Will Finsbury Barriers Work?

[mallangong]

I have been watching the (slow) progress with barriers at Finsbury Park which are now at last starting to take shape (at least on platform 5/6). However I see two major problems with the idea and implementation:

1. As it is, peak times cause major blockages on the narrow platform stairs. I imagine it will cause havoc with just one (let alone 2) train load of passengers all trying to exit at the same time, only to be confronted with a barrier. Will this number of passengers on the platform and the crush not be dangerous? (Or likewise the opposite going up the stairs.)

2. I (and most of those I know) prefer to use FP due to the shorter connection to the tube compared to Kings X. That said I imagine there are those who do it to try an avoid the fare. In this case will those who really want to avoid the fare just not buy the cheapest ticket to open the barrier (presumably a FP-Kings X) and so still get away with it?

Surely the solution is to have more RPI not barriers.

M

 

[stut]

I'd like to see how well they work when they pull yet another 3-to-5 platform alteration in the evening peak with all of 2 minutes' notice.

 

[yorkie]

I have been watching the (slow) progress with barriers at Finsbury Park which are now at last starting to take shape (at least on platform 5/6)....

on the platforms?! any photos of this? sounds a bit bizarre to me!

DfT is obsessed with barriers and have been forcing TOCs to put barriers up. They aren't particularly interested in passengers having a good experience and they will get round the H&S issues by just saying standard cop-out lines like 'they will be opened in an emergency' and other feeble excuses.

 

[Failed Unit]

This thread has a familiar ring to it, but it does seem strange the are going on the platforms. Is this the only way they do it to prevent tube passengers getting onto the trains for free. Considering most tube stations are gated is this a big problem or are FCC concerned that tube passengers will just buy zone 2 tickets and then go onwards to Biggleswade.

All sounds odd to me when tube passengers can just Switch to highbury and islington and do the same thing.

I agree RPI is the way forward, barriers are too easy to con. Single to Drayton park please (or harringay)

 

[philjo]

The set up sounds like the situation at Welwyn Garden City.
There are barriers at the bottom of the steps on each island platform.
The footbridge is a right of way, so they can't block that off. It means queues when everyone get off the train to go through the barriers (used in both directions)

PLatforms 1&2 at Finsbury Park could be interesting in the mornings - often 2 trains in the platforms at the same time with passengers transferrring to Piccadilly line.
At Finsbury Park there isn't room for separate barriers at the bottom of the steps, but they could have just gated the exit from the station?

 

[Failed Unit]

I am not sure why they couldn't have gated the main entrance either and protected the underground while they were at it.

 

[stut]

I am not sure why they couldn't have gated the main entrance either and protected the underground while they were at it.

IIRC, Finsbury Park Underground station has a public right of way through part of it (the tunnel linking up to Seven Sisters road being part of it) and the tunnel that leads to the Underground platforms has nowhere near enough room to install barriers.

So, putting barriers at the railway station entrance would still leave an exit open - down the spirals and back up the other end.

 

[jon0844]

The gates are going in on platforms 5 and 6 starting with fencing work that began earlier this week, and 1-2 will be a little longer as they've had to gut out part of the building, rather than knock it all down (listed?), to make room. I could see that they've got a very large opening now directly ahead of the stairs coming up - but haven't quite worked out how it is supposed to work as there are still quite large walls to block people.

I haven't been able to find out how many gates there will be - but there is more room than at WGC. WGC is a rather unique station, as 4 gates is nowhere near enough at busy times and means revenue protection can only really take place off-peak. Mind you, to a certain extent that might be sufficient. If they kept them open until the last train around 0208, I am sure they'd make money (not from PFs but from more ticket sales, or less problems on the trains as those who don't wish to pay, don't travel).

 

[jopsuk]

Cambridge has around two-three times the passenger numbers of WGC. Whilst there are seven gates (including three wide-access) two are positioned such that they're useless for anyone other than those coming from the ticket windows. For the majority of commuting passengers, there's basically three normal gates and two wide access. Never yet encountered, other than late at night or if power has failed, the gates all open. Seems to cope (just)

 

[jon0844]

If everyone could swipe out with a smartcard, I'm sure the gates would be fine. Old Street has just four gates going in at 5.30pm - when it becomes packed - and the queues move fine, until someone with a damaged paper ticket comes along!

That said, on the Tube, it can be deliberate to hold people up to regulate the flow down to the platforms. On rail, that could mean a long wait for the next train!