Wimbledon Station Fast Line platform barriers

[XCTurbostar]

Hi Guys,
I've been researching Wimbledon station as a photography location and I am interested in whether the Fast Line platform barriers are openable or whether you can request them to be opened. I know that they are occasionally open to traffic at weekends but I'm mostly interested in weekdays.

Does anyone have any experience with these or other SWR stations?

Thanks,

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They won't open them for that, but they're low enough that you can just take pictures over the top of them.

 

[JonathanH]

I've been researching Wimbledon station as a photography location and I am interested in whether the Fast Line platform barriers are openable or whether you can request them to be opened. I know that they are occasionally open to traffic at weekends but I'm mostly interested in weekdays.

The purpose of platform barriers is obvious. They will be opened when the platform is needed, and kept locked shut at all other times.

They won't open them for that, but they're low enough that you can just take pictures over the top of them.

Or even through them.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Many thanks both

 

[Basil Jet]

I imagine they would be served by many trains and open for long periods during the tennis tournament, but I don't actually know.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think looking at an aerial view the barriers are pretty close to the platform edge at the London end, surely it would make little difference to photography. Unless you actually want or need to stand exactly above the yellow line, I think you’d be near enough. It’s not as though they’ve built the fences down the centre line…

 

[WizCastro197]

I imagine they would be served by many trains and open for long periods during the tennis tournament, but I don't actually know.

Yes correct. Last year, trains to Exeter St Davids stopped on the fast platforms around the Wimbledon Tennis, I am unsure whether trains bound for Weymouth did the same?

Are Wimbldeon's fast line platform barriers like that of Purley's?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think looking at an aerial view the barriers are pretty close to the platform edge at the London end, surely it would make little difference to photography. Unless you actually want or need to stand exactly above the yellow line, I think you’d be near enough. It’s not as though they’ve built the fences down the centre line…

They're not all that close to the fast line platform edges, positioned roughly 75% slow / 25% fast of the platform width, and if anything they're a help for photography - you're not going to get anyone walking in the way of the shot...

 

[TEW]

I imagine they would be served by many trains and open for long periods during the tennis tournament, but I don't actually know.

Access is still controlled and you wouldn't be allowed to just hang round on the platform for a long period.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Hi Guys,
I've been researching Wimbledon station as a photography location and I am interested in whether the Fast Line platform barriers are openable or whether you can request them to be opened. I know that they are occasionally open to traffic at weekends but I'm mostly interested in weekdays.

Does anyone have any experience with these or other SWR stations?

Thanks,

You might want to get explicit written permission in advance.

In my experience Wimbledon has Network Rail Trespass & Welfare officers (who wear pinkish tabards). These staff also work at other station along the line such as Surbiton and Pokesdown.

As I discovered when trying to take a general reference photograph at Pokesdown from a position well back on the platform whilst waiting for a train, these officers also have a role in enforcing the photography ban. This was confirmed when I asked the officer to contact his supervisor. In the case of Pokesdown it is apparently necessary to apply for a permit somewhere on Bournemouth station. I do not know the equivalent process for Wimbledon.

Best of luck.

 

[swt_passenger]

You might want to get explicit written permission in advance.

In my experience Wimbledon has Network Rail Trespass & Welfare officers (who wear pinkish tabards). These staff also work at other station along the line such as Surbiton and Pokesdown.

As I discovered when trying to take a general reference photograph at Pokesdown from a position well back on the platform whilst waiting for a train, these officers also have a role in enforcing the photography ban. This was confirmed when I asked the officer to contact his supervisor.

There is no “photography ban”. They’re making it up. But there are many previous threads about that issue.

 

[WesternBiker]

There is no “photography ban”. They’re making it up. But there are many previous threads about that issue.

I've taken pictures at both Wimbledon and Surbiton but reasonably discreetly, and always standing well back from the platform edge (though I guess any problems about "bans" are usually down to individual jobsworths).

As Peter Mugridge says, the fences aren't that high. When the platforms are in use, they tend to be open only for the specific stoppers: the positioning of the fences makes the platforms narrow, so they don't let people hang around when fast trains are going through the platforms.