Atomic Systems

Well, construction has finally started, on the new ATG's at Leeds.

Journeys Friend (well, rip-off actually) at the current manned barriers has been closed, so has the excess fares office too, and construction hoardings are in place.

In October, all the gates will be up and running.


By the way, the following stations should all be gated within the next few months (plans have been agreed):

TPE - Huddersfield, Manchester Airport.
Northern - Bolton, Liverpool LS, Bradford (FS and Int).
NXEC - Newcastle, Darlington, Durham, York.
EMT - Sheffield.
Scotrail - Glasgow Ctl.

Discussions are underway for ATG's to be fitted at the following stations also: Man Picc, Preston, Hull.

Wonder how it will work at York with about 5 entrances?

And at Sheffield with 2 entrances.

jtiffin wrote:And at Sheffield with 2 entrances.

The Sheffield ones are causing a LOT of arguements and bad feeling in certain groups, as a large number of people seem to have got it into thier head that by NR/EMT doing this it is blocking a public right of way, which it isnt especaily as the route diudnt exist until a couple of years ago. All becaus they use the station footbridge to get from Park Hill / Norfolk Park to the city centre. Personaly I am all in favour of them as ive seen so many folks bragging about getting to Meadowhell etc without a ticket because the gaurd cannot get down the train in time. Just hope they actually shut the gate on Sheff St tho as its very easy to just walk in and onto P1 without going into the main building.

JSReeves86 wrote:

jtiffin wrote:And at Sheffield with 2 entrances.

The Sheffield ones are causing a LOT of arguements and bad feeling in certain groups, as a large number of people seem to have got it into thier head that by NR/EMT doing this it is blocking a public right of way, which it isnt especaily as the route diudnt exist until a couple of years ago. All becaus they use the station footbridge to get from Park Hill / Norfolk Park to the city centre. Personaly I am all in favour of them as ive seen so many folks bragging about getting to Meadowhell etc without a ticket because the gaurd cannot get down the train in time. Just hope they actually shut the gate on Sheff St tho as its very easy to just walk in and onto P1 without going into the main building.

The ones that complain are usually the ones who never pay for a ticket.

Who really cares if they like it or not, Ticket Gates are coming.

Although it's an excellent way to catch the fare dodgers, the delays caused by these barriers for people trying to leave the platform can be very frustrating and annoying, especially during busy periods.

I'd be much more in favour of a 'green' and 'red' channel (akin to customs).

Passengers without tickets for whatever reason would choose to go through the Red and pay the appropriate fare, whilst eveyone else goes through the green. However, there would need to be 'spot checks' and anyone caught going through green without a valid ticket would be subject to a hefty fine, and possible arrest... without exception. The current fines don't go far enough.

I can see some chaos being caused at Leeds with the number of tickets people use there and the number of unmanned/unbarriered/machineless stations where it's impossible to get tickets from. Do you know if the side exit on P8 will still be opened during morning rush hour, or is that to get barriers too?

terrycunliffe wrote:Although it's an excellent way to catch the fare dodgers, the delays caused by these barriers for people trying to leave the platform can be very frustrating and annoying, especially during busy periods.

I'd be much more in favour of a 'green' and 'red' channel (akin to customs).

Passengers without tickets for whatever reason would choose to go through the Red and pay the appropriate fare, whilst eveyone else goes through the green. However, there would need to be 'spot checks' and anyone caught going through green without a valid ticket would be subject to a hefty fine, and possible arrest... without exception. The current fines don't go far enough.

Thats a good idea. I think that would help stations such as the busy London termini and Birmingham NS. Its affective when stations are manned 24/7. However i think that Automatic gates could be used during off peak times to save on staff

spartacus wrote:I can see some chaos being caused at Leeds with the number of tickets people use there and the number of unmanned/unbarriered/machineless stations where it's impossible to get tickets from.

Surely the TOC will be introducing ticket machines across the network similar to those down here - touch screens and select any destination and pay by cash & card. Most of the stations in our area have these now (at least 1)

Yes, I can really see all the unstaffed halts around West Yorkshire getting these. I can also see MP's not granting themselves an over inflation pay rise. Who are those men in white coats looking for...........

Few comments from down south! (Well Woking actually)

• ATGs are sometimes a pain, but you will get used to them very quickly - you sort of get used to where place you put tickets in is and where to get them after that! (Sounds sad)
• Would unfortunately think that side exits would be closed - well thats whats happened to the Peak, season-ticket only exit/entrance at Weybridge
• Guildford has a public right of way through it and with ticket gates we have a good solution. In staffed hours, the gate man has 'platform' tickets and there is also a machine that you press one button and it dispenses one - all free but it solves a point
• I'd rather have the ATGs than pay more to compensate fare evaders
• With smaller stations, the general consensus is that the majority of people will enter/exit at a major, ATG station and therefore I'd say 80% will need to use them at some point at least. For smaller - smaller station journeys can't form more than 10% of major network revenue (even though more journeys have them as either destination/departure point.
• Also, as a general rule down here, if there's no staff member on the gate, the gates will be locked open

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Richard

richard222 wrote:Few comments from down south! (Well Woking actually)

• ATGs are sometimes a pain, but you will get used to them very quickly - you sort of get used to where place you put tickets in is and where to get them after that! (Sounds sad)
• Would unfortunately think that side exits would be closed - well thats whats happened to the Peak, season-ticket only exit/entrance at Weybridge
• Guildford has a public right of way through it and with ticket gates we have a good solution. In staffed hours, the gate man has 'platform' tickets and there is also a machine that you press one button and it dispenses one - all free but it solves a point
• I'd rather have the ATGs than pay more to compensate fare evaders
• With smaller stations, the general consensus is that the majority of people will enter/exit at a major, ATG station and therefore I'd say 80% will need to use them at some point at least. For smaller - smaller station journeys can't form more than 10% of major network revenue (even though more journeys have them as either destination/departure point.
• Also, as a general rule down here, if there's no staff member on the gate, the gates will be locked open

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Richard

TBH as living in woking aswell and agree to all the very knowledage Mr. Richard, i agree.

They just seem normal to me - i find to imagine a station without then!

Yes Leicester has them and the big airline style tickets you get when you book in advance don't work in them and there only used during peak hours so in evening and during the day and Sunday there just left open if your going to get them use them there only there to stop fare dodgers and people who get on at unstaffed stations TTI dose not come through they don't get a ticket and decide to walk away when they get to the end station having barriers stops this and makes them buy a ticket