Trainspotting rules at some stations

[IanPooleTrains]

Does anyone have any idea of if it is okay or not to snap at the following stations?

Gloucester
Cheltenham Spa
Ely
Barking

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I have heard of people having problems at Barking, although not recently.

 

[lm321412]

I thought it was ok to "snap" at any station...


I usually carry a copy of the "Enthusiasts Guidelines" especially when in London and especially at Liverpool Street...

 

[Dai.]

I've never known anyone having trouble at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa. So you should be okay. As Said above, a copy of the enthusiast guidelines is good to carry round

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/guidelines_for_rail_enthusiasts.html

 

[strange6]

I thought it was ok to "snap" at any station...


I usually carry a copy of the "Enthusiasts Guidelines" especially when in London and especially at Liverpool Street...

When I watch the traffic police on telly, if somebody has a go at the cameraman, they say something like, 'he can film what he wants - it's a public place'.
So no, I don't think they can stop you

 

[MidnightFlyer]

When I watch the traffic police on telly, if somebody has a go at the cameraman, they say something like, 'he can film what he wants - it's a public place'.
So no, I don't think they can stop you

Different rules of play operate on railways though - I think the staff have a reservced right not to be filmed, and tripods etc are forbidden.

 

[142094]

There is no law against using tripods (unless they try and use some obscure health and safety law), but the guidelines say they should be used in consideration, such as not at platform edges, in busy areas etc.

 

[transportphoto]

Last time I visited Ely is fine with Spotters

 

[ralphchadkirk]

When I watch the traffic police on telly, if somebody has a go at the cameraman, they say something like, 'he can film what he wants - it's a public place'.
So no, I don't think they can stop you

Railway stations are not a public area, they are private property.

 

[nedchester]

Railway stations are not a public area, they are private property.

That maybe but the network rail guidelines say you can take photos. So that's the end of it.

You don't have to ask permission either but you may just inform the staff what you are doing if you wish to hang around for a bit (subtle difference)

 

[deltic1989]

As a rule when I intend to hand around photting at a station for more than an hour or so I tend to seek out the duty station manager, and ask thier permission. I find that if you politely ask then you normally get co-operation from the staff, also the staff then know you are there and what you are doing. I especially make an effort to do this if im at a mainline station (my usual haunt being Newark Northgate) because then I can't be mistaken for a terrorist doing recconissence or something like that. The magager is gennerally ok with it but they usually stipulate that staff cannot appear in any photographs, which to me is fair enough im there to phott trains not staff. also as mentioned tripods arent advised as they can get in the way, I never have and never will use a tripod as i prefer 'free hand' photography. Most places I've been have generally been very good, with the exeption of a misunderstanding at Crewe after a shift change (but that is another very very long story).

 

[nedchester]

As a rule when I intend to hand around photting at a station for more than an hour or so I tend to seek out the duty station manager, and ask thier permission. I find that if you politely ask then you normally get co-operation from the staff, also the staff then know you are there and what you are doing. I especially make an effort to do this if im at a mainline station (my usual haunt being Newark Northgate) because then I can't be mistaken for a terrorist doing recconissence or something like that. The magager is gennerally ok with it but they usually stipulate that staff cannot appear in any photographs, which to me is fair enough im there to phott trains not staff. also as mentioned tripods arent advised as they can get in the way, I never have and never will use a tripod as i prefer 'free hand' photography. Most places I've been have generally been very good, with the exeption of a misunderstanding at Crewe after a shift change (but that is another very very long story).

Have staff signed some sort of privacy clause?!!

I find adding staff to a photo adds interest.

 

[Chester025]

Ah yes the good old signing in at stations to 'aid' our safety, heaven forbid anyone who should dare to hang around with a notebook and a camera to take a few snaps.

 

[Any Permitted]

All the railway stations in the United Kingdom are private property therefore you don't have any rights to enter them, take photos or hang around unless the person/concern running them says you do.

Luckily rail photography is allowed by National Rail and the ToCs here but if they say you can't take photos of their staff or use tripods then well, that's their prerogative and you should respect that. If you were on a public street or in another public area then you'd be well within your rights to take photos of trains and buildings and whatever else you wanted but when it's private property you are only there because the operator allows you to be there.

Sorry I know it's not what you want to hear but it's true. I'm a really keen advocate of photographers rights but where private property is concerned it's a whole different kettle of fish.

 

[Zoe]

All the railway stations in the United Kingdom are private property

Stations in Northern Ireland are owned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, this company is owned by the government. In Great Britain, although photopgraphy is not prohibited I'm not sure you have any right to be on a station if you don't intend to travel.

 

[Any Permitted]

Stations in Northern Ireland are owned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, this company is owned by the government. In Great Britain, although photopgraphy is not prohibited I'm not sure you have any right to be on a station if you don't intend to travel.

Ah, well, perhaps the situation in NI is different. I know literally nothing about it.

 

[Chester025]

I'm not sure you have any right to be on a station if you don't intend to travel.

Yes but what harm are you doing if you are just there for a few hours keeping out of the way taking a few photos? Why all the rigmarole of having to 'sign in'? It's just nonsense!

 

[Zoe]

Yes but what harm are you doing if you are just there for a few hours keeping out of the way taking a few photos? Why all the rigmarole of having to 'sign in'? It's just nonsense!

At the end of the day, the owner of private property has the right to have you removed. Personally I don't beleive they should be using this right to remove enthusiasts but the law does seem to be on their side. In the age we live in today where terrorism is a threat I'm not sure you can blame them for not taking any chances.

 

[GB]

This topic always makes me smile. On the one hand you have some enthusiasts who bleat on about the guidelines and how they have rights to be on platforms and then its usually the very same enthusiasts that fail to comply with the guidelines themselfs and then get all hot and bothered when staff make a challenge.

Double standards me thinks.

Not directed at anyone particular in this thread, rather just an observation.

 

[Chester025]

This topic always makes me smile. On the one hand you have some enthusiasts who bleat on about the guidelines and how they have rights to be on platforms and then its usually the very same enthusiasts that fail to comply with the guidelines themselfs and then get all hot and bothered when staff make a challenge.

Double standards me thinks.

Not directed at anyone particular in this thread, rather just an observation.

Yeah some enthusiasts act inappropiatley on stations, but most don't so why should they be tarred with the same brush?

 

[Any Permitted]

Yes but what harm are you doing if you are just there for a few hours keeping out of the way taking a few photos? Why all the rigmarole of having to 'sign in'? It's just nonsense!

If National Rail decided tomorrow they wanted everyone who shoots on their stations to pay £5 or to have to dance a jig or to sacrifice their first born son then they'd be within their legal rights to do so.

If you go to Norwich Cathedral you have to pay £2 to get a little permit to photograph it, it's acceptable really because the money goes to the upkeep and they're totally within their legal right to do it.

Whether it's stupid or pointless or boring it doesn't matter, it's their inclination.

 

[Zoe]

Yeah some enthusiasts act inappropiatley on stations, but most don't so why should they be tarred with the same brush?

Is it that unreasoable to inform the person in charge of the station what you are doing? AS I say in this age there are concerns of terrorism and due to copyright that also want to be sure that the photos you are taking are for personal and not commercial use.

 

[Chester025]

If National Rail decided tomorrow they wanted everyone who shoots on their stations to pay £5 or to have to dance a jig or to sacrifice their first born son then they'd be within their legal rights to do so.

You know what, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they did that these days! :roll:

Perhaps the idea with Norwich Cathedral is good, but the rail network is not a charity.

 

[Zoe]

National Rail is a brand used be ATOC. It has nothing to do with station ownserhsip.

 

[Chester025]

Is it that unreasoable to inform the person in charge of the station what you are doing? AS I say in this age there are concerns of terrorism and due to copyright that also want to be sure that the photos you are taking are for personal and not commercial use.

So every person there has to inform the station master of their presence then? Yeah ok...

As for blaming it on terrorism, please don't fall for the paranoia.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

National Rail is a brand used be ATOC. It has nothing to do with station ownserhsip.

I was trying to refer to the entire network, excluding preserved lines of course.

 

[Zoe]

So every person person has to inform the station master of their presence then? Yeah ok...

As for blaming it on terrorism, please don't fall for the paranoia.

See my comments above about copyright also. Due to this and concerns about terrorism it's only fair that you inform the staff what you are doing.

 

[Any Permitted]

You know what, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they did that these days! :roll:

Perhaps the idea with Norwich Cathedral is good, but the National Rail network is not a charity.

I don't really do much train-spotting but I gather sometimes you have to buy a platform ticket which is a similar levy. Also I know if you're shooting commercially on LU you need a permit which costs.

Still, everyone who complains should just be thankful for the fact they're allowed to do what they're allowed to do. It's way beyond the legal responsibilities of the station operators and, as we all know, spotters can sometimes do things that don't give their group the best names.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

National Rail is a brand used be ATOC. It has nothing to do with station ownserhsip.

I always get National Rail / Network Rail mixed up. I'm not even sure who owns most of the stations, is it Network Rail, ToCs or private concerns?

 

[Zoe]

I always get National Rail / Network Rail mixed up. I'm not even sure who owns most of the stations, is it Network Rail, ToCs or private concerns?

Network Rail own the stations but lease the majority to the TOCs. Even at the few stations Network Rail manage directly, the TOCs tend to run the ticket offices and do the dispatching. The main exception to this is Birmingham New Street where all trains are dispatched by Network Rail staff.

 

[Any Permitted]

Network Rail own the stations but lease the majority to the TOCs. Even at the few stations Network Rail manage directly, the TOCs tend to run the ticket offices and do the dispatching. The main exception to this is Birmingham New Street where all trains are dispatched by Network Rail staff.

Ah I see why I got confused now. I didn't know there was such disparity between who owned and ran the stations. I knew NR own and ran the big terminii and major hubs but I wasn't sure who owned stations like Norwich or York.

 

[GB]

So every person person has to inform the station master of their presence then? Yeah ok...

If thats what it says in the guidelines (or TOCs website) then yes, that is how it is supposed to be done, though I'm sure any member of station staff should suffice.

Whether you agree with it or not is irrelevent, if you fail to comply then in my opinion you have no rights or back up if staff decide to get heavy.