West Coast Fast Line Platform Barriers

XCTurbostar · 31 May 2019

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience with the platform barriers at some of the west coast stations e.g. Wolverton, Leighton Buzzard etc.

Are these barriers left open at any times/days or can you ask to go through?

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Bletchleyite · 31 May 2019

While they are not locked, you will not be permitted to go past the barriers unless a train is scheduled to call at the fast line platform in the near future. The barriers were put there as an anti-suicide measure, and security staff are present as a further protection at a number of stations. Don't do it. If nothing else, you'll give drivers a scare, but you are almost certain to be asked to leave if you are on the "wrong" side.

If you just want to take pictures of trains on the fast lines, you can easily do that from footbridges or from the "safe" side of the barriers.

XCTurbostar · 31 May 2019

Bletchleyite said:
While they are not locked, you will not be permitted to go past the barriers unless a train is scheduled to call at the fast line platform in the near future. The barriers were put there as an anti-suicide measure, and security staff are present as a further protection at a number of stations. Don't do it. If nothing else, you'll give drivers a scare, but you are almost certain to be asked to leave if you are on the "wrong" side.

If you just want to take pictures of trains on the fast lines, you can easily do that from footbridges or from the "safe" side of the barriers.

No problem at all. I was just interested in how the TOC controlled the use of such barriers. Thanks for the insight @Bletchleyite

Bletchleyite · 31 May 2019

XCTurbostar said:
No problem at all. I was just interested in how the TOC controlled the use of such barriers. Thanks for the insight @Bletchleyite

No probs. It's basically a case that they highlight someone being in the "wrong place" on CCTV or for in-person security guards so action can be taken, and as a surprisingly effective psychological barrier by causing someone to feel like they are in the "wrong place" and thus deter them from being there. As such someone inside them is going to be seen with considerable suspicion and dealt with accordingly.

Bald Rick · 31 May 2019

Just to add, if a driver of a passing train sees someone on the ‘wrong side’ of the barriers, they are likely to make an emergency brake application, and almost certain to call in the occurrence to the controlling signaller. This will invariably cause delay, whilst trains are stopped and cautioned past the station concerned until all is shown to be clear. On the WCML that means delaying maybe a dozen trains in each direction, affecting perhaps 10,000 people; all of whom would say hurtful things towards you if they knew. Same applies on many other routes.

Scotrail84 · 2 Jun 2019

Bald Rick said:
Just to add, if a driver of a passing train sees someone on the ‘wrong side’ of the barriers, they are likely to make an emergency brake application, and almost certain to call in the occurrence to the controlling signaller. This will invariably cause delay, whilst trains are stopped and cautioned past the station concerned until all is shown to be clear. On the WCML that means delaying maybe a dozen trains in each direction, affecting perhaps 10,000 people; all of whom would say hurtful things towards you if they knew. Same applies on many other routes.

Really? And how would a driver of a fast service know that there isn't a train due to call at platforms on the fast side? For all the driver knows theres been a platform alteration for some reason?

Mintona · 2 Jun 2019

I do fairly regularly see people on the ‘wrong’ side of the barriers, and it’s never occurred to me to bring the train to a stand. For all I know there’s a problem on the relief lines somewhere and stopping trains are being diverted via the mains. Either that or they have a camera in hand and as far as I know it’s not illegal to be on the platform so it’s not exactly worth stopping the job.

swt_passenger · 2 Jun 2019

Scotrail84 said:
Really? And how would a driver of a fast service know that there isn't a train due to call at platforms on the fast side? For all the driver knows theres been a platform alteration for some reason?

These barriers are generally fitted at stations where the fast line platforms have no planned use, and platform alterations to use them are very rare, outside periods of planned engineering work.

Bletchleyite · 2 Jun 2019

swt_passenger said:
These barriers are generally fitted at stations where the fast line platforms have no planned use, and platform alterations to use them are very rare, outside periods of planned engineering work.

This is not the case at the south WCML stations, where use of the fast lines in the evenings for stopping services is so common that they even built a northbound fast line platform at Bushey specially to accommodate this.

adamedwards · 2 Jun 2019

The same barriers can be found on the Midland Main line eg Hendon and East Coast ML at eg Oakleigh Park.

Bald Rick · 2 Jun 2019

Scotrail84 said:
Really? And how would a driver of a fast service know that there isn't a train due to call at platforms on the fast side? For all the driver knows theres been a platform alteration for some reason?

Because the barriers would (should) be open for that purpose.

Naturally, there will be times of day / week when there are booked services at barriers fast line platforms, and passengers would then be expected to be on the platform.

bramling · 2 Jun 2019

swt_passenger said:
These barriers are generally fitted at stations where the fast line platforms have no planned use, and platform alterations to use them are very rare, outside periods of planned engineering work.

Somewhere like Knebworth the fast line platforms are used quite often on an unplanned basis.

I think a driver doing an emergency stop is a bit overkill to be honest. Stopping the job and possibly flatting all the wheels on a train just because ... someone was standing on a platform. Sounds like more of an excuse to claim a “near miss”.

I hate the barriers, to me they’re ugly and oppressive - however I do realise why they’re there and they’re just one of those things in life we have to accept do serve a useful purpose.

Bletchleyite · 2 Jun 2019

Bald Rick said:
Because the barriers would (should) be open for that purpose.

Naturally, there will be times of day / week when there are booked services at barriers fast line platforms, and passengers would then be expected to be on the platform.

Staff do not open the barriers on the south WCML and they are not locked.

50039 · 2 Jun 2019

We have them at our local WCML station. They are low enough that I have taken photos over them from the ‘right’ side. I see no reason to go the other side - I have no desire to be close to Pendolinos at full speed.

Bald Rick · 2 Jun 2019

Bletchleyite said:
Staff do not open the barriers on the south WCML and they are not locked.

Oh they can’t be locked, as they need to be openable by anyone in an emergency.

I don’t know the barriers on the WCML, but on some other lines there are sliding gates every so often which are normally closed, but opened when the platforms are expected to be used. Wimbledon springs to mind, and I’m fairly sure it was the same at Hayes and Harlington when I was there a few weeks back. Also Wembley Central?

Bletchleyite · 2 Jun 2019

Bald Rick said:
Oh they can’t be locked, as they need to be openable by anyone in an emergency.

I don’t know the barriers on the WCML, but on some other lines there are sliding gates every so often which are normally closed, but opened when the platforms are expected to be used. Wimbledon springs to mind, and I’m fairly sure it was the same at Hayes and Harlington when I was there a few weeks back. Also Wembley Central?

This is not how they are used on the WCML; passengers open them themselves if necessary. Wembley Central is an exception - there are not gates like these, staff control access to the platforms.

The gates are fitted with locks and I believe they are locked on the GWML.

Mag_seven · 2 Jun 2019

What happens when out of course working means a stopper has to stop on a fast/main line platform often at short notice?

dk1 · 2 Jun 2019

Blimey Charlie if I shoved the blasted thing into emergency every time I saw somebody on the fast platforms it would cause flipping chaos. Of course I wouldn't.

bramling · 2 Jun 2019

Mag_seven said:
What happens when out of course working means a stopper has to stop on a fast/main line platform often at short notice?

In the case of Knebworth, which is unmanned at times, nothing - passengers are simply left to work it out for themselves.

Knebworth is one of the places where the concept was possibly taken a little too far.

I don't think any of the barriers on the ECML have locks.

Dr_Paul · 2 Jun 2019

Bald Rick said:
Oh they can’t be locked, as they need to be openable by anyone in an emergency. I don’t know the barriers on the WCML, but on some other lines there are sliding gates every so often which are normally closed, but opened when the platforms are expected to be used. Wimbledon springs to mind, and I’m fairly sure it was the same at Hayes and Harlington when I was there a few weeks back. Also Wembley Central?

I've seen the gates open at Wimbledon; I was on a semi-fast to Surbiton on the down fast line one Sunday which stopped at the platform 7 there, and people alighted and went through the open gateways to the down slow side of the platform (platform 8) to reach the exit stairs, which can't now be reached directly from the down fast side of the platform. That's the only time I've seen them opened.

Bald Rick · 2 Jun 2019

From some of the replies it looks like I have been overplaying matters when saying that drivers may make emergency brake applications / call in instances of people being the wrong side of the platform barriers.

I wrote this because some drivers I know say that’s what they would do; they are GWML drivers and have seen at close quarters what’s happens when someone is the wrong side of the barriers for the wrong reasons. Hence they call it in, or depending on the circumstances put the brakes in.

I’ll leave it there.

colchesterken · 2 Jun 2019

I was spotting on the right side at Southall, A member of staff came along the platform to check the gates, we had a nice chat and as I had a valid ticket she went on her way, mmmm CCTV
I have given up at Harrow & Wealdstone as there is no good view up the line, so I was at South Kenton as it is an island platform with a good view of the fast line, A chap in a yellow vest marked Security came up for a chat, when I explained I was spotting, he was OK with it and said he was on suicide watch,
Clearly they are on the ball.. Well done!

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