Paddington Elizabeth line escalator luggage shaming camera

[125Spotter]

Saw at Paddington Elizabeth line yesterday morning an apparently AI driven "photo and shame" camera for anyone dragging a roll along suitcase towards the escalators. Not sure if this has been there a while; the first time I've been aware of it if so.

Anecdotal evidence and observation suggests it was having precisely zero effect actually stopping said roll alongs, couldn't distinguish size, and felt very much like a step too far in terms of a "watched society". The one redeeming feature is the photo it displayed while playing its announcement was of the luggage, not the face of the owner.

It was turned off by the time I came back and a staff member was stood at the top giving out similar direction with which compliance was much better.

 

[randyrippley]

so whats the problem with suitcases on escalators?

 

[gordonthemoron]

I take suitcases in escalators all the time, providing you only have one, there’s no issue

 

[trek]

so whats the problem with suitcases on escalators?

Generally people letting go of them (or putting them in such a way that they slip down even when holding on), and then the bag falling down the esculator into other people which has resulted in a spate of accidents at Paddington in particular.

More "minor" (but still relevant) issues are: suitcases that are too big and block people from walking down the left side and people who cannot handle their bags properly blocking the ends of the esculators.

 

[Ridgeblog]

Yeah, me too, I do this too sometimes as long as the suitcase is light and not bulky. But usually a lift is the better option.

 

[800301]

Saw at Paddington Elizabeth line yesterday morning an apparently AI driven "photo and shame" camera for anyone dragging a roll along suitcase towards the escalators. Not sure if this has been there a while; the first time I've been aware of it if so.

Anecdotal evidence and observation suggests it was having precisely zero effect actually stopping said roll alongs, couldn't distinguish size, and felt very much like a step too far in terms of a "watched society". The one redeeming feature is the photo it displayed while playing its announcement was of the luggage, not the face of the owner.

It was turned off by the time I came back and a staff member was stood at the top giving out similar direction with which compliance was much better.

It’s been there a while now, at first it was super sensitive but has been turned down, it was updated a few weeks ago to show the photo of the offender and then play the message, I’ve not seen anyone pay a bit of attention to it, it’s not very good at working out if you are walking towards or away from it either, I think one massive oversight was not having more lifts as well at Paddington EL, as there is frequently a long queue for them

 

[Bletchleyite]

so whats the problem with suitcases on escalators?

I once had one roll down an escalator at me. As a very heavy bloke I was able to stop it (though it hit me with considerable force), but it could easily have resulted in the death or life changing injury of a frail old person or child.

 

[rg177]

I once had one roll down an escalator at me. As a very heavy bloke I was able to stop it (though it hit me with considerable force), but it could easily have resulted in the death or life changing injury of a frail old person or child.

You'd be (un)surprised how many times I've also witnessed people load suitcases onto escalators then follow along behind (with predictable results as all proceed to topple towards them).

Also watched someone try to handle two suitcases at once (lift was available to their left) and end up backflipping over them down the escalator. Thankfully no injuries to speak of.

 

[jh64]

Generally people letting go of them (or putting them in such a way that they slip down even when holding on), and then the bag falling down the esculator into other people which has resulted in a spate of accidents at Paddington in particular.

See also this example from Zhejiang in China:

 

[fandroid]

so whats the problem with suitcases on escalators?

I have witnessed runaway suitcases three times on escalators. Two times luckily no-one was in the way of the flying case. Third time it was me in the way and I just managed to hold both the case and the elderly gent owner from falling back down the escalator. Only me anticipating this stopped a possible tragedy.

Use the lift if there is one!

 

[Sly Old Fox]

The queue at Paddington for the (single) lift to the Elizabeth line is frequently double digits of people deep, with associated paraphernalia. I’ll continue to use the escalator rather than wait 20 minutes for a lift, thanks.

 

[MikeWM]

What about those people who suffer from claustrophobia and so find taking lifts very difficult?

Or is that one of those groups that authority apparently deems acceptable to ridicule and shame, in this supposedly 'inclusive' society we have nowadays?

 

[Horizon22]

I've seen fall down these escalators with a suitcase before and luckily a staff member was on hand to move them out of the way although it could have been a pile up.

Also there couldn't be more signs telling people to use the lift although - as mentioned above - the queues do appear to put people off.

 

[NewcastleBrown]

I think fundamentally in London there are so many tube stations where you have to use the escalators with your luggage that people are just conditioned to do it that way and aren't ever going to seek out a lift

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think fundamentally in London there are so many tube stations where you have to use the escalators with your luggage that people are just conditioned to do it that way and aren't ever going to seek out a lift

Which is probably why they make such a big thing of it.

 

[Rheilfordd]

Jeez, not a problem. Sensible people do sensible stuff. Idiots, unfortunately don’t. They always will, signs won’t stop them.

 

[trek]

What about those people who suffer from claustrophobia and so find taking lifts very difficult?

Or is that one of those groups that authority apparently deems acceptable to ridicule and shame, in this supposedly 'inclusive' society we have nowadays?

Then use the esculator...

Or get offended by a sign?

 

[Magdalia]

The impact of an incident with an out of control suitcase is higher on the Elizabeth Line because the escalators are very long.

If I had a criticism of the Elizabeth Line it would be inadequate lift provision at the deep level stations. Farringdon also does not have enough lift capacity.

 

[BlueLeanie]

What about those people who suffer from claustrophobia and so find taking lifts very difficult?

Or is that one of those groups that authority apparently deems acceptable to ridicule and shame, in this supposedly 'inclusive' society we have nowadays?

Then do the obvious thing, go to the lift, put your luggage in, then step out as the doors are closing and run.

You'll probably get to the bottom (or top) in time to collect your bags.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I do know someone who is so claustrophobic he won't use lifts, and he also won't use any underground railway (and doesn't even like tunnels generally, but puts up with short ones). He gets around London exclusively by bus/on foot.

Are there that many people who would use the Lizzie but wouldn't use lifts, unless specifically scared of lifts rather than simply claustrophobic?

I'd agree the lift capacity is grossly inadequate given the high proportion of arrivals from Heathrow, though, near enough all of whom will have wheeled luggage of some kind. This is more of an issue than the policy itself.

 

[jon81uk]

The queue at Paddington for the (single) lift to the Elizabeth line is frequently double digits of people deep, with associated paraphernalia. I’ll continue to use the escalator rather than wait 20 minutes for a lift, thanks.

I don't understand why the EL opened with only single lifts in most places. Just to ensure there is always a lift available it would be sensible to have two or more.

 

[MikeWM]

Then use the esculator...

Or get offended by a sign?

It isn't a sign, though, is it? Apparently (I've not seen it myself) it is a screen showing the faces of the 'transgressors'/'non-conformers' so that they can be publicly shamed. It sounds like an idea imported directly from China.

--

I do know someone who is so claustrophobic he won't use lifts, and he also won't use any underground railway (and doesn't even like tunnels generally, but puts up with short ones). He gets around London exclusively by bus/on foot.

Are there that many people who would use the Lizzie but wouldn't use lifts, unless specifically scared of lifts rather than simply claustrophobic?

I don't claim to be typical but I avoid lifts unless there is literally no other alternative [1] and find myself very stressed if forced to take one, whereas I have no issues with underground trains unless they are very crush-loaded. I think it is due to the difference between knowing there is a clear way out from a train (however impractical in practice) and being in a small closed metal box with no obvious 'outside' to be seen.

[1] To the extent that I climbed 17 floors with luggage (!) to get to my room at the Hull Premier Inn, and will never go to the Doncaster one again as some floors are only accessible by lift.

 

[Peter0124]

I remember this being at St Pancras when going down to the Thameslink platforms.

Imo there should be regular stairs provision aswell, atleast then you can just carry the suitcase down (providing its not too heavy of course).

And I also agree there should be more than one lift. It reminds me of Liverpool Lime Street Merseyrail platform, I think the escalator was closed one time I was there, so the only way up or down was to use the one lift. It had queues for it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It isn't a sign, though, is it? Apparently (I've not seen it myself) it is a screen showing the faces of the 'transgressors'/'non-conformers' so that they can be publicly shamed. It sounds like an idea imported directly from China.

Seems so. I don't like "shouty men" but I could see why they might do this here, but a "social credit"/"public shaming" approach seems a bit wrong to me. I hope this is removed.

 

[Horizon22]

I don't understand why the EL opened with only single lifts in most places. Just to ensure there is always a lift available it would be sensible to have two or more.

Probably available space and/or cost of additional provision.

 

[jon81uk]

Probably available space and/or cost of additional provision.

obviously yes, but it does feel like a case where spending more would have significantly improved the customer experiance. Particularly if they are insisting a large number of people should use the lifts.

 

[Mike395]

Seems so. I don't like "shouty men" but I could see why they might do this here, but a "social credit"/"public shaming" approach seems a bit wrong to me. I hope this is removed.

The sign (certainly last week when I saw it) only shows the bag in isolation, not the face of the transgressor....

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Is it not another opportunity missed? A new railway should have escalators designed for the use they are going to get ie passengers with suitcases. I am sure a longer step would be possible when you start with a blank canvas.

 

[125Spotter]

it is a screen showing the faces of the 'transgressors'/'non-conformers' so that they can be publicly shamed. It sounds like an idea imported directly from China

The sign (certainly last week when I saw it) only shows the bag in isolation, not the face of the transgressor....

Yes indeed, it zooms into the bag rather than the face of the transgressor, and says something like "please use the lifts with large baggage". It still felt too China-social-credit for my liking though. I have a small roll along which I can (and often do) pick up to carry at times - it's not much larger than a backpack - and wonder what it would do if I carried it past the machine.

I presume lifts at Pad and other EL stations egress at ticket hall level so it needs another layer of (nonexistent) enforcement beyond the barriers too for the second set of escalators down to platforms.

Seems so. I don't like "shouty men" but I could see why they might do this here, but a "social credit"/"public shaming" approach seems a bit wrong to me. I hope this is removed.

Agreed with this.

 

[Peter0124]

You see a lot of people bringing suitcases up/down escalators in Airports for example though.