Blackpool North: The most unfriendly station in the country?

[Bletchleyite]

I like Southport, the only problem there is the distance out to the water.

There is that. It's where people used to take their kids for an early driving experience before they were old enough! (You used, in the 90s, to be able to drive onto the beach, I guess you probably can't now).

 

[trainophile]

I like Southport, the only problem there is the distance out to the water.

Water? There’s water?

 

[Vespa]

The economy of Blackpool would not suffer even if the railway closed outright. Most people arrive by car.

Probably because of the said railway experience, without passengers there would be no station.

 

[Ianno87]

There is that. It's where people used to take their kids for an early driving experience before they were old enough! (You used, in the 90s, to be able to drive onto the beach, I guess you probably can't now).

Light aircraft used to land on the beach too!

 

[stevetay3]

Water? There’s water?

Sometimes I am told.

 

[lancastrian]

Water? There’s water?

Yes there certainly is. I was there one Monday in August a few years ago and the tide was not only in but had flooded the minture railway as was almost washing up to the boating lake. Yes it was the August Bank Holiday.

 

[onlinespotting]

I was imaging the GC guard looking at his watch, noting it was 30s to departure time and anxiously waiting for his passengers to be allowed onto the platform.

OMG this is so true! Maybe it’s why First Transpennine Express (that was) pulled out (speculation only) to add to others comments, I recall having to wait with my disabled Mam in a queue and we couldn’t sit down. When they opened the barrier everyone was running and I felt like I had to rush her. It turned out everyone ran to the furthest door of the train and we got a seat at the nearest door. She occasionally uses a wheelchair now so God knows how ill get assistance there! I am still holding out about my previous comments btw.

 

[Bletchleyite]

TPE didn't "pull out", the services were changed to being operated by Northern as part of a franchise remap, reversing the change a number of years ago that moved them from what was FNW to TPE.

 

[onlinespotting]

TPE didn't "pull out", the services were changed to being operated by Northern as part of a franchise remap, reversing the change a number of years ago that moved them from what was FNW to TPE.

I am aware of this which is why I said speculative. The blackpool north to york used to be a blackpool to Scarborough as TPE under arriva trains northern.

 

[Darandio]

I am aware of this which is why I said speculative. The blackpool north to york used to be a blackpool to Scarborough as TPE under arriva trains northern.

That makes no sense. You were aware that they were changed but speculated otherwise?

 

[onlinespotting]

Maybe I should have put it into the speculative forum. I am allowed my opinion at the end of the day

 

[Darandio]

Maybe I should have put it into the speculative forum. I am allowed my opinion at the end of the day

Of course you are allowed an opinion. But in this case there is no speculative idea to post anywhere, what happened is what happened.

 

[Western Sunset]

I thought that a Northern senior manager, might even have been the CEO, said he was going to investigate the customer experience at Blackpool North. Did anything come of this?

 

[Western Sunset]

When I worked in a library, we didn't let folks take pictures inside without our explicit permission.

 

[Bletchleyite]

When I worked in a library, we didn't let folks take pictures inside without our explicit permission.

And that, as per my reply to @onlinespotting, is the policy of whoever was running the library, which is fine as organisations can have stricter policy than the law if they wish. It just isn't the law.

For instance a good many shopping centres prohibit photography, and can have you leave the premises (and ban you if they want) should you disregard that. You can't, however, be prosecuted, because it's not a legal matter, it's a matter of company policy.

 

[LOL The Irony]

I thought that a Northern senior manager, might even have been the CEO, said he was going to investigate the customer experience at Blackpool North. Did anything come of this?

I do recall a very senior manager at Northern whilst it was still under Arriva say that they would look into it.

 

[Western Sunset]

Local authorities (of which our library service was a part) can create byelaws though. This is from the gov.uk website:

Byelaws are local laws made by a local council under an enabling power contained in a public general act or a local act requiring something to be done – or not done – in a specified area. They are accompanied by some sanction or penalty for their non-observance.

If validly made, byelaws have the force of law within the areas to which they apply. Generally byelaws are overseen by the relevant government department or confirming authority who has policy responsibility for the subject matter.

 

[py_megapixel]

Maybe I should have put it into the speculative forum. I am allowed my opinion at the end of the day

Certainly. I am very much in favour of freedom of opinion. But equally you must accept that in this case what you are saying has been widely confirmed to be untrue, as you in fact admitted yourself above in post number 730.

TransPennine Express stopped serving Blackpool because the DfT made the decision to transfer the service to Northern. I'm not sure what reason you have to think otherwise.

 

[philthetube]

Do trains departing need the right from station staff, if not I wonder if any have departed empty?

 

[Steddenm]

Do trains departing need the right from station staff, if not I wonder if any have departed empty?

I'm sure that BPN has RA or TRTS

 

[BrianW]

I'm sure that BPN has RA or TRTS

Too much jargon for me ... a few simple words of explanation would help. Thanks. I get BPN ok!

 

[Steddenm]

Sorry. I think that Blackpool North has Right Away or Train Ready To Start buttons on the platform that alert both the driver and signaller that it is ready to go. Don't think they can leave without them.

 

[nlogax]

I do recall a very senior manager at Northern whilst it was still under Arriva say that they would look into it.

With the large amounts of complaints that have gone the way of Northern and Passenger Focus over the years resulting in nowt, is Blackpool North effectively in the 'too difficult / can't be arsed to fix' pile?

 

[yorkie]

With the large amounts of complaints that have gone the way of Northern and Passenger Focus over the years resulting in nowt, is Blackpool North effectively in the 'too difficult / can't be arsed to fix' pile?

It's the same elsewhere e.g. Euston gateline.

Who is going to make the staff behave? What incentive is there for train companies like Northern to treat customers well?

 

[furnessvale]

I like Southport, the only problem there is the distance out to the water.

Now that the Ribble training walls for Preston dock have now been allowed to collapse, I believe the water is now returning.

At some time in the (not too distant) future, Southport will have to give its extra land back to the sea.

 

[nlogax]

It's the same elsewhere e.g. Euston gateline.

Who is going to make the staff behave? What incentive is there for train companies like Northern to treat customers well?

Everything I've read suggests Blackpool North has been this way for an entire generation and has therefore survived multiple iterations of complaints processes going back to BR days. Has the Euston gateline also been that way since the 1980s?

Fair question re. incentive. It begs the question what incentive is there for any TOC to treat customers well? Are organisations such as Transport Focus even worthwhile in situations like these?

 

[chorleyjeff]

Water? There’s water?

Occasionally the sea covers the whole beach. I have seen it. But not often.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Everything I've read suggests Blackpool North has been this way for an entire generation and has therefore survived multiple iterations of complaints processes going back to BR days. Has the Euston gateline also been that way since the 1980s?

No, but that's only because Euston was an open station (other than 8-11) for the 1990s and 2000s, regular gateline checks were a 2010s (or late 2000s) introduction.

The LNR-operated suburban gateline on 8-11 doesn't suffer the same problems and is the only one that had continuity of any sort since BR days.

What this means is that the "attitude problem" came about in Virgin Trains days - not something they like to shout about!

 

[Malcmal]

Everything I've read suggests Blackpool North has been this way for an entire generation and has therefore survived multiple iterations of complaints processes going back to BR days. Has the Euston gateline also been that way since the 1980s?

Fair question re. incentive. It begs the question what incentive is there for any TOC to treat customers well? Are organisations such as Transport Focus even worthwhile in situations like these?

In the early 90's I was bashing and took a run in on the Euston - Blackpool North with a 47/8 and mark 2's. I remember distinctly standing on the platform watching them shunt and nobody bothered me. What did stick in my mind was the shunting technique which ended up with the rake hitting the buffers quite hard while backing in and it seemed that the shunter was leaning out the rearmost window and opening the butterfly valve (someone can correct me if this is impossible) or whatever it is to apply the brakes. This was all being done after dark so maybe nobody saw me hanging around but I certainly wasn't trying to hide

 

[LOL The Irony]

With the large amounts of complaints that have gone the way of Northern and Passenger Focus over the years resulting in nowt, is Blackpool North effectively in the 'too difficult / can't be arsed to fix' pile?

It's the same elsewhere e.g. Euston gateline.

Who is going to make the staff behave? What incentive is there for train companies like Northern to treat customers well?

You also have to remember if they give majority/all of the staff their notice, that gives them 90 days to find, hire and train new staff, which is why they're reluctant to give people the sack. Not to mention the union will most likely get involved, especially if the rep is one of those to go.