London Midland - Folder Restrictions

[Bromptonaut]

Barrier man at Northampton this morning insisted that I must fold my brommie on entering the station and not unfold it again until leaving. New rule apparently.

There have been some notices with polite requests (in a chatty "we know you're in a hurry to get away" sort of sense) at Milton Keynes and, bizzarly, greeting those boarding trains on Euston's platform 16 for a while.

Any other similar experiences?

 

[ChrisKH]

Barrier man at Northampton this morning insisted that I must fold my brommie on entering the station and not unfold it again until leaving. New rule apparently.

There have been some notices with polite requests (in a chatty "we know you're in a hurry to get away" sort of sense) at Milton Keynes and, bizzarly, greeting those boarding trains on Euston's platform 16 for a while.

Any other similar experiences?

I wonder how they would react to a writ from a cyclist who damaged his back carrying his Brompton from barrier to train? Do they ask mothers to fold prams?

I think it discriminates, personally, for no other reason than to make it difficult for cyclists. I agree the bikes should be folded on the train. But between station entrance and platform they're on dodgy " 'elf and safety" territory.

I have the same on the C2C line and insist on unfolding the bike for the length of the platform. I always explain why (back) and always re-fold it prior to getting on the train. I only have this issue on peak time London to Southend trains; not sure why it doesn't apply the other way (probably individual station policy).

 

[hackbike 6]

Perhaps they ride i up and down the platform,there must be a reason but I haven't heard about this rule on 'my' railway.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Had the same thing happen at Liverpool St station last year over a period of about a month.I explained I always folded once I reached the carriage I wanted that they could watch me and see that i did but to no avail.It was one particular woman who only seemed to be on the gate for that month.Never had any trouble before that or since...

 

[hackbike 6]

They sacked her that's why.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

They sacked her that's why.

 

[upsidedown]

I gave up trying LM Stourbridge to Bromsgrove, space for 1 or 2 bikes tops, and that's usually taken up by a pushchair or six.

Their website says 'we have a cycle policy', when you look at what it is it just says something about taking bikes to Euston at rush hour.

I did think about contacting them to ask why they wouldn't make it easier, then decided that life's too short.

 

[domd1979]

Seems a bit much... Might be worth dropping them an email, wouldn't bother with Customer Services though, try the MD steve.banaghan@londonmidland.com . From what I can gather he is prepared to tackle front line staff being jobsworths.

Barrier man at Northampton this morning insisted that I must fold my brommie on entering the station and not unfold it again until leaving. New rule apparently.

There have been some notices with polite requests (in a chatty "we know you're in a hurry to get away" sort of sense) at Milton Keynes and, bizzarly, greeting those boarding trains on Euston's platform 16 for a while.

Any other similar experiences?

 

[Bromptonaut]

Thanks for these responses. Well known that Southern (like LM a Govia franchise) have a confrontational policy on folders. Hadn't appreciated that there were issues on C2C and Liverpool St as well.

I'd already raised the measure's futility with customer services following the origianal notices and re-opening that thread brought a commendably prompt response as follows:-

This is not a rule that can be found in the railway bye laws or even yet a definitive Company Policy which could be outlined in our Customers Charter, however this is something we have put in place at Milton Keynes in relation to the level of complaints we have received from passengers and passenger focus groups. We are asking our passengers to co-operate with us regarding this.

I can see that there is a potential problem on stairs and barriers at MK but they won't solve it by forced folding.

I'll see what Northampton's barrier man says tomorrow - the particular individual involved does not shirk confrontation with passengers and I suspect he may have decided that folder users were good for a bit of sport.

 

[BentMikey]

And do it with a helmet camera running. Assuming he lets go an inappropriate reaction, then tell him you're filming him.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Further response from LM customer services this morning. Thursday's message based on incorrect info and fold at entrance rule now in place at all stations.

PA announcements at MK this eveneing "reminded" folder users not to unfold until they'd left the station.

I'm continuing to contest on H&S grounds and also that I'm not physically capable of carrying the bike and pannier the 300+ metres, including afootbridge, involved to/from the far end of a 12 car train at my local station (Northampton)

 

[LOGAN 5]

I had exactly this problem with Southern trains at both ends of the journey. They insisted I fold and carry the Brompton from the barrier to the train. I wrote to customer services saying that they don't expect pushchairs to be folded down and the baby to be carried or people not to wheel their suitcases but carry them instead. I eventually got my doctor to write a note to the effect that i couldn't carry my bike due to a back injury. In the meantime Southern changed this silly approach and I never did have to show them the doctors letter.

Southern barrier staff at my station see a cyclist coming and can get really jobsworthy. Completely different attitude when passing through the barriers in "civilian" clothes and even get thank yous good mornings/evening. They see cyclists as non people and non passengers who they can have a go at.

 

[ChrisKH]

I presume they are doing this for H & S reasons, ie other travellers, and to prevent platforms being blocked by people folding their bikes, but if they had consulted they would realise that I am far more clumsy and likely to damage both myself and another traveller if I'm carrying the Brompton rather than rolling it unfolded.

 

[domd1979]

Customer services are a waste of space, I'd go to the top like I said before and see what happens.

The "requirement" to fold a bike before proceeding into the station seems pretty idiotic to me. Wheeling a bike round is no different to the increasingly enormous suitcases that people seem to travel with.

Its interesting that it was London Midland staff at MK (including the duty station manager) who threatened an enthusiast who was taking photos of trains towards the end of one of the platforms. They demanded details of his rail pass, insisted on seeing the photos he had taken and booted him off the station - all of which they have absolutely sod all right to do. Equally, taking photos at stations is entirely allowed. London Midland's MD is on record apologising for that episode, so am sure its worth contacting him about folding bikes, since it could well be the very same staff acting beyond their authority.

Further response from LM customer services this morning. Thursday's message based on incorrect info and fold at entrance rule now in place at all stations.

PA announcements at MK this eveneing "reminded" folder users not to unfold until they'd left the station.

I'm continuing to contest on H&S grounds and also that I'm not physically capable of carrying the bike and pannier the 300+ metres, including afootbridge, involved to/from the far end of a 12 car train at my local station (Northampton)

 

[Bromptonaut]

Thanks for the further comments. Most of LM's barrier staff are great (thanks Bob & Howard) and so far it's only one who's raised the issue at Northampton. There's a "meet the managers" session @ Euston next Tuesday so I think I'll give that a try majoring on manual handling. The HSE website has a couple of useful publications which suggest carrying a Brompton 300m including stairs runs up several red flags.

The old SRA policy on cycling (which has been adopted as Gov Policy) requires that folding bikes be allowed on all trains withoiut restriction. Passing a "test" to carry the folded B all round the Wrekin seems a pretty stiff restriction to me!!