Fine. So, with many thanks to those with extensive local knowledge, the ‘answer’ for Bentley (South Yorks) is “15 minutes”.
This does perhaps raise the question as to whether standing information, timetable notes, local signage and so forth should include this helpful advice (and equivalent advice elsewhere with similar situations).
Asking people to arrive 15 minutes before the departure of the service really isn’t going to encourage people to use it.
Curious - how do they check? And if there are, what do they do?
But back to the OP's question of "what are my rights?" (I think he meant responsibilities) - the train departed on time, and he wasn't on it - albeit delayed reaching the platform by circumstances outside his control. Unfortunate, but hardly the responsibility of the train operator - no different than had his bus run late, or he'd been caught behind an accident.
Nobody has to ask them to arrive 15 mins early. The suggestion was that people might want to allow 15 mins. As usual, it's up to the individual to take responsibility for themselves, not just assume that someone else has sorted it out for them.
Is it not reasonable to assume that if you arrive at a station say within 5 mins of a train departing that you will be able to get to that train within 5 mins? If not what should the number of mins be - you have suggested 15 - that is quite a lot.
so it's not unreasonable to suggest passengers to turn up 15 minutes before the train is due, if you're driving, parking up, buying a ticket, & the ticket office or TVM happens to be on the other platform.
Is it not reasonable to assume that if you arrive at a station say within 5 mins of a train departing that you will be able to get to that train within 5 mins? If not what should the number of mins be - you have suggested 15 - that is quite a lot.
Fair enough if thats the case then they (the TOC) need to suggest it then. If you are using the station for the first time how are you supposed to know this?
I know of many level crossings where there is no alternative. Indeed, if there were alternatives then this thread would not need to exist.If the crossing fails with the barriers up, then the route could not be cleared and the protecting signal would be held at danger. If the crossing fails with the barriers down, usually, there is a bridge or subway for pedestrians to get to the other side
I know of many level crossings where there is no alternative. Indeed, if there were alternatives then this thread would not need to exist.
That's simple. If you've never used the station before allow 15 minutes. Does this really need to be spelt out ?
Which is precisely why I said usually.
I would wager that there are more stations with alternative access than there are with none
Bare Lane is a nightmare for this kind of thing.......the two lines work as independent sidings so a train can use either platform in either direction. If you're on the wrong platform when the train arrives then you've no chance.
Yes, caught me out once and I used to live within sight/sound of it. I was on the wrong side of the crossing, in plenty of time, as the barriers were down for it to go to Morecambe, and I planned to catch it on it's way back towards Lancaster. It went but the barriers stayed down. Then the NR yellow train came through on the other line after about 5-10 minutes, very slowly. Barriers stayed down after it passed, then the Morecambe>Lancaster train came back and I missed it. That's the problem when the level crossings are taken away - the crossing keeper would have raised the barriers or at least held the train until the barriers rose and people could run across for it. Now it's controlled by Preston, no-one cares about passengers (or even vehicles) being stuck at closed barriers for silly amounts of time.
I would say yes. If they don't allow you enough time between changing of trains then it's their responsibility.Would the operators responsibilities be different if the OP had arrived by train wanting to make a connection? A good example would be Ash Station which has a minimum connection time of 5 minutes, but it would easily be possible to arrive on time from Reading, connecting to Farnham and miss the connection because the gates were down
With a fixed walking connection does someone have to complete it within 10 minutes or whatever the official time is, in order to be able to claim delay repay if they miss their connection? I would have thought yes.Actually post on the first page reminded me of one time I didn't make it 5-6 years ago. Got off at Ash Vale with ticket person saying North Camp was a comfortable 10 minute walk. Had 20 minutes before scheduled train so walked at leisurely pace. Got within sight of North Camp and then the barriers came down. Pretty sure that's only an hourly route to Reading so then had a very frustrating wait.