Didn't bother getting my ticket out when I got off the train yesterday. Just flashed my Maestro card and walked on by. Be good to say I was wrestled to the ground and issued with a penalty fair before I could say 'terrible inconvenience'. Instead the couple of lads on their Southern Trains YTS scheme pretending to be 'revenue protection' didn't bat an eyelid as 500 people squeezed through the gate.

If Southern trains really want to make it inconvenient why don't they introduce a stile - that would be a laugh and the women with puschairs would be banned from the trains forever - which I assume is what they want!

This morning there were the 3 managerial looking men standing around doing nothing, a Southern gate controller and two people in police type outfits - perhaps these are the ticket enforcement officers?

At some point (next week?) the numbers will be reduced, probably to just the gate controller. This poor chap will take holiday, time sick etc. When this happens, it's unlikely Southern will have sufficient cover, so gate 2 will be closed during the busiest times yet again causing further frustration. Alternatively they simply wont have the staff to cope with any of the gates and they'll be left open.

Then there is the cost of manning the gates and having to deal with the constant email complaints versus the actual increase in revenue - which I bet will be minimal (Note that most commuters cant get out of the mainline stations without a ticket anyway and therefore are unlikely to be the dodgers - so it's the odd kid and non professional that are really being targetting - and these people will just use alternative transport (or travel at a different time when gates are open) if they cant get away with a free ride - so no new revenue stream then!).

It would be interesting to see the business case. We should all ask Southern what additional revenues they expect to collect by making our lives a misery. Revenues to be offset but initial set up costs and on going salaries of course. I bet it's laughable.

Leaving the Perry Vale Gate fiasco to one side, what really bothers me is people only starting searching their bags for their tickets when they've arrived at the barrier onto platform 1 - STOP FAFFING & BLOCKING THE WAY! And you really would think that some people had never used a ticket barrier before... It's really not that tricky.

Heaven forbid, should I forget where I put my ticket, scramble around in my briefcase, then find it in my jacket pocket, then decide to look up at the electronic screen, cant find my glasses, scramble around again, give up due to the tutting and swearing behind - then ask the gate controller what time the next train is to Croydon before actually passing through the barriers!

Problem is the station isnt really big enough to cope with the numbers of people using the service, which is why ticket barriers are a stupid idea!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps we can learn from the FH pools and have separate Male and Female entrances.....

Or use Honor Oak Park and then the P4 or walk along Devonshire Road when it is not raining. Apparently HOP will not become gated in the next few months because the wooden floor is not strong enough for the Gate machines!

I've had no bad experiences with this so far other than finding that the ticket inspectors/customer service agents are so numerous and substantially built ( both men and women) that they get in the way of people trying to get through the barriers. They are all very pleasant and its nice to see stations being staffed, but when a train comes in and passengers get off, could they please all just get out of the ******* way.

Getting off the train at HOP earlier this evening I overheard the following conversation as I climbed the wooden stairs - we've had a bottleneck since they closed the side exit about 5 years ago. Anyway, I paraphrase slightly, but it went something like this:

"Why are you getting off here? You don't live here."
"Yeah, but there's ticket barriers at Forest Hill and Sydenham now and I don't want to get caught..."

Aside from the fact that it doesn't take a criminal genius to carry on fare-dodging when Southern only bother to secure small parts of the route, this does show that the ticket machines will eventually work to help get to the point where everyone's paying for their journey, hopefully - or maybe the trains will just get a little bit quieter.

I agree fare dodgers need to be stamped out. Guess they got on at NXG . It is usually the criminal fare dodgers who put their feet up on opposite seats , I would imagine

Article in the week's News Shopper:
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/lewgre...uption.php

The downside gate was open when I returned to FH on Sunday evening. I also notice that a bar has been built across, near the top of the gate (c. 7 feet), and what looks like a magnetic plate installed at the corresponding height on the gate itself.

Last time I bought a ticket at FH station I noticed a lot of people buying tickets. They have to now that there are ticket machines. (Or go to HOP!)

I have talked to the Mayor's office.

They have just received confirmation that Peter Field, Director of Strategy, TfL and John Oliver, Acting Commercial Director, Southern Rail will attend the meeting at Sydenham station with the mayor.

These are two senior officers who will be able to address the gating problems at the station. It is essential you are there to put your point of view.


Barry Milton

If you think we have it bad, just wait until HOP get their gates. It's not going to be easy to fit two, let alone three or more gates in their ticket hall.

Nasaroc - do you know if they will also be going to Forest Hill as planned to hear from commuters?

The first meeting will be FH at 5.30; then 6pm at Sydenham.

That's great, just early enough to miss the core commuting crowd. Who finishes work in time to get home for 5.30pm?

I had my first experience of using the barriers today. Generally positive especially the always happy booking clerk nearest the platform.
I am a little unhappy at the barrier overhead. At 6ft 4" I just touch it. There are many at my height nowadays or even taller.
There seemed an abundance of staff to watch people going through. These guys did not seem overpolite or especially erudite in our native
language. They should follow the example of the excellent guy at Sydenham called Moses.

It seems to take a long time for the crowd to get through the barriers. I think taht was at approximately 5.50 p.m. yesterday.

Please cut and paste into an email:

Dear Mr. Manager,
I have to leave work 30 minutes early on Friday evening so as to be home in time for a premature rush hour for the benefit of the mayor, our local MP, and the railway authorities.
I hope you are enjoying 'working from home' as you seem to do every Friday and I'll see you bright and early on Monday morning (trains willing).

Lots of love,
Unknown employee number 24601


Unfortunately I shall not be there this evening as I have a prior commitment but I have been able to pass on some excellent feedback to the mayor and local councillors for them to take up with the railway authorities.