Nottingham Station: Access to platforms from footbridge

[duffield]

Is the public right of way over the footbridge open 24/7 or just during the opening hours for the station? How hard would it be to install a gateline on the bridge (similar to Derby) and then issue platform tickets for anyone needing to cross the station and leave via platform 7? I assume even that would require too much staffing for EMR's liking.

Derby has a modern, very wide bridge though.

 

[ChrisC]

I travelled on the Robin Hood line on Thursday 24th of this month.. the train arrived along side platform 1b. I had to get the train to St Pancras from platform 7. All I can say it's one almighty walk from 1b to 7 via the main Cross bridge. Specially if you suffer from the sciatica like I do.

Quite often when I have arrived in Nottingham on the Robin Hood Line at Platform 1b, or sometimes even further down at 1c, my onward connection has departed from Platform 4. That is even further to walk than Platform 7 via the main cross bridge. I’m still quite mobile and can manage it reasonably quickly but it’s such a long walk and time consuming to make the connection. For anyone arriving on the train from Skegness at Platform 2 what must the distance now be to reach a connecting train at Platform 4?

 

[Lewisham2221]

Is the public right of way over the footbridge open 24/7 or just during the opening hours for the station? How hard would it be to install a gateline on the bridge (similar to Derby) and then issue platform tickets for anyone needing to cross the station and leave via platform 7? I assume even that would require too much staffing for EMR's liking.

Because platform tickets wouldn't be wide open to abuse by fare evaders in this case??

 

[bunnahabhain]

Entry pads for staff so that they can use the bridge? [EMR will rightly not want to upset them].
And the signs on the platform need to be amended to advise as to access to the tram [EMR are at risk of further upsetting paying customers].
Chaos deferred.

The way finding signs were installed with a hinged cover about 2 years ago so that they can be swung across with a "No exit" sign to obscure the original text.

 

[eastdyke]

The way finding signs were installed with a hinged cover about 2 years ago so that they can be swung across with a "No exit" sign to obscure the original text.

By 'on the platform' I meant these signs [but it equally applies to 'No Exit'] - they tell you what you cannot do but make no reference to what you need to do to access to the Tram!

 

[edwin_m]

Is the public right of way over the footbridge open 24/7 or just during the opening hours for the station? How hard would it be to install a gateline on the bridge (similar to Derby) and then issue platform tickets for anyone needing to cross the station and leave via platform 7? I assume even that would require too much staffing for EMR's liking.

The bridge is much narrower than Derby and wouldn't fit more than probably three gates, so one bi-directional wide one and a standard one in each direction. And there would still be nothing to stop people getting a platform ticket, passing through the gates and boarding a train.

 

[Dr Hoo]

At Stockport, where the subway is used as a thoroughfare, there is a basket by the barriers where you can pick up an encoded card that enables you to ‘tap through’ At both ends and drop the re-usable card into the opposite basket.

I just can’t understand how so many people seem to get lost in the subway, turn up onto one of the platforms and then absent-mindedly drop the pass on the stairs. How these people ever escape is totally lost on me.

 

[Skymonster]

So - an epic fail on EMR’s part then? As of 12:00 and 15:00 today the pedestrian bridge and platforms are still accessible to all.

 

[LowLevel]

So - an epic fail on EMR’s part then? As of 12:00 and 15:00 today the pedestrian bridge and platforms are still accessible to all.

Postponed till tomorrow afternoon.

 

[woodmally1979]

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.

Good news for revenue. Nope they can still evade the fare just get on the station at the carpark.

Sheffield won’t be resolved until the ’additional’ pedestrian route (Turner Street footbridge) is recommissioned.

You mean the druggie allyway that used to be open next to what my dad called the powerbox where all the railway staff work from.

The problem at Nottingham is the public right of way which means people can insist on walking over the bridge without having a ticket. Any form of barrier or manual check would have to let them past, after which if someone wants to go onto a platform there's not much anyone can do about it.

I doubt there's be a problem approving a bridge to the east of the existing buildings, roughly where the one was that was removed about 35 years ago. This would also provide a much better interchange between the east end platforms, much better than even the existing "centre" bridge which is in fact well west of the mid-point of the platforms. Something like this would probably be required as a secondary means of escape if this was a new station.

But it would cost money.

But how many know it is a right of way I would expect not many. Its not like Sheffield where everyone can see its a right of way as it connects Park Hill flats and the tram stop there to town. Its my regular thoroughfare as I live in Sheffield but occaisioinally work in Nottingham.

 

[Travelmonkey]

But how many know it is a right of way I would expect not many. Its not like Sheffield where everyone can see its a right of way as it connects Park Hill flats and the tram stop there to town. Its my regular thoroughfare as I live in Sheffield but occaisioinally work in Nottingham.

It doesn't matter if someone like the Ramblers association get wind it causes uproar, rumor has it they are the main cause of a few footbridges over dual carriageways as they excersise their walking right to a green cross code forgetting degree. It's a bit like closing a railway station it's easier to keep a "ghost" replacement than go through the legalities, see Wedgewood, Barlaston, Thurrock Riverside all still served by rail replacements,

 

[DDB]

An announcement by the guard as we pulled into Nottingham that it will now be from Tuesday afternoon for 3 weeks. No updates saying that on the signs at the bottom of the stairs.
Staff at the gateline all facing each other in a circle chatting as usual rather than actually manning the gateline. Escalator from station to tram broken and barriered off.

 

[Warrior2852]

Any news from anyone today on how this has gone? (Or if it even started, after yesterday's delay)

 

[howittpie]

Any news from anyone today on how this has gone? (Or if it even started, after yesterday's delay)

Caught the 15.28 Leicester service and the centre bridge was open as normal. Simone has put on our local Facebook group so don't know if this is true that they have been told by staff that delay has been caused due too legal wranglings.

 

[CMP]

The offical line from EMR is that it has been postponed to allow for EMR to assess feedback and will be closed later in the week

 

[eastdyke]

The offical line from EMR is that it has been postponed to allow for EMR to assess feedback and will be closed later in the week

So the bean counters have been reined in by a little practical reality?

 

[Warrior2852]

The offical line from EMR is that it has been postponed to allow for EMR to assess feedback and will be closed later in the week

"Assess feedback" sounds rather like "someone told them what a terrible idea it is so now they're contemplating how to best spin it in the next press release, or if they should scrap it entirely"

 

[ChrisC]

"Assess feedback" sounds rather like "someone told them what a terrible idea it is so now they're contemplating how to best spin it in the next press release, or if they should scrap it entirely"

It’s been getting quite a lot of bad publicity in the local press. A number of business owners on Station Street fear they will go out of business as they rely on passing trade from rail users. A cafe owner says that they had very few customers on days when there were rail strikes.

 

[sprunt]

Why was the old footbridge removed?

 

[Dr Hoo]

Why was the old footbridge removed?

Old maps suggest that were in fact two (additional) old footbridges, one solely between platforms and another, public path, over the station towards the western end.

 

[Nottingham59]

Why was the old footbridge removed?

Cost I imagine. Probably needed some work on it. And the fashion at the time was to have open stations and check tickets on the train.

 

[Rob F]

It's a shame that tickets are seldom checked on the train now, has the role of the guard (or whatever they are called this week) been changed?

I know someone who commutes from Nottingham to Birmingham. He says on around 50% of outward journeys his ticket is checked between Nottingham and Long Eaton and then the guard does not go around again after Derby or any other station. Also, he says his ticket is never checked at all on the return journey in the evening.

 

[duffield]

It's a shame that tickets are seldom checked on the train now, has the role of the guard (or whatever they are called this week) been changed?

I know someone who commutes from Nottingham to Birmingham. He says on around 50% of outward journeys his ticket is checked between Nottingham and Long Eaton and then the guard does not go around again after Derby or any other station. Also, he says his ticket is never checked at all on the return journey in the evening.

On the Cross Country trains between Nottingham and Birmingham I'd estimate there is only a ticket check on about 10% of my journeys. EMR are much better, there's nearly always multiple ticket checks on all the local and intercity services.

 

[eastdyke]

....
And the signs on the platform need to be amended to advise as to access to the tram [EMR are at risk of further upsetting paying customers].
....

Actually it's more than signs to advise access to the tram that will need to be amended.
How about first the agreement of EMR's own Infrastructure Managers and a few risk assessments in conjunction with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service ..? [a bit of previous with the latter 2018].



As a current 'Emergency Exit' the footbridge is very unlikely to be shut anytime soon!

 

[LowLevel]

Actually it's more than signs to advise access to the tram that will need to be amended.
How about first the agreement of EMR's own Infrastructure Managers and a few risk assessments in conjunction with Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service ..? [a bit of previous with the latter 2018].

View attachment 168200

As a current 'Emergency Exit' the footbridge is very unlikely to be shut anytime soon!

1600 ish this afternoon, apparently. For the avoidance of any doubt if there is a fire alarm the gates will unlock automatically and they've been locked over night for some time now, a year or two I think. The signs can be altered with the use of a hook on a pole and were specifically designed to allow for it.

1600 ish this afternoon, apparently. For the avoidance of any doubt if there is a fire alarm the gates will unlock automatically and they've been locked over night for some time now, a year or two I think. The signs can be altered with the use of a hook on a pole and were specifically designed to allow for it.

Reportedly now shut.

 

[eastdyke]

1600 ish this afternoon, apparently. For the avoidance of any doubt if there is a fire alarm the gates will unlock automatically and they've been locked over night for some time now, a year or two I think. The signs can be altered with the use of a hook on a pole and were specifically designed to allow for it.


Reportedly now shut.

Thanks for the update. I will 'enjoy' my next visit!

 

[Warrior2852]

They've put a sign saying you can't access the platforms via the footbridge just in the door of the main entrance from the tram platforms. Could be slightly better placed given that if you're through that door you're going in the direction that's still open anyway, and there's no sign visible from the tram platforms heading towards the footbridge.

 

[duffield]

They've put a sign saying you can't access the platforms via the footbridge just in the door of the main entrance from the tram platforms. Could be slightly better placed given that if you're through that door you're going in the direction that's still open anyway, and there's no sign visible from the tram platforms heading towards the footbridge.

So if you arrive by tram, you can walk across the tram bridge, down the steps and onto the footbridge, without seeing any notices, and then find you can't access the platforms (but you can get a nice view of your train sitting there, just about to leave)? Well, that's pretty much what I expected, although I'd hoped to be wrong. Just a couple of sign boards at the "footbridge access" end of each of the tram platforms was all that was needed, but that's clearly too much to ask for.

 

[Warrior2852]

So if you arrive by tram, walk across the tram bridge, down the steps and onto the footbridge, without seeing any notices, and then find you can't access the platforms (but you can get a nice view of your train sitting there, just about to leave)? Well, that's pretty much what I expected, although I'd hoped to be wrong. Just a couple of sign boards at the "footbridge access" end of each of the tram platforms was all that was needed, but that's clearly too much to ask for.

Yes, and then on your way back past the tram platforms, on the Walk of Shame through the main entrance, you then run into the handy sign telling you not to go the route you just came back from! Not to mention the ticket machine still sitting at the entrance to the now inaccessible bridge that has no indication it's on a blocked route.

 

[transportphoto]

Yes, and then on your way back past the tram platforms, on the Walk of Shame through the main entrance

Surely the easiest solution is then to exit onto Station Street and walk to the station entrance opposite Tesco, rather than doubling back via the tram stop?