Rail station barriers

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Does anyone know or have a link to the 'rules' regarding cycles and rail station ticket barriers?

If my Brompton can fit through the normal barriers, should I be forced to use the wider ones at the end?

Thanks all.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

I dont know the actual 'rules' but if it folds up small enough for you to carry through without bashing anything I don't see the issue.
Having said that why is it a problem to use the wider ones at the end?

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Sorry, I should have clarified - I'm talking about pushing it through the barrier with me. It works but station staff sometimes have an issue with it.

Folding and carrying it wouldn't work as I have a bag on the front so would need a third hand to put the ticket in the slot.

As for using the end barrier, in rush hour there can be a long queue. Like everyone, I don't like to queue if I can get through one of the other barriers instead.

 

[lee1980sim]

Just tell the staff to find the rules saying you can't and get back to you another day, also point out its no different to some fatties squeezing through

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

Yeah if you can get through I don't see the issue, as soon as you start asking people to see their policies on things or where is that written down for me to see or what is your name please they generally stop giving a monkeys

 

[Hill Wimp]

The folder owners on my train, of which there are several, all leave the bikes folded until they get through the barriers so they can get through quick then unfold.

 

[growingvegetables]

No rules, I'll bet. The wider gates are to satisfy disability access and discrimination legislation requirements ........














except in the eyes of a jobsworth or two?

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

So what happened was that I was fully through one of the normal gates, bike unfolded, when one of the staff stood in front of the barrier, preventing me from moving further forward and ordering me to go back and use the wider barrier. Utterly ridiculous situation. I'm trying to find out if I officially have to use the wide barriers which to me seems stupid when I can get through any of them.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Is this during rush hour when there is a folded bike only rule in place?

On my morning train, there are no restrictions. On the evening train it depends which service you get and to where. The one I normally get is limited to two full size bikes but the one ten minutes later has no restrictions. The incident happened this evening.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

No idea, my beef is normally the other way around. People using the wide gates when they have no reason to.

I quite agree. One of the reasons I use the normal barriers is that the station staff are normally letting people out through the wide barriers the wrong way because they don't understand how to insert their tickets. Either that or there's five or six full size bikes queuing to get through. Cambridge station is awful - it doesn't take much for everything to grind to a halt, the ticket hall is such a bottleneck.

 

[classic33]

Does anyone know or have a link to the 'rules' regarding cycles and rail station ticket barriers?

If my Brompton can fit through the normal barriers, should I be forced to use the wider ones at the end?

Thanks all.

Which station?
FGW's policy is that you use the staff operated gate. Its wide enough for cycles. Its not always the widest gate that their staff operate though!
Southern require the bike be folded before entering the station

NATIONAL RAIL CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE
CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE FOR LUGGAGE, ARTICLES, ANIMALS AND CYCLES
48. Cycles Train Companies allow cycles to be conveyed by train with the exception of a few routes. However, restrictions may apply at particular times of day and/or days of the week. A charge may be made for conveying a cycle and a reservation may be required. The Ticket Seller must tell you about these restrictions and any charges if you ask when buying your ticket.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Thanks for the info @classic33, it's Cambridge station by the way.

 

[The Jogger]

I think it's more guidelines than instructions. Staff are advised to send people with any bulky items to the Wide Aisled Gate (WAG)
They manage the gateline and really I can't see it being a big problem going through the WAG with your Brompton, I do everyday. I take it you push the bike through ahead of yourself? If it is causing you a problem to such an extend you need to start a thread on it, my advice would to be leave two minutes earlier, then everyone's happy.

 

[annedonnelly]

I prefer to use the wide gate with my Brompton - the others are a bit of a squeeze. At Newcastle the staffed gate is usually a narrow one so the wide one isn't busy. It depends on what trains have just come in though. Sometimes there's a bit of a queue and I just wait my turn. After all once I'm out of the station and on my bike I'm going to be faster than all the pedestrians.

 

[Drago]

Just go through the wider barrier and enjoy your day. Arguing with staff and demanding to see written evidence of rules does nothing but cause wear and tear on the soul, even more so when they actually go get the book and show you the rule...