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Fencing on platforms

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geoffk

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Stalybridge.jpg The attached shows the fencing apparently considered necessary to prevent passengers trying to board a train from the wrong side, in this case at bay platform 2 at Stalybridge. Other stations with similar platforms have the same. Surely a sign saying "please do not board trains on this side" would be sufficient.
 
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Meole

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View attachment 73865 The attached shows the fencing apparently considered necessary to prevent passengers trying to board a train from the wrong side, in this case at bay platform 2 at Stalybridge. Other stations with similar platforms have the same. Surely a sign saying "please do not board trains on this side" would be sufficient.
You have a lot of faith in passengers !
 

DarloRich

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View attachment 73865 The attached shows the fencing apparently considered necessary to prevent passengers trying to board a train from the wrong side, in this case at bay platform 2 at Stalybridge. Other stations with similar platforms have the same. Surely a sign saying "please do not board trains on this side" would be sufficient.

clearly not...............
 

geoffk

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The doors don't open on the "wrong" side so it should be clear it's not a platform.
 

Spartacus

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The doors don't open on the "wrong" side so it should be clear it's not a platform.

Again, you've a lot of faith in passengers.

Not only this though but it does prevent passengers jumping down or accidentally falling backwards onto the line.
 

geoffk

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Again, you've a lot of faith in passengers.

Not only this though but it does prevent passengers jumping down or accidentally falling backwards onto the line.
But they can do that at a normal platform.
 

aleggatta

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It probably also has something to do with train dispatch and the platform train interface, in that how can a guard guarantee that there isn't someone leaning on either side of the train before giving 2 on the bell?
 

30907

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Looking at the picture, the fenced platform does not have a face on the bay line, so it would be dangerous to alight that side if it was unfenced.
It looks as though it was built/extended relatively recently.
 

Saperstein

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At a few stations I’ve seen “do not alight here” signs. Birkenhead Central is one that springs to mind, or is it Green Lane?

Anyway, always amuses me because short of operating the passcom/egress handle pax cannot alight (unless of course doors are released wrong side, but that’s rare!)

Saperstein.
 

Hadders

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Passengers will try and board the train from that platform. Imagine passengers constantly pressing the door open buttons, banging on the side of the train etc as the train departs...
 

Statto

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At a few stations I’ve seen “do not alight here” signs. Birkenhead Central is one that springs to mind, or is it Green Lane?

Anyway, always amuses me because short of operating the passcom/egress handle pax cannot alight (unless of course doors are released wrong side, but that’s rare!)

Saperstein.

It's Green Lane that has that “do not alight here” at the end of the platforms
 

Tio Terry

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Looks to me like the left hand platform in the left hand side of the picture is not as wide as it should be. The fencing is probably there to stop passengers falling in to the bay or between the bay and a train standing in it.
 

Bletchleyite

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It's Green Lane that has that “do not alight here” at the end of the platforms

And a 6-car 50x formation does hang over that bit and doesn't have SDO.

Having it on the offside is more for the slamdoor days though it does persist in a few locations as a "use the doors on the other side" reminder, though perhaps not clearly worded!
 

dosxuk

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Passengers will try and board the train from that platform. Imagine passengers constantly pressing the door open buttons, banging on the side of the train etc as the train departs...

And then complain to the TOC, station operator, any nearby staff, the guy who runs the local shop and anyone who looks vaguely willing to listen; that they arrived at the station on time, the train pulled in, the doors wouldn't open and then it left again, and it's all someone's fault they missed their grandsons first birthday.
 

mcmad

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because how does the guard ensure that its safe to start when he can only see 1 side of the train?
 

markymark2000

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because how does the guard ensure that its safe to start when he can only see 1 side of the train?
Open 'alighting side', wait a 20 seconds, open 'boarding side', close alighting side when it looks clear. Then you are only left with the boarding side. It's more work for conductors but if it gets people on and off trains quicker. DLR manages it at Tower Gateway and Canary Wharf. The tube manages it at some stations (though that is only drivers using cameras)
 

edwin_m

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"Do not alight" signs are fine if the platform on that side is disused with no access. However if people can legitimately be on that platform then something else is needed so they know they should be boarding from the other side. There are two-sided bay platforms at Sheffield and Nottingham and used to be one at Derby, all of which I think had signs pointing to the correct side but not fences.
 

Bletchleyite

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"Do not alight" signs are fine if the platform on that side is disused with no access. However if people can legitimately be on that platform then something else is needed so they know they should be boarding from the other side. There are two-sided bay platforms at Sheffield and Nottingham and used to be one at Derby, all of which I think had signs pointing to the correct side but not fences.

And Sheffield causes no end of confusion. Though you could board both sides in the Class 101 days! (That actually was quite dangerous as the guard might not see someone opening a door after he had given 2).

TBH, the fence seems a good solution, and has the added benefit of being able to safely stand close to it so making what is quite a narrow platform have more useful width.
 

hwl

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View attachment 73865 The attached shows the fencing apparently considered necessary to prevent passengers trying to board a train from the wrong side, in this case at bay platform 2 at Stalybridge. Other stations with similar platforms have the same. Surely a sign saying "please do not board trains on this side" would be sufficient.
Platform 1 is very narrow so having the fence on the "track" 2 side means P1 is wide enough to be safely used when a train is entering or exiting track 2.
 

Barn

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In principle the railway should be fenced off from people, unless there is a good reason (such as the interface being an active platform).

I'm more worried about stations at which this type of arrangement is not fenced, especially when there is a third rail just below (e.g. Guildford).
 

infobleep

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And Sheffield causes no end of confusion. Though you could board both sides in the Class 101 days! (That actually was quite dangerous as the guard might not see someone opening a door after he had given 2).

TBH, the fence seems a good solution, and has the added benefit of being able to safely stand close to it so making what is quite a narrow platform have more useful width.
Interestingly they don't have fences at Guildford Station, even though train doors do not open on to platform 7.

Edit: I see Barn bets me to it.
 

30907

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Interestingly they don't have fences at Guildford Station, even though train doors do not open on to platform 7.
I'm more worried about stations at which this type of arrangement is not fenced, especially when there is a third rail just below (e.g. Guildford).
But 7 could be used instead of 6 if need be. Numerous LUL stations are similar, as well as various non-3rd-rail NR stations (Ulverston is the only through station that comes to mind).
I don't think fencing is routine (unless on 125mph routes?)
 

Haydn1971

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General rule here is that if something is remotely stupidly possible, some idiot will try to do it ‍♂️
 

geoffk

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General rule here is that if something is remotely stupidly possible, some idiot will try to do it ‍♂️
Rochdale platform 4 (new bay) has a similar arrangement and there is a non-passenger (?) bay at Warrington BQ. To my mind this is a waste of money but I see I'm in a minority!
 

jopsuk

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General rule here is that if something is remotely stupidly possible, some idiot will try to do it ‍♂️
And thus the Hierarchy of Control comes into play. The top level, and most effective, is "Elimination" - remove the risk entirely. A fence like this counts- yes, some will argue that people could climb the fence, but now we're into far edge cases, whataboutery and bad faith.
 

geoffk

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And thus the Hierarchy of Control comes into play. The top level, and most effective, is "Elimination" - remove the risk entirely. A fence like this counts- yes, some will argue that people could climb the fence, but now we're into far edge cases, whataboutery and bad faith.
Another example, although a light rail one. The middle Metrolink track at Manchester Vic has a platform on both sides. This is the track used by terminating trams from the airport. You alight on the left if you want an onward connection to Bury or Rochdale but I think you are allowed to alight either side. You board from the right hand platform as it's where you would go for a tram into the city. Not sure if both sets of doors stay open until the tram leaves. I assume the driver has a good view of both sides from the cab.
 

Kite159

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But 7 could be used instead of 6 if need be. Numerous LUL stations are similar, as well as various non-3rd-rail NR stations (Ulverston is the only through station that comes to mind).
I don't think fencing is routine (unless on 125mph routes?)

Ascot was similar to Guildford, but that got a fence installed when the platform was extended.

(Also Finsbury Park with "platform 3" and "platform 6" effectively not-used)
 

30907

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Rochdale platform 4 (new bay) has a similar arrangement and there is a non-passenger (?) bay at Warrington BQ. To my mind this is a waste of money but I see I'm in a minority!

Ascot was similar to Guildford, but that got a fence installed when the platform was extended.

(Also Finsbury Park with "platform 3" and "platform 6" effectively not-used)
The new platform at Rochdale doesn't have a face on the through line.
The fences at WBQ are on new platform extensions, I think.
Ascot is the only clear example I have seen so far of an existing platform which has received a fence - and that in connection with an extension too.
 
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