Trapped in train ticket barriers

Stigy

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I sounds like you were very close to the person in front, the gates detected your stick passing through the beam whilst the gate was still open for the other person and as such closed. It often happens to people without sticks when they pass too quickly behind the person in front.

In future OP, make sure the gates fully close before swiping your pass.

Write a letter to the company and you may get a complementary ticket or something, but at the station they are likely to just point out that there is nothing they could have done.

The person in front was irrelevant. The stick alone could quite easily break the beam on the sensors.

zaksmum

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I sounds like you were very close to the person in front, the gates detected your stick passing through the beam whilst the gate was still open for the other person and as such closed. It often happens to people without sticks when they pass too quickly behind the person in front.

In future OP, make sure the gates fully close before swiping your pass.

Write a letter to the company and you may get a complementary ticket or something, but at the station they are likely to just point out that there is nothing they could have done.

There was nobody in front of me at all. The gate was fully closed before I attempted to pass through - I had to ask the staff member where to put my pass and he showed me that I had to press it against the relevant area in front of the barrier.

I rang them this morning and they said I have to put it in writing and they'll respond within 14 days.

geordieracer

So sorry to hear you got injured. On the normal barriers - there is a light sensor just in front of where the paddles open so that when the beam gets broken then made whole again this is to tell it that the person is now through and it may close the barrier to stop people from 'Double shuffling'. There is no fault with the machine at all.

But like you said - you were not to know. The bigger gates are not actually classed as 'Disabled gates' its an unfortunate turn of phrase which seems to have stuck with some staff and members of the public. They are just 'wide aisle gates' to assist people with large amounts of luggage/prams and wheelchairs and so on and so forth but they do have the beam set further back and do have a longer dwell open time to allow people to pass through.


Glad they have said they will get back to you but just remember about this next time you use a train or the LUL and use the wide aisle gate. hope your arm heals nice and quick too.

victor2

geordieracer wrote: »

So sorry to hear you got injured. On the normal barriers - there is a light sensor just in front of where the paddles open so that when the beam gets broken then made whole again this is to tell it that the person is now through and it may close the barrier to stop people from 'Double shuffling'. There is no fault with the machine at all.

But like you said - you were not to know. The bigger gates are not actually classed as 'Disabled gates' its an unfortunate turn of phrase which seems to have stuck with some staff and members of the public. They are just 'wide aisle gates' to assist people with large amounts of luggage/prams and wheelchairs and so on and so forth but they do have the beam set further back and do have a longer dwell open time to allow people to pass through.


Glad they have said they will get back to you but just remember about this next time you use a train or the LUL and use the wide aisle gate. hope your arm heals nice and quick too.

That sounds like a good explanation to me and the sort of official response I would hope you get. If they throw in something like a free ticket as well, then at least you should feel they have a genuine concern.

zaksmum

victor2 wrote: »

That sounds like a good explanation to me and the sort of official response I would hope you get. If they throw in something like a free ticket as well, then at least you should feel they have a genuine concern.

Thanks victor. I don't need a free ticket though! I have my disabled pass which allows me free travel at all times.

Altarf

Stigy wrote: »

I see this all the time, and do wish common sense would prevail sometimes.

I agree.

The railway companies should get some common sense and not have barriers that continue to close with substantial force when someone is trapped in them. No other automatic closing door operates in the same way.

And before anyone says "if we did that it wouldn't stop people without tickets pushing through", how hard would it be that for the gate to sound an alarm and the person staffing the gate to deal with the matter. Or perhaps a few crushed passengers is preferable.

The railway companies should also get some common sense and if they have barriers that are designed to crush people if they take too long passing through, ensure that passengers who will not be swift enough, pass through a suitable exit. Signposting that exit, the "Wide Exit" does not convey that information.

Wig

Ok OP I'm going to break the mould on this one, so far people here have said you can complain and get a free ticket (£6?) or a bunch of flowers (£15?) or how about an apology nice cup of tea and a biscuit!

Pollocks to that! You need to see a Doctor to get this looked at and photographed, then you need to speak to a no win no fee accident claims management company, and sue the pants off them and get what you are deserved a thousand pounds in compensation!

Wig

Altarf wrote: »

I agree.

The railway companies should get some common sense and not have barriers that continue to close with substantial force when someone is trapped in them. No other automatic closing door operates in the same way.

And before anyone says "if we did that it wouldn't stop people without tickets pushing through", how hard would it be that for the gate to sound an alarm and the person staffing the gate to deal with the matter. Or perhaps a few crushed passengers is preferable.

The railway companies should also get some common sense and if they have barriers that are designed to crush people if they take too long passing through, ensure that passengers who will not be swift enough, pass through a suitable exit. Signposting that exit, the "Wide Exit" does not convey that information.

And have a member of staff platform side to direct any passengers with sticks etc to use the wide gate. Or have suitable signage on every normal gate warning passenger these gates are not for disabled or people who use sticks etc. To have a disabled gate hidden in the corner is not an acceptable excuse.

victor2

Wig wrote: »

Ok OP I'm going to break the mould on this one, so far people here have said you can complain and get a free ticket (£6?) or a bunch of flowers (£15?) or how about an apology nice cup of tea and a biscuit!

Pollocks to that! You need to see a Doctor to get this looked at and photographed, then you need to speak to a no win no fee accident claims management company, and sue the pants off them and get what you are deserved thousands of pounds in compensation!

I hope that's just your sense of humour.

Wig

victor2 wrote: »

I hope that's just your sense of humour.

Why?................