Ticket checks at Taunton

[whole diary]

[Wilf19]

I've been through Taunton station a couple of times in the last week and my ticket was checked at the ticket office side entrance to the tunnel below the platforms, from what the guys manning the check said, they were doing it on both sides of the station. I've never seen this before in the the 14 years that I've been using Taunton on and off.

This got me wondering if this is a precursor to the introduction of ticket barriers at Taunton as both Temple Meads and Exeter have them so Taunton must be a bit of a hole in the system, and I'm sure I read somewhere (maybe on here) that is was being planned. That in turn got me wondering how they would implement barriers without making life a bit awkward as both the main station car park and bike racks are on the down side while the ticket office is on the up side only (reasonably) connected by the tunnel. I can't see how they could put barriers on both entrances without making things a bit awkward. I can't be the only person that uses the car park or bike rack and then walks across to get a ticket. I suppose a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) on the down side would be one answer.

Does anyone know if barriers are in the plan for Taunton - and if so how the long walk around under the bridge (with the pooping pigeons back in residence) will be avoided.

(OK so I'm sat in a hotel and bored - can you tell?)

[BerkshireBugsy]

(OK so I'm sat in a hotel and bored - can you tell?)

Err...yes! Can you not go out and explore the local railways where you are?

[bobm]

... in this weather?   

[Southern Stag]

Barriers are going to be fitted to Taunton soon, I have no idea how they are planning to do it though. Gloucester is also being fitted and it currently has a permanent manual barrier, so it's quite possible Taunton now has a permanent manual barrier, presumably using the staff who have been recruited to work on the gateline.

[Chris from Nailsea]

This got me wondering if this is a precursor to the introduction of ticket barriers at Taunton as both Temple Meads and Exeter have them so Taunton must be a bit of a hole in the system, and I'm sure I read somewhere (maybe on here) that is was being planned.

You did indeed read it on this forum:

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are spending however...on revenue protection.

More Revenue Protection officers for the LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) area, plus new barriers at Didcot & Newbury by Nov12, Taunton by Jan13, and Cheltenham & Gloucester by Mar13. Gateline staff will be in place by Jun12 carrying out manual checks at these stations until installation.

Slough, Oxford & Reading wide-gates are being converted to automatic gates like the rest.

[Wilf19]

Thanks for the replies, I'm not going mad then I did read it somewhere. It will be interesting to see how this one works out and if I (and others) will need to add to our already finely timed park bike/car, buy ticket,  get (expensive) coffee and get on train routine when the barriers are introduced. Must remember to keep hold of my return ticket when I get off the train in future!

(OK so I'm sat in a hotel and bored - can you tell?)

Err...yes! Can you not go out and explore the local railways where you are?

Well there is a newish metro system here (I'm in Dubai for the week) so I might go and explore that tonight, I'm told I need to find some shops. Using the metro has to be a less stressful and nail biting option than the taxi drivers I've experienced so far.

... in this weather?  

5 minutes outside here and I'm dripping wet but for different reasons!   

[EBrown]

...get (expensive) coffee

Well there is a newish metro system here (I'm in Dubai for the week) so I might go and explore that tonight, I'm told I need to find some shops.

A few pieces of advice.

1) Get a no1 gold card. Guaranteed a seat and a quieter carriage. You also have the view out of the front/back window (back to Rashidiya and front to Jebel Ali)
2) Do not eat/drink/chew (gum) on the Metro
3) Do not go in the women only carriage (a common tourist mistake) - you *will* be fined (The same applies to woman only bus seats).
4) Take a look at what you can be fined for, it's quite strict compared to England, there is a board in every station that lists this
5) Enjoy the nice escalators and air conditioning! (Escalators get turned off when it's off-peak (after 1845)
6) Don't think about the projects Serco have failed to deliver on...
7) Plenty of shops in Emirates Mall & Dubai Mall (both have stops on the red line)

[BerkshireBugsy]

Ok we are getting a little OT now but Wilf19 elsewhere has posted a picture of the Dubai ski slope - wonder what that does to the environment (and do they care?)

[Wilf19]

Thanks for the advice EBrown, unfortunately I didn't read that until I got back last night. 

Quite right about the Gold card, I wish I had as I had to stand for the 30min ride in each direction, but it was refreshing to see how many men would give up their seat for standing women or 'people less able to stand'. I nearly made the mistake of trying to get into the ladies only carriage when rushing to catch a connection. I got firmly shooed away by an official, which judging by what you say about fines, was fortunate! I was wondering if my shorts and T shirt fell into the category of 'dressing respectfully' but I saw plenty of other blokes dressed the same way so I guess that was OK. I will check the list if I use the metro again this week.

I have found that the Deira City mall has the shop my wife wants me to visit and that is only (a slightly sweaty) walk from my hotel, so off there tonight.

Now back on topic.

Gloucester, if I remember correctly only has one entrance and exit, but it may well have changed since I went through their regularly. If it does still have one entrance then that's nice and simple from a gate perspective. Cheltenham, from what I recall of living their and using the station 15 years ago has an entrance on either side so it will be interesting to see how they do that. But I seem to remember back in the days of ticket checks at Cheltenham there were two footbridges across the tracks, one that didn't give access to the platforms but gave access to the ticket office, so I guess that would sort that out. Taunton is a bit different as I can't see how they could divide the tunnel to allow ticketless access to the ticket office.

I'm sure all will revealed in due course.

[JayMac]

I can't see anyway that the subway at Taunton can be left freely accessible once barriers are in place, but that needn't prevent access to to the ticket office from the south side.

Staff on the gate line on the down side at Bath Spa will let you through to access the ticket office there, should the  TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) not be suitable for the ticket(s) you wish to purchase. I suspect the same will be the case at Taunton, with TVMs installed on the south side.

One exit that will be problematical is that to the south side car park and bus stop. I suspect this will be manned by a single member of staff and not feature automatic barriers; again, similar to the arrangement for the down side car park at Bath Spa.

[Wilf19]

One advantage of ticket barriers and the south car park gate being manned I can see is that the bike racks would then be 'rail side' of ticket checks, that might make them slightly more secure. Although I must say I've never had any problems leaving my bike there (yet).

[broadgage]

I have had my ticket checked at Taunton when travelling to London, on the last few journies, usually on the 13-34.
This seems to be a new policy, and as others post is probably in preperation for ticket gates.

I have never known any ticket check when alighting at Taunton from the 18-03 from London.

Installing ticket gates on the platform used by fast down trains looks complex since AFAIR there are 3 entrances, to the bus stop, to the car park and taxi rank, and to the ticket office via the subway.

[vacman]

At Taunton there will be 2 manned gatelines, one at the "Bus" entrance and one at the main ticket office entrance, the Taxi rank entrance will be closed. There will also be a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) put at the Bus entrance.

[JayMac]

Thanks for that vacman. Good for access to the south side car park and bus stop, not so good for the walk into town. Those extra 50 yards....

One assumes the taxi rank will also move nearer this exit.

[Wilf19]

Thanks for all the replies, all will be revealed in due course I suppose. I did have my ticket checked leaving the taxi rank exit yesterday evening off the 17:49 arrival from Reading,