Hurrah. I hope the same thing applies to Forest Hill. It's a small thing, but if Southern have finally seen sense then i'll be a little happier in the mornings :-)

Letter received by Mayor Steve Bullock:

Having just tested this new policy I found out that the staff at Forest Hill believe that the gate on Perry Vale will be closed between 10am and 3pm. I am seeking clarification on this matter from Southern Railway. We are used to lies from the railway companies to passengers (such as the timetable), but it is completely unacceptable for them to be misleading the mayor of Lewisham.

Hopefully we will get this gate open 24 hours a day as quickly as possible.

"Hopefully we will get this gate open 24 hours a day as quickly as possible. "


You do mean during operating hours? Any 3:00 am trains?

Hopefully it's just a classic case of poor communication between Southern HQ and the local station staff. Perhaps they haven't been 'officailly' told yet?

Given that they leave the gates open after 8pm and no staff are around to shut the gate, I think it is a matter of being open 24 hours a day, but operating hours would be just as acceptable.

Very positive at F Fill station today
Booking Clerk , very cheerful .
Barrier worked well and they allow people on this a cheap day return to catch the 0929 hours.
Train carriage amazing an old buffet coach with seats faced inwards with tables. No coffee though.

Coming back gate open at 1600 hours. Gentleman on cate very polite and friendly.
All in all great service. Well done Southern.

I have now had the following reassurance from Southern Railway:

I was at FH station this afternoon and was pleased to see the staff at the Perry Vale gate help a young mother lift a hefty buggy over the footbridge. Quite shocked to see the amount of staff at 2.30pm though!

Shame the train was delayed though.

Yes, the amount of staff when I've been there around lunchtime is ridiculous! Would be better to shift some of them to the night hours to make us feel safer.

I actually witnessed someone virtually 'hurdle' the wall where the gate is on the left-side of the station to avoid paying the other afternoon. Just one step onto a small box half-way up and over he went - with a bottle of beer in one hand!
One of the several afternoon staff in attendance that day knew what happened but wanted to avoid 'confrontation'... Make of that what you will.

Oooh! Great timing!

Just as we have swanky new Oyster barriers installed at the station, TfL go and cancel their contract!

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/ne.../8976.aspx

This has got to be one of the most badly written press releases of all time.

All it seems to be saying is that TFL want to renegotiate the existing supplier contract - or award it to someone else who can provide it more cheaply or efficiently.

Don't think this is a something to lose sleep over. It's happening all the time in business.

Oystercards ain't going to disappear.

The provision of a remote self contained ticket gate enclosure at Forest Hill Railway Station, Devonshire Road SE23.

http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSL...mkey=54427

This planning application does suggest that the previous efforts to shut the gate because provision of a ticket gate line on the down platform was not possible were, as we all thought, purely penny pinching at the customers inconvenience.

I would welcome the gates so long as

a. they are manned for people with faulty ticket problems
b. a ticket vending machine is also installed (no evidence of one in the plans)

I can't be the only one who is irritated by the lack of ticket purchase facilities on the southbound side?

Comments are on the way to the planning department accordingly.

Included in the plans is a quick fare ticket machine and the gates must be manned when in operation. When they are not manned they must be left open.

They are some safety concerns with the barriers so close to the stairs and there is no evidence of a risk assessment having been carried out. I would be interested to know if anybody knows of barriers in such close proximity to stair in any other station on the London underground or National Rail network.

I decided to send a brief response to this planning application:

Re: DC/08/69463 - The provision of a remote self contained ticket gate enclosure at Forest Hill Railway Station, Devonshire Road SE23.

I wish to object to this planning application as I believe it will present a safety risk, a security risk, and will increase anti-social behaviour around Forest Hill station.

1. The gates are too close to the bottom of a steep flight of steps. During rush hour these stair get very busy and barriers at the base will result in people backed up the stairs. The alignment of the gates means that if people are having problems with a ticket at one gate, other people will not easily be able to get to some of the other gates, closest to the underpass, and crowding will build up further.

2. No risk assessment has been undertaken to see what risks are posed by the proximity of the stairs to the barriers but I am not aware of any other station or tube where there is so little space between steep, dark steps and the ticket barriers.

3. No improvements are included to lighting on the stairs. During the winter months the evening rush hour is conducted in the dark and the lighting above the stairs is inadequate. Some additional lighting is provided by the lamppost directly in front of the base of the stairs, on the other side of where the enclosure will be build. By building a structure in this location light to the staircase will be significantly reduced, making it harder to see where the steps are, especially when there is significant crowding.

4. The base of the stairs was previously walled off from the pavement until this wall was removed at my request. With the wall present the base of the stairs gathered litter and was often smelly due to it being used as a urinal. I am concerned that putting a large structure in front of this area will again lead to anti-social behaviour in the vicinity, especially after 8pm when the gates will be left open and unmanned. The provision of an extra CCTV camera watching the stairs and the base of the stairs would probably deter this type of behaviour but has not been included in the design.

5. The bollards left on the pavement create a dead zone sided by the wall of the railway, the new barrier and the bollards. They will create a hazard by restricting the flow of people on the pavement and pushing pedestrians leaving the station close to the road at Perry Vale. Part of this development should include the removal of all of these bollards to best use the space. A bench could also be placed by the information boards for people waiting for friends and to improve the environment around Perry Vale.

6. Finally I would point out that this structure would be far better placed in the Perry Vale car park where is can provide level access to the platform and allow disabled people to park close to the entrance rather than having to walk up a flight of stairs.

I hope that you will take account of my concerns when you consider this planning application.

Good points.
Especially about making an entrance in the car park for disabled access.

The idea is to get the main entrance to platform 2 to be via the Perry Vale car park, not just for those unfortunate to be disabled.

I would like to praise both the booking hall staff plus the guys on the gates. They are very friendly and helpfull to the passengers ( sorry customers , or is it clients ).
I am sure they brighten up most peoples day.

Which station are you talking about?