Numbers on Ticket Gates

[EbbwJunction1]

Do the numbers that are fixed to the ticket gates (just below the place where the tickets are inserted) have any relevance, please?

I've seen various numbers on different gates and, whilst they may be consecutive, the don't bear any resemblance to the platform numbers or the number of gates on a station.

For example, there are six gates on Newport station serving four platforms, but the numbers on all of them are in the 90's rathe than being one to six.
Cardiff Central also has a similar numbering system, although they have more gates, more platforms and their numbers are a different sequence.

It's something I've always been puzzled by ... can anyone help, please?

 

[David Sinnett]

Is it for the spotters who have 'got' all the trains? Ian Allan will have a book out soon.

 

[jon0844]

Can you imagine having to use every single gate so you can tick off every number in another book?!

What about gates out of use, or set to entry when you need to exit?!

 

[Simon11]

Or how about having a book with all the RPI & Conductors and your aim is to buy a ticket from each of them....

 

[CyrusWuff]

Being serious for a moment, the gate numbers are there to enable Engineers (and gateline staff) to identify a faulty gate. Not quite sure how it'd work if a station had more than 100 gates mind you!

 

[Mojo]

Or how about having a book with all the RPI & Conductors and your aim is to buy a ticket from each of them....

When I first had a railway job I came across a well-known traveller who was referred to as "Becky Pendolino." Said person held a weekly First class season ticket between Birmingham and Cheltenham and spent all day travelling back and forward between the two stations, wearing women's clothing, and then talking to the staff on-board and at New Street station. On this person's laptop was a spreadsheet with names of the on-board staff, whether they had their ticket checked, amongst other things. They also bought their ticket on-board from the Train Manager.

There was talk of this person getting banned, no idea if they are still out and about. But I did see them at St Pancakes about a year or two ago... still wearing the same attire!

 

[jon0844]

Or how about having a book with all the RPI & Conductors and your aim is to buy a ticket from each of them....

You'd need a big book if you wanted to check the staff that let you through (or not) with valid tickets at places like St Pancras (HS1) and Paddington.

Imagine if you also had to tick off every single error code on a Cubic gateline too...

 

[bb21]

It wouldn't surprise me if there is someone out there who does this.

Now does it matter which way you walk through a gate? Perhaps all gates should be ticked off for entry and exit?

 

[wibble]

Being serious for a moment, the gate numbers are there to enable Engineers (and gateline staff) to identify a faulty gate. Not quite sure how it'd work if a station had more than 100 gates mind you!

London Waterloo has around 160 gates and they are split into two groups, so individual gate numbers will be duplicated in each group.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Being serious for a moment, the gate numbers are there to enable Engineers (and gateline staff) to identify a faulty gate. Not quite sure how it'd work if a station had more than 100 gates mind you!

London Waterloo has around 160 gates and they are split into two groups, so individual gate numbers will be duplicated in each group.

Ah, so there is a reason for them, is there?

I was (and am still) confused about the apparent randomness (if there's such a word!) of the numbering.

Thanks!