should return the ticket to him, undamaged, to claim a full refund!

 

[Daniel]

The only time I've ever got a platform ticket was at Basingstoke, where I was told to speak to gateline staff who immediately game me a blank ticket.

 

[metrocammel]

Myself and others have tried to get platform tickets at Chiltern Stations & been told they don't do them, but they let you through if you have a valid excuse. I've heard people get them for "souvenir" purposes though.

I have got a few London Marylebone APTIS platform tickets (the first one, there was actually a window specifically for issuing platform tickets- on a kettle special day). I then managed to get one at Moor Street once, at window M01, and then a few weeks later went back to try and get one from M02, and then woman said "It is company policy not to sell platform tickets", so I showed her the one I bought two weeks earlier- and she actually tried to get it off me - saying "i shouldn't have it"!! So, yes, perhaps it is Chiltern policy not to do platform tickets!- however I do think that goes against "ATOC rule".

 

[dan_atki]

Myself and others have tried to get platform tickets at Chiltern Stations & been told they don't do them, but they let you through if you have a valid excuse. I've heard people get them for "souvenir" purposes though.

I remember my mum coming home from work once to tell me she pressed the platform ticket button on the APTIS and went through every single type of ticket stock to get it to print the ticket but couldnt find one UNTIL she put an Annual Gold Card in
(wonder if that gives you unlimited access to platforms for a year for just 10p )

Later she was told that she shouldn't issue platform tickets because they didn't have the stock for them (but you couldn't cancel a button press on an APTIS without a reset I think so she was forced to find a ticket which worked).

On numerous occasions she has also told me that there was an envelope that arrived with five tickets of the platform ticket stock, actual instructions on issuing them, and an SAE from someone who wanted one printed from each machine in the office and sent back to them.

 

[Gizmogle]

I've had problems getting through barriers before. I am on a priv, and I have to use the luggage/disabled gates to get through. Which has been a problem before at Liverpool St and Reading because there was no one stood at the gates (which were locked) and the actual ticket barriers were also locked. So I just had to kind of stand there and wave my arm around until someone saw me.

Also, I've had ticket checkers on the barriers that don't have a clue what a priv is. One of them stood there for ages staring at it (I had not filled a date it) and then after a minute or so says "...so....you're 25?". No idea where he got that from cause there isn't a date of brith on it!

 

[me123]

I've had a problem at Glasgow Queen Street (Upper Level), but a ticket to Springburn got me through for about £1.

 

[nath9425]

Myself and others have tried to get platform tickets at Chiltern Stations & been told they don't do them, but they let you through if you have a valid excuse.

Exactly right.... I went to the ticket office at Banbury to ask for a platform ticket and she replyed " A what ? " - "PLATFORM TICKET" I replied, "We don't do them let me get the Customer Services Manager hock: "
*Thinks to self why on earth do I need to see him*
So this big fat bloke comes and said if you want to take photos contact the media department I'm like WTF So just said whatever and walked off up the stairs pass the Ticket Checker Person thingy thats sat in the cupboard and he said "Oh what you doing can I see your ticket " I said "Taking some photos thats all Mate" --- "Fine" He said...out of all my experience Chiltern are the worst TOC For Photos :-x

 

[Mojo]

Have you ever tried using the lift at Banbury to avoid the ticket checks?

Also, side gates may appear locked, but on many the magnets no longer work properly, presumably they've "worn down." [1] At Luton Airport Parkway the other day I had a big case and my friend was travelling on a free pass, no staff about outside of the ticket office, and about 15 people trying to get though.

I walked up to the gate and pushed firmly, whilst pressing my body weight on the metal bit. Normally it's not that difficult.

[1] There is also a "push through" feature required by the Railway Group standards but what I've done is certaintly weaker than this

 

[dan_atki]

Also, side gates may appear locked, but on many the magnets no longer work properly, presumably they've "worn down." [1] At Luton Airport Parkway the other day I had a big case and my friend was travelling on a free pass, no staff about outside of the ticket office, and about 15 people trying to get though.

...

[1] There is also a "push through" feature required by the Railway Group standards but what I've done is certaintly weaker than this

Luton Airport Parkway also has a dodgy automatic barrier - IIRC it's the one nearest to the lift (furthest from the ticket office) whereby if anything gets stuck in it when it closes, it automatically reopens for about 5-10 seconds....
(normally they stay firmly shut and a key/another ticket is needed to release the stuck item).

 

[NSEFAN]

Well, my local station, Princes Risborough, there aren't any barriers, but I frequently go to High Wycombe and Aylesbury, which both have barriers. I just buy the cheapest ticket available and go straight onto the platform to get the pics I want.

Generally, I only take pictures of other stations when I need to travel to them, but I've never been approached or questioned by anyone.

out of all my experience Chiltern are the worst TOC For Photos

I'm afraid all TOCs have their jobsworths ad:

I personally would just buy the cheapest return fare available, go onto the station and take the pictures. If anyone complains, just remind them of the National Rail guidelines that photography is allowed for personal use (which apply to ALL stations, regardless of TOC). If I want to take pictures, I generally avoid peak times if I can help it - I think taking pics in the peak times with all the busy trains around makes me look more 'suspicious' and thus the jobsworths will be even more keen to give you trouble :roll:

 

[Mojo]

Why do you buy a return (unless it's the same price)? You can simply say to the person on the barrier that you no longer want to travel, want to go to the shop or something.

 

[westcoaster]

did not have a problem with chiltern at both bicester and aylesbury, at aylesbury i explained i wanted to take some pics of the heritage dmu's and they let me passed the barrier's to do me business, and let me back through when i had finished

 

[devon_metro]

All of my local stations apart from St Albans Abbey has barriers, though I've never asked St Albans City staff to only go on the platforms to photo as I've always been going somewhere, I feel they are strict on that kind of thing. The barriers are only open early morning such as 1 - 3 maybe? I havn't stood there to find out the times

Does Radlett open its barriers at that time

 

[Gizmogle]

Does Radlett open its barriers at that time

*vomits*

 

[devon_metro]

I have never ONCE managed to pass through Exeter SD ticket barriers. It always has a fit when it sees my ticket and I end up having to 'Seek Assistance'

 

[westcoaster]

I have never ONCE managed to pass through Exeter SD ticket barriers. It always has a fit when it sees my ticket and I end up having to 'Seek Assistance'

hock: ha ha

 

[merseytrains]

When I had a pass, I could easily get throught the barriers at Lime Street, take photos and get back through again! Before that I used to buy a return ticket one stop out. Of course at one time I used to carry a printed off version of the guidlines from the Network Rail site

 

[Jord]

Well on 22nd September, i want to go on Aberdeen station to phot 40 145 passing through on a tour, what you reckon? will i be aloud on just for that?

 

[Gizmogle]

Well on 22nd September, i want to go on Aberdeen station to phot 40 145 passing through on a tour, what you reckon? will i be aloud on just for that?

Should be I reckon, unless you get a proper jobsworth. They should understand cause there will most likely be other enthusiasts around.

 

[class 313]

Does Radlett open its barriers at that time

Radlett doesn't have any...

*vomits*

That was Euston dear.

 

[Broken Viking]

Hail All!
I've only bought a platform ticket on one occasion, and that was when I was seeing off a good friend from Kings X Thameslink station about six months ago. This I was issued (On normal stock) without questions...Merely a request for a ten pence piece.

On the same note: Not only did the PT work perfectly for entry via the CTS gates at Kings X Thameslink, I was walking towards Euston afterwards...To save crossing the busy road junction above, I cut a route through Kings X Underground station and came up in the ticket hall beneath St. Pancras. My PT still worked for leaving the station via the LuL gates, too!

Incidentally...From a rules & regs point of view, is a platform ticket still necessary at stations without a gateline, like Newbury?

Farewell...
>> Death <<

 

[Mojo]

I wouldn't say so, unless the station is a Compulsory Ticket area. Interestingly enough, the signs warning you that you are entering such an area at Birmingham Moor Street are situated before it is even possible to reach the ticket machines or office. At Canary Wharf DLR, the red line on an entrance is also before you get to the Oyster readers!

 

[Tom B]

Most stations don't have ticket barriers though, you can just walk streight on. Most are in the south east where they always have a ticket office or machines.

 

[devon_metro]

Radlett doesn't have any...

Hmm. Thats a shame.

 

[pedned]

Coventry's got barriers leading from the ticket offices/station forecourt but not from where the retail park leads onto platform 1... theres a small ticket office there but the majority of time theres no-one in it, even if there is and you just walk past they dont seem to pay a blind bit of notice.

Typical Virmin staff i suppose!!!

Not sure if youre supposed to have aaptform ticket there, been kicked off platform 4 for "looking suspisious" before, and asked "where am i travelling to..." but never been asked if ive got a platform ticket.

 

[martyn29]

we have passes for the platform at Leicester