As part of a multi-million pound programme of station improvements, Monday 7th February saw the introduction of a new gating system at London King’s Cross – located between the station concourse and the platforms.
All customers travelling into and out of the station will now need to retain their train tickets to be able to get onto and to leave the platform. We are, therefore, advising all travellers to hold onto their travel documents when disembarking our services and when arriving for their journey. Any customers who plan to pick up their tickets on board a First Hull Trains service should ask a member of staff at the gates to let them through. Please keep booking references to hand just in case station staff ask to see them.
The gates have been installed on platforms 0-5 in a bid to improve security and create a safer environment for passengers. They are quick and easy to use and will prevent fraudulent and ticketless travel – which had been proven to be directly linked to crime both on-board and in the station.
Over £500m is being invested over four years to transform London King’s Cross into a 21st century station, equipped to meet future passenger demand, whilst honouring the station’s Victorian history. The station will be extended through a new western concourse, three times the size of the current area. The concourse will be multi-levelled with plenty of shops and restaurants for passengers to enjoy, as well as improved step-free access to the Underground and St Pancras.
Complete nonsense! The gates are being introduced so that guards on the trains no longer need to check tickets and can gradually be dispensed with.nThis ‘link’ between crime and ticket fraud is spurious. nIt’s one more example of cutting off the railway from the the people and making travel by train even more of a hassle than it already is.nSo many people will have tickets that wont pass the barriers or heavy luggage etc. that wont pass through, that long queues will form while one poor soul examines those with problems getting through.nIt already happens at some locations where these barriers have been introduced and nowhere else in Europe have I found this ridiculous system in place for inter-city trains.
Platform 0-4 actually.
Correction………….0-5 is the correct figure. Aplogies!