Bristol Parkway Where does tha platform stop?

[cheekyfox]

I am slightly annoted this morning, the following in italics is a comment I have made to First Great Western.

This morning I stood on Platform 3 at Bristol Parkway waiting for the 6:40 Edinburgh train. I was stood at the westerly end, before the sign that states ''DO NOT PASS THIS POINT'. I was looking at a Class 66 that had stopped in platform 2 awaiting the signal. I was also stood behind the yellow line. An employee of First Great Western approached me and stated that I was in a prohibited area and I would have to leave. On moving along the platform I asked him 'Where is the sign stating this is a private area' he replied that 'no trains stop in this area'.

Could you please clarify where on platform 3 at Bristol parkway does the public are stop and if it has moved can the sign be moved accordingly.


I was not...
a) Smoking
b) About to jump
c) Using a camera.

Just looking at a stopped Class 66 while waiting for my train. Can someone here clarify the legal aspects of this..

 

[NSEFAN]

If you're not supposed to be there, then there should be some indicator of this. How else are passengers supposed to know otherwise?

 

[Greenback]

Some rail staff are very nervous and suspicious about people who stand at the end of platforms, even though they have not passed any signs or lines. I think there is a feeling that there is no need for people to be there, so they must be up to no good in some way.

 

[Flamingo]

Some rail staff are very nervous and suspicious about people who stand at the end of platforms, even though they have not passed any signs or lines. I think there is a feeling that there is no need for people to be there, so they must be up to no good in some way.

Smoking or about to jump are the two suspicions. Both are illegal. Somebody doing either would, naturally deny it.

Plat 3 is long, and a bit curved, and difficult to observe the length if crowded. I am impressed that they were policing their patch so efficiently as to spot what might be a potential problem and went to investigate further.

What I would suggest to the OP is buy an anorak and a notebook, and then they won't mind you standing there

 

[Greenback]

Smoking or about to jump are the two suspicions. Both are illegal. Somebody doing either would, naturally deny it.

Precisely. I have no problems if someone is behaving suspiciously, or of staff going to investigate. I just wonder why, in the absence of any evidence of wrong doing, it's necessary to move someone away from an area that is not prohibited in any way?

 

[cheekyfox]

What I would suggest to the OP is buy an anorak and a notebook, and then they won't mind you standing there

Will have to borry my husbands Anorak then....or buy a nice pink one

 

[Mojo]

The western end of plat 3? I've stood there plenty of times. That's where you load your bicycles onto HSTs isn't it?

 

[cheekyfox]

The western end of plat 3? I've stood there plenty of times. That's where you load your bicycles onto HSTs isn't it?

Pass that point the platform narrows, goes from the crinkly tin shed to the wire link fence. I was stood on the narrow bit..

 

[Flamingo]

Will have to borry my husbands Anorak then....or buy a nice pink one

Ahh, that's what it was - pure sexism! They didn't believe that a woman would be a spotter!

 

[DarloRich]

I am slightly annoted this morning, the following in italics is a comment I have made to First Great Western.

This morning I stood on Platform 3 at Bristol Parkway waiting for the 6:40 Edinburgh train. I was stood at the westerly end, before the sign that states ''DO NOT PASS THIS POINT'. I was looking at a Class 66 that had stopped in platform 2 awaiting the signal. I was also stood behind the yellow line. An employee of First Great Western approached me and stated that I was in a prohibited area and I would have to leave. On moving along the platform I asked him 'Where is the sign stating this is a private area' he replied that 'no trains stop in this area'.

Could you please clarify where on platform 3 at Bristol parkway does the public are stop and if it has moved can the sign be moved accordingly.


I was not...
a) Smoking
b) About to jump
c) Using a camera.

Just looking at a stopped Class 66 while waiting for my train. Can someone here clarify the legal aspects of this..

I would have told them to do one and asked for the station manager! but then i am argumentative.

 

[Flamingo]

Not always a good idea. Being abusive to platform staff (even if accompanied by "I demand to see the manager" - in a lot of stations it will be the manager) may be followed by a fruitless argument the wrong side of the station barrier watching your intended train depart.

The dispatcher didn't walk down that far because he fancied the exercise, he was concerned at the actions / location of somebody on a platform (which is a dangerous place).

 

[Greenback]

It's fine being concerned, but either someone is in a public area or they are not. If they are not, and not breaking any rule, why are they asked to move? If the area is not safe, it should be prohibited accordingly!

 

[Flamingo]

It's fine being concerned, but either someone is in a public area or they are not. If they are not, and not breaking any rule, why are they asked to move? If the area is not safe, it should be prohibited accordingly!

Fair point, I must have another look at it passing through (probably tomorrow).

I was more concerned with Mr DarloRich talking big, and trying to dissuade him from taking any rash action that might backfire.

Bylaw 12 (2) covers it, I would believe:

(2) An authorised person may, in an emergency or in other circumstances in which he believes he should act in the interests of safety, issue instructions to any person on the railway. No person shall, without good cause, disobey such instructions.

 

[asylumxl]

If someone comes along politely and explains their motives, I have no issues with it. But a minority of staff seem to forget they are infact employed in frontline roles, where they must be professional and polite when dealing with customers.

Let's be honest, some people (railway staff are people and not demigods, contray to popular belief) are just dificult for the sake of being difficult. I don't know their motives, but I assume some must like the authority, or may just like confrontation.

I'm not saying this is such in this case, but I've had plenty of experience with staff who are just like that. If you do encounter a problematic person, just keep calm and complain properly in writing to the company. If you keep at it, you are far more likely to get something come of it.

 

[DarloRich]

Not always a good idea. Being abusive to platform staff (even if accompanied by "I demand to see the manager" - in a lot of stations it will be the manager) may be followed by a fruitless argument the wrong side of the station barrier watching your intended train depart.

The dispatcher didn't walk down that far because he fancied the exercise, he was concerned at the actions / location of somebody on a platform (which is a dangerous place).

I am never rude or abusive or threaterning to railway staff ( i work for the railways to!) i simply ask for a justification in a calm manner. If it is supplied politley i will happily move. If not i reserve the right to ask for some one senior to deal with the situation. I trust myself not to put myself in a posistion of danger or put anyone else in a posistion of danger.

I know the byelaws but it doesnt mean that i am not entitled to a polite explanation as to why a request to move has been made. I am afraid simply move or else wont cut it. You couldnt do it in any other job (except perhaps the police!) why should you do it on the railways?

 

[Flamingo]

I am never rude or abusive or threaterning to railway staff ( i work for the railways to!) i simply ask for a justification in a calm manner. If it is supplied politley i will happily move. If not i reserve the right to ask for some one senior to deal with the situation. I trust myself not to put myself in a posistion of danger or put anyone else in a posistion of danger.

I know the byelaws but it doesnt mean that i am not entitled to a polite explanation as to why a request to move has been made. I am afraid simply move or else wont cut it. You couldnt do it in any other job (except perhaps the police!) why should you do it on the railways?

I'm not saying the railway should (and either should the police). A reason should be given, and the request made in a polite manner from both sources.

 

[DarloRich]

Agreed entirely!

I have stepped in on a copuple of occasion and helped TOC staff deal with trouble makers, including one complete nutter so have a great deal of respect for those "outside" . my office is nice and warm and dry!

 

[Flamingo]

Although, I have been known to phrase my "polite" request to somebody wandering off the end of the platform with camera along the lines of "Oi, get back up here now you bloody idiot, you'll get killed and I'll have to do the paperwork".

 

[DarloRich]

That is a saftey issue! I would use industrial language in that case to get the message across!

 

[72C]

Reading this thread reminds me a non incident at Castle Cary earlier this year. I arrived to pick up a colleague a few minutes early, the train was a few minutes late. A sunny day so I walked across the foot bridge to the down side, enjoying the view from the bridge. The platform bench was fully occupied as the station was fairly busy. I walked to the the end of the platform back down to the London end and back across to the up side and ambled up and down. I became aware that the guy on duty was keeping me in his sight, following me around. I then went to the waiting room and spent a few moments reading about the station. Again I was aware of him watching me from the behind the retail screen. During the period, only 10 mins at most, nothing was said. He just followed me. The train arrived and my business was completed.

The outcome - my colleague less than happy standing for most of his journey on a grossly overcrowded, late HST and me wondering what is going on on the railway. If I was going to have a crafty fag ( I don't smoke) is it that important and if I was going to end my life on the line, as discussed above, surely he would need to speak to me to establish my state of mind.

What is the rationale behind this guys thinking. Am I guilty of something simply by being on the platform? An earlier comment used the term "police the patch" Is that what First ask their staff to do? Is it good customer relations and use of staff time. By the fact that I read the forum I have an interest in the future of the rail industry. What message would would a less interested person take from this?

 

[Clip]

Reading this thread reminds me a non incident at Castle Cary earlier this year. I arrived to pick up a colleague a few minutes early, the train was a few minutes late. A sunny day so I walked across the foot bridge to the down side, enjoying the view from the bridge. The platform bench was fully occupied as the station was fairly busy. I walked to the the end of the platform back down to the London end and back across to the up side and ambled up and down. I became aware that the guy on duty was keeping me in his sight, following me around. I then went to the waiting room and spent a few moments reading about the station. Again I was aware of him watching me from the behind the retail screen. During the period, only 10 mins at most, nothing was said. He just followed me. The train arrived and my business was completed.



What is the rationale behind this guys thinking. Am I guilty of something simply by being on the platform? An earlier comment used the term "police the patch" Is that what First ask their staff to do? Is it good customer relations and use of staff time. By the fact that I read the forum I have an interest in the future of the rail industry. What message would would a less interested person take from this?

With all fairness he does have a right to keep his eye on you as through your actions he has deemed you to be acting suspiciously. He doesnt know your only waiting - your wandering round all parts of the station and then investigating the waiting room - the majority of people do not do this..

i have in the past- questioned people who i have seen doing this as it was on our security patrol route too so how are we to know that you dont have evil intentions?

In fact the old security video they make you watch shows how people can scope out places that may be good places to cause havoc - even through a hoax by planting something.. And by keeping his eye on you he knew where you were at all times.. Good for him

 

[72C]

With all fairness he does have a right to keep his eye on you as through your actions he has deemed you to be acting suspiciously. He doesnt know your only waiting - your wandering round all parts of the station and then investigating the waiting room - the majority of people do not do this..

i have in the past- questioned people who i have seen doing this as it was on our security patrol route too so how are we to know that you dont have evil intentions?

In fact the old security video they make you watch shows how people can scope out places that may be good places to cause havoc - even through a hoax by planting something.. And by keeping his eye on you he knew where you were at all times.. Good for him

Fair comment. Cary is a small station with only one CIS screen so you do have to enter the station to see how services are running. The other point I would make is that surely that is what the waiting room is for. Are staff trained to approach customers they have concerns about? I certainly was not. Additionally I would say, as someone who worked in Northern Ireland in the seventies, folk up to mischief do not draw attention to themselves.

 

[Clip]

Fair comment. Cary is a small station with only one CIS screen so you do have to enter the station to see how services are running. The other point I would make is that surely that is what the waiting room is for. Are staff trained to approach customers they have concerns about? I certainly was not. Additionally I would say, as someone who worked in Northern Ireland in the seventies, folk up to mischief do not draw attention to themselves.

But you said you went into the station after you walked round the whole place.. Yes they shouldve approached in reality but as you can read on many threads on this forum and elsewhere members of the public dont like to be challenged so maybe by keeping an eye from a distance satisfied him better then asking you questions and have you possibly start a slanging match at him.

 

[72C]

Sorry Clip, I did not explain clearly. C Cary Is a small rural station, two platforms, one member of staff, with a common entrance, onto the platform, on the up side. I was waiting for a down train so had to cross over to P 2.

Busy there so wandered up and down and back to P1. By then the guy had taken an interest in me. But I still am at a loss to see why. Yes I did walk up and down and then return and entered the waiting room and read the publicity on the station.
I could have returned to my car and waited here. But is that what the railway want? I am beginning to think the guy was trying to be intimidating. Every time I moved he was there. Additionally, the whole episode only lasted ten to fifteen minutes at most from arrival to departure, in effect I was wasting time until the train arrived.

I guess this whole thread is about the freedom to move around a station. What is reasonable and when does it become unsafe, threatening or whatever.

 

[cheekyfox]

Reply form FGW received last night at 23:48

Thank you for your email of 14 February 2011. I am very sorry that you had a problem at Bristol Parkway Station regarding restrictions on Platform 3.

We take safety and security at our stations very seriously as it directly affects you as a customer. At any of our stations the staff on the platform have direct responsibility for all customers safety and use their discretion if they feel your safety may be compromised.

So I have logged what happened as a complaint against the station. That means the Regional Station Manager will see the details in our regular report and can take any action to improve the situation for the future.

Thank you again for contacting us and I hope that future journeys with us will be completely trouble-free.