Passengers denied boarding at Blackpool North?

[Vespa]

Seeing if a Railcard needs to be checked?

No idea, he didn't ask for my railcard or anything, I was about to put it through to leave the station when he took it out of my hands.

 

[MP33]

I have just returned from a visit to Blackpool North. On Friday my ticket was taken from me and ripped in two just in case I somehow wished to arrive twice. This morning the gate opened 12 minutes before departure. Of the 40 or so passengers in the queue, a fair number looked a bit too old to cause trouble.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I have just returned from a visit to Blackpool North. On Friday my ticket was taken from me and ripped in two just in case I somehow wished to arrive twice.

Hope it wasn't an All Line Rover.

 

[bramling]

I have just returned from a visit to Blackpool North. On Friday my ticket was taken from me and ripped in two just in case I somehow wished to arrive twice. This morning the gate opened 12 minutes before departure. Of the 40 or so passengers in the queue, a fair number looked a bit too old to cause trouble.

I wonder what would happen if someone remained on the same train in and out for short turnarounds. Say someone was travelling east from Layton and preferred to be on the train than waiting on the station (and had a ticket which covered their travel). Would this beat the doors?!

 

[Bikeman78]

I wonder what would happen if someone remained on the same train in and out for short turnarounds.

I did it on a 319 in 2020. Didn't seem to cause a problem. I might even have jumped out for a photo at the country end.

Going back 20 years I tried to take a photo of a Euston train that had a 47 on it. I had just got off it on the inward working. Stroppy bloke told me I wasn't allowed and I must leave the station. So I simply joined the queue for the next train out and then veered off to the required platform and took the photo. Still makes me chuckle now.

 

[Starmill]

If the operational approach suits it, as it does at a station like (say) Preston, then fine, but if it doesn't, then find somewhere else to spot and phot.

Or just let people sign in? As happens at almost every station in the county with ticket gates, except for Blackpool North and similar sort of place. Sometimes there's a 20p charge for a platform ticket, but again this is basically never bothered with.

Next to no stations have personal photography restrictions. If they didn't want people taking pictures they could create a relevant Bylaw.

 

[pdeaves]

If they didn't want people taking pictures they could create a relevant Bylaw.

Clearly, what 'they' should or could do and what they actually (try to) do don't necessarily align.

 

[Starmill]

Clearly, what 'they' should or could do and what they actually (try to) do don't necessarily align.

Indeed but I don't think that undermines my point that Bletchleyite is not correct to imply that photography is in some way a hindrance to anyone at Blackpool North or Inverness while it isn't at Preston.

 

[Craig1122]

This all sounds utterly bizarre. I'm not familiar with the station. Are these fabled gates beyond the ticket barrier? So if boarding do you go through the barrier then get held before being allowed onto your platform?

I'm pretty frequent traveller at Waterloo and I'm trying to imagine the Blackpool staff having a day trip to implement their strange ways in London and how it would go. Waterloo has all the same potential issues of train cleaning, people getting both on and off trains at the same time as well as tight turnarounds. Yet it seems to run perfectly well by just displaying the platform when the train is ready and people making their own way without an army of staff barking orders at them and locking/unlocking gates.

 

[Deafdoggie]

This all sounds utterly bizarre. I'm not familiar with the station. Are these fabled gates beyond the ticket barrier? So if boarding do you go through the barrier then get held before being allowed onto your platform?

The barriers are by the entrance into the main hall. Each platform then has its own door off the main hall. The main hall is quite airy and spacious but is devoid of seating. But, of course, the main hall is then full of queues of people waiting to get on their platform.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Has this matter ever been discussed by the local authority as it is not a good thing for the visitors to their resort to experience?

 

[Vespa]

I've said it before, get rid of the staff redeploy them to other stations without platform gates or retire them, you get rid of the resident culture issue and bring in a more customer focussed staff and remove the doors, in fact the whole station need to be knocked down and redesigned to be more open plan, it's a monstrous carbuncle of a design that's cold and unfriendly, I also think it's a potential health and safety hazard if there is an incident or a fire where every second counts, there is a limited scope to escape you have only two exits one is by a locked door to the platform and the turnstiles, at either end you're funnelled into a narrow area, a crush hazard, I see problems and they say health and safety laws is written in blood, let's hope they rebuild Blackpool North before anything happens.

Next time I visit by train I plan to enter Blackpool North then return via Blackpool South avoiding the barriers at North and break my journey in Preston before going home.

 

[Huntergreed]

I've said it before, get rid of the staff redeploy them to other stations without platform gates or retire them, you get rid of the resident culture issue and bring in a more customer focussed staff and remove the doors, in fact the whole station need to be knocked down and redesigned to be more open plan, it's a monstrous carbuncle of a design that's cold and unfriendly, I also think it's a potential health and safety hazard if there is an incident or a fire where every second counts, there is a limited scope to escape you have only two exits one is by a locked door to the platform and the turnstiles, at either end you're funnelled into a narrow area, a crush hazard, I see problems and they say health and safety laws is written in blood, let's hope they rebuild Blackpool North before anything happens.

Next time I visit by train I plan to enter Blackpool North then return via Blackpool South avoiding the barriers at North and break my journey in Preston before going home.

Absolutely. The number of complaints I have heard regarding staff at that station and the number of bad experiences I've had (which clearly are not just one-off experiences) should warrant a full investigation of exactly what is going on at this station.

The real question is are staff simply that incompetent and don't realise the system they are using is beyond ineffective and counterproductive, or are staff fully aware of this and simply choosing to inconvenience the travelling public, passengers and local residents?

It's certainly enough to make me choose Blackpool South every time, and this includes when it a significant inconvenience to do so.

 

[tommy2215]

If you ever needed a definition of prejudiced, this thread is a good example. Myself and quite a lot of others it seems have posted on this thread about how we had a petty positive experience at Blackpool North. But many seem to completely ignore the number of people who have a good time there and declare that everyone who works at the station is pure evil and must suffer eternal damnation (and no, that's definitely not an exaggeration of some posts) because of something that happened in the past. It really seems like the people on the forums are the real abusive ones here.....

 

[Watershed]

If you ever needed a definition of prejudiced, this thread is a good example. Myself and quite a lot of others it seems have posted on this thread about how we had a petty positive experience at Blackpool North. But many seem to completely ignore the number of people who have a good time there and declare that everyone who works at the station is pure evil and must suffer eternal damnation (and no, that's definitely not an exaggeration of some posts) because of something that happened in the past. It really seems like the people on the forums are the real abusive ones here.....

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it's all fine and dandy. The antics at Blackpool North have no place on the railway.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it's all fine and dandy. The antics at Blackpool North have no place on the railway.

Neither does Toothy McTooth the budget security guard outright shouting at people on Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly, nor the Merseyrail booking office staff who try their hardest to justify their closure. Sometimes people on here speak as if Blackpool North is the biggest problem on the railway, and it very much isn't, it's just a mild irritation at the end of an obscure branch line compared to some of the others.

 

[Howardh]

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it's all fine and dandy. The antics at Blackpool North have no place on the railway.

It does put you off going a bit. OK, I've never had any issues getting on the last train (2317) back to Bolton, usually been almost empty as I go midweek, but the thought that it's possible not to be allowed onto a train which is at the platform and you are there in good time is appalling. Suppose you aren't allowed on that last train even though you are there on time?? I'm sure that wouldn't happen...but not 100% sure it wouldn't happen reading the above reports.

 

[tommy2215]

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it's all fine and dandy. The antics at Blackpool North have no place on the railway.

No, but it's far from just myself. And my point is people including yourself are tarnishing everyone with the same brush and just because one or two or however many staff in the past are guilty of the 'antics' that does not make everyone who deserving of this eternal hatred. In fact I'm willing to bet many of the people saying how deplorable all the staff at Blackpool North are haven't actually been to the station in years

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

......it's just a mild irritation at the end of an obscure branch line compared to some of the others.

I had to laugh when I saw your description above of obscure of the line leading to Blackpool North station. Especially noting your Marston Vale branch line and its most reliable iconic rail units....

Are you not confusing the term "obscure" with the branch line leading to Morecambe station?

 

[Watershed]

No, but it's far from just myself. And my point is people including yourself are tarnishing everyone with the same brush and just because one or two or however many staff in the past are guilty of the 'antics' that does not make everyone who deserving of this eternal hatred. In fact I'm willing to bet many of the people saying how deplorable all the staff at Blackpool North are haven't actually been to the station in years

I don't think anyone is tarnishing everyone with the same brush. I am sure that most of the staff at Blackpool North are perfectly pleasant people. However, the whole setup is silly, is evidently not 'necessary' as there are hundreds of other equivalent stations which work perfectly well without it, and it lends itself to power trips from the rotten few who get off on that kind of thing.

Even one bad experience is enough to put people off rail for a long time, if not forever, so the industry should be doing all it can to resolve issues like this.

 

[tommy2215]

I don't think anyone is tarnishing everyone with the same brush. I am sure that most of the staff at Blackpool North are perfectly pleasant people.

That's really no the impression a lot of posters give! Like one person above saying "get rid of the staff redeploy them"

I don't think anyone is tarnishing everyone with the same brush. I am sure that most of the staff at Blackpool North are perfectly pleasant people. However, the whole setup is silly, is evidently not 'necessary' as there are hundreds of other equivalent stations which work perfectly well without it, and it lends itself to power trips from the rotten few who get off on that kind of thing.

That's a fair enough opinion but this thread has gone far beyond merely debating the advantages/disadvantages of not allowing passengers on the train until 5-20 minutes before departure. Its an echo chamber of prejudiced hate.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That's a fair enough opinion but this thread has gone far beyond merely debating the advantages/disadvantages of not allowing passengers on the train until 5-20 minutes before departure. Its an echo chamber of prejudiced hate.

If the "20 minutes" you make reference to above was the case, there would not have been as many postings upon this thread. Where did you get your "20 minutes" from?

 

[tommy2215]

If the "20 minutes" you make reference to above was the case, there would not have been as many postings upon this thread. Where did you get your "20 minutes" from?

From my own recent experiences, rather than one or two experiences from years ago. Sure there have been a couple of times where we were only given a few minutes to board that's a very small minority.

 

[Watershed]

Its an echo chamber of prejudiced hate.

It's hardly prejudiced to note that Blackpool North is notorious for providing a poor customer experience. Is it possible that you have a vested interest here? Certainly I would not want to try and defend what happens there.

 

[tommy2215]

It's hardly prejudiced to note that Blackpool North is notorious for providing a poor customer experience. Is it possible that you have a vested interest here? Certainly I would not want to try and defend what happens there.

Of course I don't have a vested interest. But thanks for proving my point its just an echo chamber. I'm speaking on the basis of mine and plenty of others recent experiences. An alternative to those who have a fixed view from second hand accounts from years ago, which yes definitely tarnish everyone with the same brush. I don't doubt some people have had a bad experience. But it's led to prejudiced hate which is awful. And just so you know I don't agree with the system of not letting passengers on the platforms either.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I had a pleasurable experience when I visited Blackpool North last year. Granted my tickets got checked twice on the way out, but the staff were nice enough.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I've said it before, get rid of the staff redeploy them to other stations without platform gates or retire them, you get rid of the resident culture issue and bring in a more customer focussed staff and remove the doors, in fact the whole station need to be knocked down and redesigned to be more open plan, it's a monstrous carbuncle of a design that's cold and unfriendly, I also think it's a potential health and safety hazard if there is an incident or a fire where every second counts, there is a limited scope to escape you have only two exits one is by a locked door to the platform and the turnstiles, at either end you're funnelled into a narrow area, a crush hazard, I see problems and they say health and safety laws is written in blood, let's hope they rebuild Blackpool North before anything happens.

Next time I visit by train I plan to enter Blackpool North then return via Blackpool South avoiding the barriers at North and break my journey in Preston before going home.

Hopefully Blackpool North will be one of the stations that'll lose its ticket office and become fully unstaffed, meaning the gates and them doors being ripped out. Last time I was in Blackpool was in 2017 and I haven't been back since, one reason is because of the infantile staff at Blackpool North acting like five year olds towards passengers. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think it'll be too long until we see a punch up between a customer and a member of staff at BPN because of the latters unprofessional behaviour.

One solution could be for passengers to wear bodycams whilst at Blackpool North, and if there's enough footage posted online of rude staff lashing out at passengers then its likely the station will be the first to become unstaffed through the proposed ticket offfice closures.

 

[Vespa]

It had to be so bad that even Geoff Marshall commented on it, that's saying something.

 

[bramling]

Of course I don't have a vested interest. But thanks for proving my point its just an echo chamber. I'm speaking on the basis of mine and plenty of others recent experiences. An alternative to those who have a fixed view from second hand accounts from years ago, which yes definitely tarnish everyone with the same brush. I don't doubt some people have had a bad experience. But it's led to prejudiced hate which is awful. And just so you know I don't agree with the system of not letting passengers on the platforms either.

It clearly isn’t the biggest issue facing the railway industry.

But equally I don’t think anyone can say there isn’t an issue there. I’ve used the place a handful of times over the years, and in every occasion I’ve found the experience to be negative, and in particular have witnessed staff being extremely rude to people for no real reason.

 

[Fokx]

I’d have to agree here that I’ve not really had a dreadful experience at Blackpool North.

Things are a little unusual but not awful. I’ve had worse experiences with the Euston scrum and I’m not the biggest fan of the ‘lounge’ approach of Piccadilly station either

It really doesn’t bother me in the slightest that there’s two ticket checks (it solves issues that barriers don’t such as no railcard or adult on child or advance on the wrong train).

It really doesn’t bother me that the staff don’t greet me with a smile or a red carpet, it’s absolutely no different to most stations I’ve experienced with Carlisle staff.

It really doesn’t bother me that your effectively locked into the station whilst trains arrive and depart, it’s no different to any airport or coach station that I’ve been to and in theory would allow for tanking, cleaning, and lost property to be collected meaning a nice environment for me to arrive into. I’d much rather a train be locked up if I’d accidentally dropped my wallet or left a bag onboard than if anyone and everyone was allowed to immediately pile on.

It had to be so bad that even Geoff Marshall commented on it, that's saying something.

Geoff Marshall doesn’t have the best reputation himself amongst station staff and is known to have the occasional strop when things don’t go the way he wants