I was thinking in terms of examples I have seen (non railway), where a clearly visible notice states something like 'this route is not dedicated as a right of way and will be closed on 1 January each year). In practice any day will do, the intention of the closure is to show that unrestricted access has never been available because the route is closed at least one day per year.
No. Your post implied that because you were using a service which took you outside the railway property, you believed that grants you rights to walk through a National Rail station without a ticket. Trams and the National Rail network are two different things.
Just because you wasn't given a pass token doesn't mean it didn't happen. You struggle to distinguish your experience with what usually happens.
You are talking nonsense, as usual, proving once again you have very little actual knowledge on the subject.
If sheff1 says he is certain he has not been issued with a token, I see no reason why that should be questioned.
Sheff1 may not have been asked to use a token, however this does not mean that a token system has never been used.
No, but you said:
However sheff1 has experienced a "sting"; he wanted to pass through, and was not given a token.
On this occasion he may not have been issued a token, but the Revenue Protection Officers do issue them on stings.
A pulbic footpath is a public highway, the same closure measures have to occur as if closing a public road.
Outside of stations containing compulsory ticket areas there is no need to hold a ticket to walk through a railway station (even then a ticket is only required to enter the compulsory ticket area of the station). This is, of course, why barrier staff will usually allow people through the barriers to meet people off of trains as a barrier does not mark a compulsory ticket area.
At some stations, they issue something called a Platform Ticket for such thing. I know stations like Waterloo do. I wanted to use the toilet at Tamworth once and went to buy one though, was told they didn't sell them anymore, but the member of staff gave me permission to use the toilet so I thought no nore of it.
The stop for initial questioning is hindering someone's right to use the highway unhindered. It is therefore an unlawful obstruction rather than a lawful obstruction. Landowners need permission from the highway authority to erect gates / stiles on public rights of way for that same reason. To pass and repass, unhindered. That is why the police have detailed rules about stopping people and asking them questions, or searching them, or arresting them.
Although it's not a public right of way or a public highway at Sheffield...
Back to the original point. Purchase of a platform ticket would show intention / grant permission to go on the platform to meet someone rather than travel. Buying one nowadays at a gated station would presumably let you through the barriers, in and out, at that specific station. They used to be much more common, and required, when manual ticket checks were much more common back in the day. I often had to buy one back in the 1980's. They are hardly mentioned nowadays. If I used a Penalty Fares / Compulsory Ticket Area station for meeting and greeting, where there were often random revenue blocks, I would be approaching the ticket office to buy a platform ticket.
I thought we had established that!
It's a good idea to at least endeavour to buy one or at some Network Rail stations you can actually sign in. Unlike in a shop where you have to pick something up to be accused of theft, stealing a journey is more complex and you could well find yourself in trouble.
I grew up in that area and in the late nineties and early noughties, I never noticed a ticket check. My father actually used to buy our tickets on the train as standard. Times have changed now though and I really respect TOCS' desires to protect revenue.
Agreed, and used to be essential.
Pick it up, put it in your pocket, take it out again, put it back on the shelf (undamaged). Not a lot they can do about it except follow you round at one foot distance. The contract is made at the till, the offence is committed on leaving the premises.