Re: Tyne-Wear Metro ticketing modernisation

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:44:31 GMT, Michael Bell
<michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

[tickets from buses]

On the contrary, I hear there are plans to make the Metro part of the
PLUSBUS system.

Very interesting and very sensible. If the gates are designed to read NR
sized tickets and the stripe then there shouldn't be an issue.

The other major issue is current safety rules that require gateline
supervision. The central area stations often have some staff around
but not throughout operational hours. Quieter outlying stations have
CCTV coverage and no staff at all. There may be an interesting safety
case in order to justify the probable extent of gated operation at
unstaffed locations.

Paul

I always thought there was a GOOD CASE for having staff present where
there are barriers, but it is news to me that it is a REQUIREMENT. I
would be interested to hear details.

It's pretty simple - it's the evacuation and emergency open rules
introduced post Kings Cross fire. If London style gates are deployed
then I can't see Nexus specifying completely different emergency open
requirements.

When gates were first put in the HMRI didn't pay much attention and the
fire brigade had a low level of interest. These days all sorts of
checks, calculations and risk assessments have to be performed and
evidenced to both sets of regulators ensure the installation is safe and
not an impediment to normal or emergency operational states. Given the
historical backdrop to gate safety that exists on the Metro system Nexus
are going to have a job on their hands to get ticket gates in and
working without staff presence. They are going to have to develop an
unique safety case and operational regime and I'm not saying they can't
do it - i just think it will be difficult.

I used to live at South Gosforth so I know it very well. Both station
entrances are small and had 3 small walkways and a wide gate when Metro
started. Now they have nothing. If tickets failed in the old days people
were either stuck or climbed over the gates as no assistance was
available as there were no staff and no help points or CCTV. The latter
now exist but typically at platform level. Maybe gate operation might
be feasible via CCTV and Help Point technology but I can see a lot of
scope for abuse. Maybe Nexus will bite the bullet and have roving staff
a bit like Overground has. Perhaps I should write and ask if they have
any jobs going??

Interesting times ahead.
--
Paul C
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ticket barriers at Leicester now in use
    ... have dismissed the gates in use at Lincoln, ... ticket that i can get on the train to newark. ... staff are more reluctant to sell tickets to people on the train so they have ...
    (uk.railway)
  • Re: Railroad attacked for ordering children off trains
    ... DB Station & Service, or by a local infrastructure owner, not by a TOC. ... the manual gate (as the UK does with handwritten CIV tickets, ... Merseyrail copes perfectly well with the use of automatic gates for ... travel time is counted from door to door. ...
    (uk.railway)
  • Re: Ticket checks going out of fashion?
    ... picking it up and exiting through the opening barriers will now put it in ... The gates swallowing tickets makes things work far more smoothly. ... CT's request) designed the barrier layout wasn't particularly bright as they ...
    (uk.railway)
  • Re: Railroad attacked for ordering children off trains
    ... All rail and underground stations in Germany, ... the manual gate (as the UK does with handwritten CIV tickets, ... Merseyrail copes perfectly well with the use of automatic gates for ... Germany's transit and rail companies got rid of decades ago. ...
    (uk.railway)
  • Re: Standard Day Return - break of journey?
    ... spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Paul Speller) wrote: ... the gates at East Putney. ... priced NR tickets are still issued to named destination stations rather ...
    (uk.transport.london)