Oyster Card introduction shut station gates
Stepping up the campaign
If the gate is now open, I wonder if Southern have seen sense ... time to go round and ask / see what's going on. From an email I just got from someone awaiting major surgery to a knee, it seems it was not open at 7.30. In the meantime, SydSoc will be stepping up the campaign.
And here is the letter which was also sent to me by the woman concerned who is happy for this to be posted. I have deleted her name.
Southern are hardly covering themselves in glory on this issue:
Dear Sirs
Despite the assurance I received from you in the email below this
morning when I arrived at the gate to platform 1 of Sydenham station
it was locked.
I am currently practically disabled awaiting major surgery to a knee
In the next few weeks and walk with a crutch. I can only walk for 10 minutes without being in severe pain and cannot easily do stairs - when I do have to do them the pain is almost unbearable.
I arrived at the gate at platform 1 this morning in time to catch the
Train just before 7:30 am only to find the gate locked. I then had to walk round to the main station entrance to get access to the station (this took me over five minutes. The staff explained it was to do with the work to put in the barriers. I asked if we had been notified it would be locked and was told they put a poster up on the gate at 10:30 yesterday morning - not a lot of use as those of us with problems doing the stairs only use it in the morning... (I have subsequently been told the gate was locked last night so I doubt anyone saw the poster).
Staff said there was nothing they could do when I asked how I was
supposed to access platform 1 to get my train, by now I had now missed
the one I needed to be on to be at work on time. It would have been
nice if they had offered, as they could see I was disabled, to walk
back with me, unlock the gate and then re-lock it. No I had to do the stairs, when I asked if one of them would help me one of them did walk across the stairs with me and did say sorry about me having to do it but by then I was in tears from the pain I was experiencing.
I am not sure what they would have done had they been confronted by a person in a wheel chair or with twins in a double buggy who needed to get to platform 1; I suspect they would have done what two of them tried to me and turn away ignore the problem and hope it will go away - I didn't!
I have a medical appointment tomorrow so will be going to work using a
different route but come next week (Tuesday through Saturday inclusive) will be in two minds whether to trust your new entry process is up and working or to make alternative travel arrangements.
I would like to make this a formal complaint and would like a response
confirming that this is now being dealt with as a formal complaint.
The summary of the complaint being:-
1) That despite re-assurances to the contrary the gate has been locked while the work is going on.
2) Reasonable prior warning of the gate being locked was not given
3) Confirmation of how the new entry system will work and when it will be up and running - for example next Saturday (24th May) my travel
pattern will be the opposite way round to normal so I would be coming
back into platform 1 and wanting exit from it late in the evening when
there will be no staff at the station - do I need to change my travel
arrangements so that I don't use Sydenham?
Southern are hardly covering themselves in glory on this issue:
Dear Sirs
Despite the assurance I received from you in the email below this
morning when I arrived at the gate to platform 1 of Sydenham station
it was locked.
I am currently practically disabled awaiting major surgery to a knee
In the next few weeks and walk with a crutch. I can only walk for 10 minutes without being in severe pain and cannot easily do stairs - when I do have to do them the pain is almost unbearable.
I arrived at the gate at platform 1 this morning in time to catch the
Train just before 7:30 am only to find the gate locked. I then had to walk round to the main station entrance to get access to the station (this took me over five minutes. The staff explained it was to do with the work to put in the barriers. I asked if we had been notified it would be locked and was told they put a poster up on the gate at 10:30 yesterday morning - not a lot of use as those of us with problems doing the stairs only use it in the morning... (I have subsequently been told the gate was locked last night so I doubt anyone saw the poster).
Staff said there was nothing they could do when I asked how I was
supposed to access platform 1 to get my train, by now I had now missed
the one I needed to be on to be at work on time. It would have been
nice if they had offered, as they could see I was disabled, to walk
back with me, unlock the gate and then re-lock it. No I had to do the stairs, when I asked if one of them would help me one of them did walk across the stairs with me and did say sorry about me having to do it but by then I was in tears from the pain I was experiencing.
I am not sure what they would have done had they been confronted by a person in a wheel chair or with twins in a double buggy who needed to get to platform 1; I suspect they would have done what two of them tried to me and turn away ignore the problem and hope it will go away - I didn't!
I have a medical appointment tomorrow so will be going to work using a
different route but come next week (Tuesday through Saturday inclusive) will be in two minds whether to trust your new entry process is up and working or to make alternative travel arrangements.
I would like to make this a formal complaint and would like a response
confirming that this is now being dealt with as a formal complaint.
The summary of the complaint being:-
1) That despite re-assurances to the contrary the gate has been locked while the work is going on.
2) Reasonable prior warning of the gate being locked was not given
3) Confirmation of how the new entry system will work and when it will be up and running - for example next Saturday (24th May) my travel
pattern will be the opposite way round to normal so I would be coming
back into platform 1 and wanting exit from it late in the evening when
there will be no staff at the station - do I need to change my travel
arrangements so that I don't use Sydenham?
That Southern Style ...
In the words of a contractor I was just talking to in the ticket hall newsagents, they had a bit of a riot this morning, so one Southern manager having said to close the platform 1 gate, another said later to open it. He suggested it was part of a strategy of getting passengers used to the idea of the gate being closed. So much for the assurances received by Southern Customer Services from their managers - see this sent to a passenger awaiting major knee surgery this morning:
Maybe a well mannered riot would be in order using these contact details.
In case you missed it - here's Southern's notice:
Interesting about
As for when they actually install the gates on platform 2, June 11 was mentioned, but don't count on it.
Something else less than reassuring is trying to make sense of the second part of that first sentenceI have also been assured that while the works are in progress the gate will be keep unlocked and only until the systems I described are up and working will the gates be locked.
If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact.
Regards
Glenn Ford
Southern Customer Services
You can send us emails and reply to us directly at:
comments@southernrailway.com or click on the following link if you would like to submit a webform: http://www.southernrailway.com/contact.php
You can also contact Customer Services by phone (08451 27 29 20), fax
(08451 27 29 30) or in writing (Southern Customer Services, PO Box 277,
Tonbridge, TN9 2ZP)
Maybe a well mannered riot would be in order using these contact details.
In case you missed it - here's Southern's notice:
Interesting about
. Sometimes it's been suggested that this is impossible, although I think it's a matter of where there's a will, there's a way. Just another thing symptomatic of the general lack of clarity coming from Southern in what they are doing.it is not yet possible to install ticket gates on platform 1
As for when they actually install the gates on platform 2, June 11 was mentioned, but don't count on it.
Last edited by Tim Lund on 15 May 2008 11:58, edited 1 time in total.
-
roundasapound
- Posts: 34
- Joined: 2 May 2008 05:46
- Location: The Thorpes, SE26
I went to the station this morning around 07:35am to get the 07:40am train to London Bridge and the gate to platform 1 was closed. I saw a lady being escorted by a southern member of staff over the footbridge with crutches, she was complaining about how bad it was the gate was closed and the southern member of staff was saying "sssssssh" trying to get her to be quiet. 1st casualty of many.
I don't use that gate, never have done, but don't believe it's right they've closed it. Witnessing the old lady walking over the footbridge proved my point.
Also the help point is on the platform, so if you are outside of platform 1 on the other side of the gate how will you access the help point to notify staff?
I don't use that gate, never have done, but don't believe it's right they've closed it. Witnessing the old lady walking over the footbridge proved my point.
Also the help point is on the platform, so if you are outside of platform 1 on the other side of the gate how will you access the help point to notify staff?
-
roundasapound
- Posts: 34
- Joined: 2 May 2008 05:46
- Location: The Thorpes, SE26
that is just pathetic and ridiculous.
So someone using a pay as you go oyster who has brought a travelcard will have to pay extra money if they use the station?
So they are going to program the machine to differentiate between pay as you go and season ticket on oyster.
It gets more ridiculous as time goes on.
All this hassle, I think I need to change jobs and get back into my car
So someone using a pay as you go oyster who has brought a travelcard will have to pay extra money if they use the station?
So they are going to program the machine to differentiate between pay as you go and season ticket on oyster.
It gets more ridiculous as time goes on.
All this hassle, I think I need to change jobs and get back into my car
If you have a travelcard that covers zone 3 loaded onto your oyster card, one day, one month, a year or otherwise, then you will be able to use it at Sydenham, just as you can now. It's only pre-pay which will not yet be valid, which is the same as at all other stations on the overground network.
Liz
Liz
Letter to Jim Dowd, MP
The chairs of the Sydenham Society and Forest Hill Society have just sent this email to our MP, Jim Dowd:
Dear Jim:
As Chairs of the Sydenham and Forest Hill Societies we are extremely concerned by the decision of Southern Railway to reduce passenger access to our two very busy stations without formal consultation. This demonstrates an arrogant disregard for passenger safety and convenience, and flies in the face of the steps that the Department for Transport is taking to improve accessibility to stations, particularly at Forest Hill.
Can we ask you, as our MP, to:
1 Draw the attention of the Dept for Transport to the behaviour of Southern and urge them to recognise that access to stations is a vital element of renewing franchises.
2. Ask Southern Railways not to close gates at Sydenham and Forest Hill stations this June as threatened.
3 Not support any future franchise bids for operation of trains using these stations unless they promise access for ordinary ticket holders at all times of the day on both up and down platforms.
Yours sincerely
Tim Lund, Chair, Sydenham Society
Michael Abrahams, Chair, Forest Hill Society
cc. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
Len Duvall, GLA Member, Greenwich and Lewisham
Tim Bellenger, London Travel Watch
Sharon Hedges, Passenger Focus
I also didnt know about the closed gate and currently have a badly cut foot... (OK, I am not disabled). However, I cant walk far or fast and had twice the distance to cover this morning and the stairs were not bloody welcome at all (noone dropped me off before I start that all up again)
I too missed my train and started the day livid, late and in pain
I dont care what their excuses are, I cant see how it is right or proper to close that gate before the intercom access is in place for disabled persons (and I am NOT thinking of myself here). Surely that is not legal in 2008.
Following Tim's email, I've already also written a curt note to Southern Railways
I too missed my train and started the day livid, late and in pain
I dont care what their excuses are, I cant see how it is right or proper to close that gate before the intercom access is in place for disabled persons (and I am NOT thinking of myself here). Surely that is not legal in 2008.
Following Tim's email, I've already also written a curt note to Southern Railways
The structure of the new barrier at the ticket office is interesting. There look to be only three barriers lanes - one for entry, one exit and one wider barrier for disabled access.
With only one exit lane, then its a return to queueing to leave the station for passengers arriving from London Bridge during the evening rush hour. I'm sure that all passengers remember the queues which formed in the evening before the "emergency exit" gate was widened. Now every pasenger has to put a ticket through the machine, surely the queues are likely to be even longer.
With only one exit lane, then its a return to queueing to leave the station for passengers arriving from London Bridge during the evening rush hour. I'm sure that all passengers remember the queues which formed in the evening before the "emergency exit" gate was widened. Now every pasenger has to put a ticket through the machine, surely the queues are likely to be even longer.
Southern getting ready to close gate ...
Yesterday I noticed someone putting in some cabling to the gate on platform one. He said it was for the new intercom for when the gate would be closed - probably the middle of next week. He also added that these systems never worked anyway. We know that, but what does it take for Southern to learn?
Hello,
I am new to Sydenham Town Forum so, first of all, let me say how pleased I am to have discovered this website.
My question is (and forgive me if I have missed something): has anyone contacted the local disabled associations? I am sure they would be really delighted to back the campaign against the closure of gate 1, and what a powerful endorsement it would be! Same goes for women's associations and maybe parents' associations...
I don't know much about the presence of these associations in Sydenham, but I am sure there MUST be something in the borough of Lewisham: RADAR, for instance? And I see that the headquarters of CILL are in Silverdale...
I am new to Sydenham Town Forum so, first of all, let me say how pleased I am to have discovered this website.
My question is (and forgive me if I have missed something): has anyone contacted the local disabled associations? I am sure they would be really delighted to back the campaign against the closure of gate 1, and what a powerful endorsement it would be! Same goes for women's associations and maybe parents' associations...
I don't know much about the presence of these associations in Sydenham, but I am sure there MUST be something in the borough of Lewisham: RADAR, for instance? And I see that the headquarters of CILL are in Silverdale...
This Weds...
There have been announcements on Platform 1 that the gate will be closed from this Wednesday. The poster hasn't been updated as far as I could see.
It looks like an intercom button is in place but I couldn't see a new CCTV camera looking at the gate? I'm not at all comfortable with this new arrangement about buzzing through so the staff can open the gate - will the staff start to judge whether the 'customer' has a legitimite disability/is not old enough/can handle that pushchair over the bridge etc..?
Gaz
ps - And also, how come FH station's sidegate gets to have 2 members of staff at the open gate during rush hour but Syd station sidegate is deemed too small - same size surely!?
It looks like an intercom button is in place but I couldn't see a new CCTV camera looking at the gate? I'm not at all comfortable with this new arrangement about buzzing through so the staff can open the gate - will the staff start to judge whether the 'customer' has a legitimite disability/is not old enough/can handle that pushchair over the bridge etc..?
Gaz
ps - And also, how come FH station's sidegate gets to have 2 members of staff at the open gate during rush hour but Syd station sidegate is deemed too small - same size surely!?
Yeah, I was running late today so didn't want to risk being shut out of the side gate so walked around to the main entrance - another 5 minutes on my journey time from Wells Park Rd (that's double the usual time! I'm thinking it may be worth going to Forest Hill station instead!). The barriers were all open and not many (any?) guards there when I passed through.
There is an intercom button on each side of the gate.
The CCTV camera looking at the gate is high up on a post at the foot of the footbridge - I'm pretty sure that they won't be able to use this camera to check tickets as suggested above.
It also looks like the gate can be remotely opened as there is a big bar towards the bottom of the gate connected to the electrical supply.
Gaz
There is an intercom button on each side of the gate.
The CCTV camera looking at the gate is high up on a post at the foot of the footbridge - I'm pretty sure that they won't be able to use this camera to check tickets as suggested above.
It also looks like the gate can be remotely opened as there is a big bar towards the bottom of the gate connected to the electrical supply.
Gaz
Tues 17th...
There's a new poster at the gate now saying that the gate will be locked from Tues 17th June.
Incidentially, when I got off the train last night (2315) the gate was fully closed. However, I couldn't see if it was actually locked - anyone able to confirm?
Incidentially, when I got off the train last night (2315) the gate was fully closed. However, I couldn't see if it was actually locked - anyone able to confirm?
Well, the gate has been locked now.
Unfortunately, it also appears that the buzzer was not being answered this morning.
And, how come that at Forest Hill station they had two guards to man the side-gate (which isn't really that much wider) this morning; and which is hardly a step-free access; whilst we are denied this in Sydenham. Do Southern not think our station is as important or something?
Unfortunately, it also appears that the buzzer was not being answered this morning.
And, how come that at Forest Hill station they had two guards to man the side-gate (which isn't really that much wider) this morning; and which is hardly a step-free access; whilst we are denied this in Sydenham. Do Southern not think our station is as important or something?