There's to be no standing on the platform

[oldman]

Scene: Blackpool North

I was standing on the platform in the fresh air, next to a train leaving in 10 minutes.

Northern staff member: are you all right; where are you travelling to.

Me: Preston

Him: It's that train.

Me: Yes I know.

Him: You'll need to board. There's not to be standing on the platform.

Is this a rule? Or was he just being officious for the sake of it?

 

[47802]

Sounds about right for Blackpool which has got to be the most Passenger/Enthusiast/Photographer unfriendly stations certainly in the north and seemed to be much the same in BR days as I recall, I must say I'm also impressed where they placed the barriers not! leaving most of the station out of bounds unless you have a ticket.

 

[Mugby]

Surely that is something which couldn't be enforced?

 

[Sheepy1209]

No idea why they're so strict there, it's just how it's always been - though I'm not sure it's really necessary now there are ticket barriers. It does help prevent people getting on the wrong train (no need for information screens on the platform), but I'd rather they moved the barriers to make more room around the station entrance, and kept the platforms open.

 

[deltic]

Part of the approach the rail industry is taking to reduce suicides? Especially as he first of all asked if you were okay. Many stations now are plastered with Samaritan posters and some staff have been given training to spot behaviour that lead cause for concern.

 

[142094]

Sure this has always been the case at Blackpool Nth, even before the automatic barriers were in place.

Part of the reason may be the fact that there is often someone there to clean and prep the train, including putting a water hose across the platform. Better to do this without passengers on the platform for obvious reasons.

 

[CockneySparrow]

Yes, the staff at Blackpool North do have an attitude, keeping the doors locked until 5 minutes before the train leaves is more than a bit OTT

One day I got on the platform from another door about a minute later a member of staff approached me

 

[racyrich]

Yesterday morning at Fenchurch St, as I arrived, the announcer was instructing someone on the other platform to walk back towards the concourse. The reckless hooligan had apparently had the temerity to wander the length of the platform while making a mobile phone call. Shocking behaviour.

 

[34D]

Yes, the staff at Blackpool North do have an attitude, keeping the doors locked until 5 minutes before the train leaves is more than a bit OTT

One day I got on the platform from another door about a minute later a member of staff approached me

Seconded

 

[Crossover]

Thirded!

I have only been there a couple of times and the reception has been a little frosty on each occasion. I know others who have wound the staff up by being in places the staff don't want you, too. It's funny, all the timid Northern guards become pro Blackpool staff too, from what I have seen! The constant locking and unlocking of doors seems something of a pointless exercise. On the plus, when I was there on Saturday, they opened up a good 10 minutes before departure, which was welcome

The final twist in it was that my ticket from Dewsbury to Blackpool North wouldn't go through the barrier (in either direction) with error "not valid at this location"...wonderful :roll:
Maybe it was trying to tell me something

 

[Hyphen]

Yes, the staff at Blackpool North do have an attitude

I found this too!

Only time I've ever visited Blackpool was a few years ago, at the height of the November 2010 strong winds (don't ask me why we went to Blackpool in November - there wasn't anything to do...). The two of us were on ALRs. We were on our 6th day of the trip by this point, and we'd long discovered our tickets didn't operate any gates. So I did what had become the norm at each set of barriers - I went first and showed my ticket to the gateline assistant.

Far from being willing to inspect the ticket, he insisted I put it through the barrier, which (unsurprisingly enough) didn't work. Only then did he inspect the ticket and let me through. My companion showed her ticket, exactly the same as mine, but again he insisted it had to be put through the barrier first...! And yet again, it still didn't work.

We had exactly the same treatment on the way back in, too

EDIT: I've mostly tried to forget that visit in its entirety, but I also seem to recall we had to join the back of one of a couple of orderly queues before being allowed to board the train...

 

[AlterEgo]

Yesterday morning at Fenchurch St, as I arrived, the announcer was instructing someone on the other platform to walk back towards the concourse. The reckless hooligan had apparently had the temerity to wander the length of the platform while making a mobile phone call. Shocking behaviour.

People who wander to the end of the platforms may arouse a suspicion of wanting to trespass or worse, commit suicide. Admittedly it is less likely in a terminus station but by no means unheard of. The railway now has initiatives and training to spot this kind of behaviour. 99 times out of 100 it's not necessary, but one time it might save a life.

 

[jon0844]

Part of the approach the rail industry is taking to reduce suicides? Especially as he first of all asked if you were okay. Many stations now are plastered with Samaritan posters and some staff have been given training to spot behaviour that lead cause for concern.

Yeah, but the end result shouldn't be a passenger getting so angry that they chuck the staff under a train!!

Checking someone is okay is fine. Once that's established, let them be surely? You could argue that someone suicidal might put on a convincing and brave face, thus fooling staff, but I think it was established in the thread about the platform fences/gates that simply saying 'hello' can often be enough to stop someone.

 

[yorkie]

Is this a rule? Or was he just being officious for the sake of it?

I know who you mean, as do many other people. He is infamously rude. It's a local 'rule' that he invented.

If anyone is wondering why McNulty proposed many staff cuts, I believe it's because he visited Blackpool North and saw this individual spending all his time locking/unlocking doors and harassing customers. When you observe this behaviour you can only reach one conclusion: that he has nothing better to do. He must have assumed that applied everywhere! However, it's not a situation replicated elsewhere in the country, and is unique to Blackpool North.

 

[bengley]

People who wander to the end of the platforms may arouse a suspicion of wanting to trespass or worse, commit suicide. Admittedly it is less likely in a terminus station but by no means unheard of. The railway now has initiatives and training to spot this kind of behaviour. 99 times out of 100 it's not necessary, but one time it might save a life.

Staff at Fen St are generally very unwelcoming to photographers and question everyone who has a camera on the station!

 

[Techniquest]

So glad I'm not the only one who has less than pleasant memories of Blackpool North. A God-forsaken station as it is, made far worse by less than helpful or friendly rail staff...

I've had all the issues other forum members have already posted on my only visit to BPN in October 2008. Why would I go there at that time of year? Part of an all-nighter to get in place for a Tyne Valley diverts weekend, and I needed the route to BPN so figured I'd get it in to kill time.

Blackpool South, in comparison, is absolutely fine for staff. Why? It's unstaffed Just I had to endure some rather, shall we say, less than pleasant passengers on my way back from Blackpool South. I don't know how common such people are up there but I sure didn't feel comfortable being in the same universe as them, let alone the same train! Thankfully the passengers on my train from Squires Gate were far better, although I still find it weird how it's far easier for me to get Advances to/from Squires Gate than it is to Preston or Blackpool North

 

[Searle]

I quote from a previous trip report of mine:

I went to take a picture of the 12:20 which was waiting to depart from platform 4 (my York train was on 6), which prompted a member of staff to quickly walk over to me and point towards my train. I then moved over to Platform 7 to take a picture of a TPE 185, and the staff followed me, telling me that my train is on Platform 6, before closing off Platform 7 with a barrier!

I walked down to the front of my train, and saw that a Northern service from Liverpool South Parkway, so I walked to the side of Platform 5, and started to take some photos. I briefly looked behind me to see the guard of my train and the platform staff waving at me angrily! Not really realising what was going on, I continued to take photos, which prompted the guard to blow his whistle loudly at me, as he marched down the platform towards me, to tell me that I was a security risk and that I should board my train straight away

Yes, the staff at Blackpool North are unnecessarily strict in my opinion, maybe it's the sea air that makes them all miserable!

 

[Starmill]

Yes, the staff at Blackpool North are unnecessarily strict in my opinion, maybe it's the sea air that makes them all miserable!

It could be that.... or it could just be that it's Blackpool

 

[Techniquest]

It could be that.... or it could just be that it's Blackpool

Having not properly explored the place properly, but seen some of it from the train, you could be right Even Leominster looks exciting compared to what I saw of Blackpool!

(You really need to be a local to properly get that one...)

 

[Starmill]

Having not properly explored the place properly, but seen some of it from the train, you could be right Even Leominster looks exciting compared to what I saw of Blackpool!

(You really need to be a local to properly get that one...)

Outside of high summer, it's a thoroughly awful place.

You totally need to see it for yourself though!

 

[507 001]

Having not properly explored the place properly, but seen some of it from the train, you could be right Even Leominster looks exciting compared to what I saw of Blackpool!

(You really need to be a local to properly get that one...)

Outside of high summer, it's a thoroughly awful place.

You totally need to see it for yourself though!

Inside of high summer it's also a thoroughly awful place.

The last time I went to Blackpool North must have been 96/97 (I was about 5 I think.) I remember it being exactly the same then, we weren't allowed on the platform till minutes before departure, odd staff etc. I can remember thinking it was strange compared to the uber friendly staff on my native merseyrail who at the time were more than happy to let you cab trains/answer questions etc.

 

[oldman]

I remember now that when we arrived at Blackpool, the door from the platform to the concourse was closed, and we were directed past the platform ends to another door. Looks like an exercise in crowd control only without the crowds.

 

[47802]

I do travel by train to Blackpool sometimes as I have relatives who live their, but I don't hang about in the station as I know what a miserable bunch they are, although asking someone to board the train and not hang about on the platform before the train departs is impressive, I might try that next time I return from Blackpool.

I've never bothered trying to get photo's on the platform, as I recall being there in the 90's and seeing an enthusiast being escorted off the platform along with the no photo's without official written permission etc, etc.

 

[Greenback]

I've only been to Blackpool once, and that was more than twenty years ago. I spent part of a windswept birthday in one of the grimmest pubs I've ever been to, and I haven't bothered to go back since.

If the attitude of the staff is poor, it isn't much of a surprise given the surroundings. Although, in fairness, things may have improved since 1993.

 

[38Cto15E]

On my visit to Blackpool North in January 2013 I found the wait in the concourse and then run like hell Easyjet style (for a good seat) a lot different to what i have encountered anywhere else on the Railway system.
Ooops, I forgot St Pancras MML is not very customer friendly, but it is slightly busier than Blackpool North.

 

[LateThanNever]

Scene: Blackpool North

I was standing on the platform in the fresh air, next to a train leaving in 10 minutes.

Northern staff member: are you all right; where are you travelling to.

Me: Preston

Him: It's that train.

Me: Yes I know.

Him: You'll need to board. There's not to be standing on the platform.

Is this a rule? Or was he just being officious for the sake of it?

Are there any seats/benches on the platform?

If there are then I should sit down!

But there is certainly no way "no standing on the platform" can be enforced! Tell that to the hoards waiting at Clapham Junction!

 

[andythebrave]

Looks like I won't be planning any trips to Blackpool any time soon.

 

[Greenback]

Looks like I won't be planning any trips to Blackpool any time soon.

No, I urge you to visit the town as soon as possible. It will give you a different perspective, and you will never again rule out Port Talbot as an attractive holiday destination!

 

[47802]

No, I urge you to visit the town as soon as possible. It will give you a different perspective, and you will never again rule out Port Talbot as an attractive holiday destination!

I actually don't think Blackpool is that bad, yes there some bits which are not great, and its past its hey day as a holiday resort but doesn't that apply to most UK holiday resorts, but a lot of money has been spent on new sea defences and sea front, along with the new trams, which should be extended to Blackpool North, but the last I herd the council leader didn't want to spend the money on it despite getting most of the money for it from Lancashire council.

I can certainly think of plenty of other places which are worse, well station staff excepted, I would count Rhyl, Morecambe and Barrow as worse for starters

 

[Howardh]

Blackpool is good one day of the year - Good Friday. The locals spend hours in happy amusement watching wardens ticket all the tourist cars that have fallen foul of the parking restrictions which kick in for the summer on Good Friday!