Nottingham Station: Access to platforms from footbridge

[LTJ87]

East Midlands Railway is making changes to the layout of Nottingham station from Monday 28th October.

It won’t be possible to access the platforms 1-6 of Nottingham station from the passenger footbridge as EMR trials new measures to stop fare evasion:

All change at Nottingham station: EMR announce key changes to footbridge to tackle fare evaders | East Midlands Railway News

Footbridge which connects Station Street to Queen's Road will have access to platforms one to six closed The right of way connecting the two streets will be maintained, as will the access to the tram Customers will need to use main entrance of station and are advised to leave extra time to...

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

• Footbridge which connects Station Street to Queen's Road will have access to platforms one to six closed
• The right of way connecting the two streets will be maintained, as will the access to the tram
• Customers will need to use main entrance of station and are advised to leave extra time to reach their platform
• The changes are a pilot and are aimed at tackling fare evasion
• They will take affect from Monday, October 28

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is set to close access to platforms via Nottingham station's footbridge in a move to reduce fare evasion.

Customers who want to access platforms one to six will instead need to use the main entrance of the station.

The footbridge, which connects Station Street to Queen's Road, will remain a public right of way. Customers who have previously used the bridge are advised to allow extra time to walk through the station to catch their required service.

Access to the tram on Station Street via the footbridge will also be maintained.

 

[eastdyke]

East Midlands Railway is making changes to the layout of Nottingham station from Monday 28th October.

It won’t be possible to access the platforms 1-6 of Nottingham station from the passenger footbridge as EMR trials new measures to stop fare evasion:

All change at Nottingham station: EMR announce key changes to footbridge to tackle fare evaders | East Midlands Railway News

Footbridge which connects Station Street to Queen's Road will have access to platforms one to six closed The right of way connecting the two streets will be maintained, as will the access to the tram Customers will need to use main entrance of station and are advised to leave extra time to...

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Thank you for the heads up. I will be complaining to EMR if [when] this goes ahead.

This is disappointing. Those of us with lung conditions [and possibly those with other issues] will now face the considerable extra effort involved in the increased distances to change trains departing from different platforms as well as gaining access to Trams.

 

[LowLevel]

Thank you for the heads up. I will be complaining to EMR if [when] this goes ahead.

This is disappointing. Those of us with lung conditions [and possibly those with other issues] will now face the considerable extra effort involved in the increased distances to change trains departing from different platforms as well as gaining access to Trams.

Starts Monday.

 

[PeteJB]

Unless I'm misremembering the layout, determined fare evaders will still be able to access platform seven without a ticket using the right of way that this bridge connects to, and then just use the main concourse the access the other platforms. Is that right? So this doesn't actually solve anything really, apart from making them walk around the other side of the station.

And yes, it's a heck of a walk to change platforms if you arrive into, say, platform 2 and have to trek all the way to the main concourse. This won't go down at all well.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Unless I'm misremembering the layout, determined fare evaders will still be able to access platform seven without a ticket using the right of way that this bridge connects to, and then just use the main concourse the access the other platforms. Is that right? So this doesn't actually solve anything really, apart from making them walk around the other side of the station.

And yes, it's a heck of a walk to change platforms if you arrive into, say, platform 2 and have to trek all the way to the main concourse. This won't go down at all well.

Not if there's an RPO or similar ticket examining person located there...

 

[PeteJB]

An RPO at the stairs to the concourse? Yeah, I guess that would work but it might slow things down a bit when a train unloads. Another solution, I guess, would be to (temporarily for now) fence off a walkway from the bottom of the bridge to the exit?

Be interested to see how they handle it during the pilot.

 

[High Dyke]

How will the minimum connection time be affected? It is currently a minimum of eight minutes. However, someone walking from Platform 2 to Platform(s) 4 - 7 may have problems achieving that.

 

[eastdyke]

From the release:
While these operations produced good results, they were particularly resource-intensive due to the station layout. As a result, the cost of conducting them outweighed the revenue gained, making them unsustainable in the long term.

But no doubt a lot lot cheaper than changing the station layout to the benefit of the railway users! Ergo a new footbridge nearer mid-length of the platforms.

Starts Monday.

My use of Nottingham is sporadic. I try to use Leicester or Derby when the journey permits. I'll see when I next route that way.

 

[Spaceship323]

Thank you for the heads up. I will be complaining to EMR if [when] this goes ahead.

This is disappointing. Those of us with lung conditions [and possibly those with other issues] will now face the considerable extra effort involved in the increased distances to change trains departing from different platforms as well as gaining access to Trams.

Surely you'd go to the concourse end of the platform anyway to use the lift, that's what I do

 

[WillPS]

Not if there's an RPO or similar ticket examining person located there...

They could do that already. In fact, they already have done this fairly regularly dating back to Central Trains days, one RPO either end.

I presume the problem they have is people can just say they're using the right of way but then take the wrong exit... you'd have to be pretty brazen but I don't doubt that's what people did.

 

[Spaceship323]

Ergo a new footbridge nearer mid-length of the platforms.

Agreed, that would be better

 

[Watershed]

Yet another case of passenger convenience being put last by the railway. One wonders what the equality impact assessment and success criteria for this alleged "trial" looks like.

 

[PeteJB]

They could do that already. In fact, they already have done this fairly regularly dating back to Central Trains days, one RPO either end.

I presume the problem they have is people can just say they're using the right of way but then take the wrong exit... you'd have to be pretty brazen but I don't doubt that's what people did.

Yes, I remember they often had RPOs on the bridge years ago, back even before they had the gate line I think? I assume the thinking there was people wouldn't know it was a right of way. Alas, I saw more than one person simply tell the RPO "You can't stop me using the bridge" and walk past them, presumably to then vanish off down to the platforms!

 

[eastdyke]

Surely you'd go to the concourse end of the platform anyway to use the lift, that's what I do

Often to the annoyance of fellow travellers, I slowly use the stairs.

 

[duffield]

Yet another case of passenger convenience being put last by the railway. One wonders what the equality impact assessment and success criteria for this alleged "trial" looks like.

I can think of a number of ways in which it is pretty inconvenient for passengers, the worst being for short connections, then taxi rank access, tram access, access to P6 facilities from the facility-free P7 and so on.

But as far as an equality impact is concerned, assuming we're talking PRM (persons of reduced mobility) they're probably in the clear because the footbridge is not "accessible" - no lifts or ramps, just a lot of steepish steps.

 

[Killingworth]

Yet another case of passenger convenience being put last by the railway. One wonders what the equality impact assessment and success criteria for this alleged "trial" looks like.

As in Sheffield there are a determined minority who seek out ways to avoid payment, like habitual shoplifters. At least in Nottingham there are gatelines to catch them.

Unfortunately the actions of one minority may impact on the needs of another.

 

[Watershed]

I can think of a number of ways in which it is pretty inconvenient for passengers, the worst being for short connections, then taxi rank access, tram access, access to P6 facilities from the facility-free P7 and so on.

But as far as an equality impact is concerned, assuming we're talking PRM (persons of reduced mobility) they're probably in the clear because the footbridge is not "accessible" - no lifts or ramps, just a lot of steepish steps.

Accessibility isn't just about those who use a wheelchair. It includes people who find it difficult to walk long distances or who have other mobility impairments.

The railway talks a big game when it comes to accessibility and inclusion, but when it comes down to brass tacks it's funny how they're happy to forget about those principles.

As in Sheffield there are a determined minority who seek out ways to avoid payment, like habitual shoplifters. At least in Nottingham there are gatelines to catch them.

That's as may be, but the solution to that is to check tickets onboard so consistently that people know they won't get away with "pay when challenged" or plain evasion.

In general, most British stations already make it awkward and inconvenient enough to change trains and connect to other forms of public transport, compared to more enlightened countries abroad. There's no need to make it even worse.

Unfortunately the actions of one minority may impact on the needs of another.

Whilst that may the excuse wheeled out by the railway, it's not acceptable in my book. There's no justification for inconveniencing everyone, for the sake of a small minority who can be caught in other ways.

 

[DDB]

Thanks to the OP for posting this as I am a daily user of Nottingham station and knew nothing about this.

I find the current Nottingham gate line infuriating because it just holds up paying passengers for no reason. It doesn't catch any fare evaders due to the other bridge mentioned in this thread. There are always lots of staff near the barriers but they spend their time chatting to each other rather than actively manning the gateline. The gates can't read Robin Hood cards (Nottingham mutlimode ticket) so anyone with one of those has to wait to be let through. They also aren't equipped with devices to read electronic tickets.

 

[LowLevel]

Thanks to the OP for posting this as I am a daily user of Nottingham station and knew nothing about this.

I find the current Nottingham gate line infuriating because it just holds up paying passengers for no reason. It doesn't catch any fare evaders due to the other bridge mentioned in this thread. There are always lots of staff near the barriers but they spend their time chatting to each other rather than actively manning the gateline. The gates can't read Robin Hood cards (Nottingham mutlimode ticket) so anyone with one of those has to wait to be let through. They also aren't equipped with devices to read electronic tickets.

The gates have had e-ticket readers for years.

 

[DDB]

The gates have had e-ticket readers for years.

But not for RobinHood cards
Or rereading I mean the staff don't have the devices that guards have for reading smart cards etc.

 

[ChrisC]

My experience of using Nottingham station is that if a train comes into the station and stops in the middle part of the platform or down the far end, the vast majority of passengers leave the station by that centre bridge. I occasionally use the Robin Hood Line into Nottingham and when the train arrives, usually in the centre of Platform 1, almost everyone heads straight for the way out via that central bridge and only a handful of people walk up the platform to exit via the main entrance. Everyone just follows the crowd and the signs showing the way out via the main entrance are not that prominent. How many people are deliberately using the centre bridge exit to avoid ticket inspections and barriers it’s difficult to say. I must say probably a lot of people, considering some of the clientele on the Robin Hood Line, as ticket inspections on the train seems to be very rare these days. Pre covid and before the TVMs were installed at Robin Hood Line stations most passengers would buy a ticket on the train and rail staff were very visible. I can’t remember the last time that I had my ticket checked between Hucknall and Nottingham. It’s not just EMR as a few weeks ago I travelled on XC all the way from Cardiff to Nottingham without a ticket inspection.

Therefore, from my observations mentioned above, I can see a need to stop people exiting the station by that route. However, it will now make Nottingham a very inconvenient station to change train. Nottingham Station has very long platforms and if, for example, your train arrives at the far end of Platforms 1 or 3 or indeed in Platform 2 and your connection departs from,Platform 4 it is a considerable distance including steps or lift. Less mobile people will need to allow quite a bit of extra time to change trains.

 

[20200506]

Yet another case of passenger convenience being put last by the railway. One wonders what the equality impact assessment and success criteria for this alleged "trial" looks like.

I'd love to know too.
It might be useful to get the Nottingham Post or Radio Nottingham onto this. I'm no longer local so I won't get involved myself.
But it certainly sounds like more notice and better publicity needs to be provided.

 

[Kite159]

Good news for revenue, not so good for customers (or even staff) having to walk a lot longer to change between say platform 2 & platform 4. Especially if that train from Skegness arrives at the same time as a train onto P1 or P3 causing congestion on the stairs to the bridge at the booking office end. Or even if a customer is changing to the trams.

What Nottingham could do with is another footbridge at the depot end or middle of the station to allow for interchange.

 

[edwin_m]

What Nottingham could do with is another footbridge at the depot end or middle of the station to allow for interchange.

There used to be one until around 1990, carrying the right of way but with no steps to the platforms. When it was removed the right of way was diverted onto the remaining bridge, as the railway policy at the time was "open stations" with all ticket checks being done on the trains.

 

[Travelmonkey]

Nottingham Station CLOSES access to platforms from footbridge to 'tackle fare evasion' | West Bridgford Wire

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is set to close access to platforms via Nottingham Station's footbridge in a move to reduce fare evasion. Featured

westbridgfordwire.com

In a bold move from EMR they are blocking off access to Platforms 1-6 at Nottingham with anyone making a change now needing to go the longer route to the main station bridge.

Footbridge which connects Station Street to Queen’s Road will have access to platforms one to six closed
The right of way connecting the two streets will be maintained, as will the access to the tram
Customers will need to use main entrance of station and are advised to leave extra time to reach their platform
The changes are a pilot and are aimed at tackling fare evasion
They will take affect from Monday, October 28

This seems to me like overkill. Is fare evasion at Nottingham that critical level?

 

[HSTEd]

This seems to me like overkill. Is fare evasion at Nottingham that critical level?

(In the minds of modern railway management) Doesn't cost the railway anything, therefore it can't possibly be overkill.

I imagine NET will not be pleased since it will make the tram stop essentially useless.

 

[Travelmonkey]

Didn't they try closing that bridge before but had to lament due to it being a right of way (hence not being able to close off 7), although what's to stop a fare evader just going down to 7 and then circling back to their platform,

 

[800001]

It’s a pilot to see how it works, the right of way across the bridge remains as does access to the tram stop from the bridge.

 

[tram21]

I imagine NET will not be pleased since it will make the tram stop essentially useless.

This certainly isn't true as there is still access from the main station, which the majority of people use anyway.

 

[m_m]

Taking an entire bridge out of action (which is what they are doing if you can't access platforms from it) seems ridiculous to me. I regularly travel to Nottingham and I get that some trains are very busy and/or stop frequently, so are difficult for a member of staff to get through checking tickets - but many trains are not like this and my tickets are rarely checked. And I have to say...the ticket gates that do exist are few in number and understaffed. Seems a bit much to me and I note they don't tell us the value of fares evaded on the 'operation' days...