unstaffed central line stations?

[Deleted]

was on the central line today and noticed at hanger lane and perrivale both stations were unmanned and seemed quite dangerous I looked everywhere but no one there do you know whats going on?

[Chris M]

I expect that the staff would be in the control room/ticket office/other private room. I often notice this at Debden.

[c5]

Some stations are indeed left unstaffed, whee the law and LUL Rules allow. Either for staff shortage or meal breaks.

Or of course the gateline and station can be monitored remotely and not from a person in a box!

[Deleted]

There is no legal reason to staff Hanger Lane or Perivale.

The keys for both stations would be held locally (probably North Acton) and the Controller would've been aware.

However at both stations no gateline staff would be present, and the SS would be located in the office.

If the gates were in service, then the stations were staffed.

[Deleted]

West Ruislip appears to have an unmanned Booking Office for much of the day now... Theres usually one person in the booth opposite the barrier... whom I'd say is very keen on stopping chavs vaulting the gateline!

[Deleted]

there wasn't even an SS there beacause the lights in the office were off!

[c5]

Why was it dangerous then delboy200?

The station can legally remain open if it is unstaffed, just like the majority of stations.

[Deleted]

c5 said:

Why was it dangerous then delboy200?

The station can legally remain open if it is unstaffed, just like the majority of stations.

well if there was a one under or another incodent that's all really

[Deleted]

Can't be anymore dangerous than say Catford Bridge or West Dulwich after 22.00???

[Tom]

When I was based at West Ruislip, it was a miracle if we ever saw any station staff.

[railtechnician]

delboy200 said:

we had an incodent here at hampstead heath nll and it was horriffic

An incodent, now that sounds nasty!



Brian

[Tubeboy]

"We"?

You work on the NLL then?

I would have thought most Central line stations are manned round the clock, well the rosters show it anyway....exception being ones on the Chigwell loop.

[Ben]

One thing that the public appreciate about LUL is the fact that its stations seem to be staffed far more than NR counterparts. This should never, ever change, but it already is...

[jamesb]

Help points are quite good at unstaffed stations (if they work) - at least you would be able to get through to the BTP if you needed.

[Deleted]

well I don't work on it but I was near the scene at the time and there are no help points and all station staff were off the premises and all of the cctv has been broken by vandals very rarely there are security staff at the gate line

[Deleted]

This is the difference between NR and LU - if the CCTV/Call Points were damaged like that the station wouldn't even be open, an emergency repair would be required. All station CCTV is also available to view in the line control centre. If anything went wrong help wouldn't be too far away

[c5]

alexh said:

This is the difference between NR and LU - if the CCTV/Call Points were damaged like that the station wouldn't even be open, an emergency repair would be required. All station CCTV is also available to view in the line control centre. If anything went wrong help wouldn't be too far away

Only on the Central and maybe the Jubilee! Some lines dont have anything!

[Tubeboy]

I was under the impression the SCC at Neasden can only see the platforms of the stations along the line. True, the information option, goes to them if the control room doesnt answer, but I dont think they can actually see the help point/person, just audio.

[Deleted]

delboy200 - were the gates in operation at Hanger Lane and Perivale?

In honesty, I agree that LU stations shouldn't be unstaffed, but as for them being "safe" for incidents like one unders. There is very little a lone member of staff can do anyway. The emergency services are on scene quite quickly.

Now IF Hanger Lane and Perivale were unstaffed, the following safeguards would be in place:

1) Stations either side would be aware they were unstaffed.
2) The service controller would be aware the stations were unstaffed.
3) The LIA would be aware the stations were unstaffed.
4) The duty manager would make a visit during a shift just to check everything was OK.
5) The CCTV would be in full working order.

Perivale is a station in which on duty staff could go and "hide" if they so wanted - nice big messroom out the back of the ticket office. Hanger Lane less so, but still possible.

[Deleted]

centralsimon said:

delboy200 - were the gates in operation at Hanger Lane and Perivale?

In honesty, I agree that LU stations shouldn't be unstaffed, but as for them being "safe" for incidents like one unders. There is very little a lone member of staff can do anyway. The emergency services are on scene quite quickly.

Now IF Hanger Lane and Perivale were unstaffed, the following safeguards would be in place:

1) Stations either side would be aware they were unstaffed.
2) The service controller would be aware the stations were unstaffed.
3) The LIA would be aware the stations were unstaffed.
4) The duty manager would make a visit during a shift just to check everything was OK.
5) The CCTV would be in full working order.

Perivale is a station in which on duty staff could go and "hide" if they so wanted - nice big messroom out the back of the ticket office. Hanger Lane less so, but still possible.

The manual gates for buggies wheelchairs etc wasn't working at hanger lane and perrivale people were just hopping over the gate the alarm wen't off but no one came

[Deleted]

Delboy200 - if the gates were in service, then staff were on site. Just sitting on their back sides.

[Deleted]

oh right

[Chris M]

centralsimon said:

3) The LIA would be aware the stations were unstaffed.

Who are what is/are the LIA?

[c5]

awkward42 said:

centralsimon said:

3) The LIA would be aware the stations were unstaffed.

Who are what is/are the LIA?

Line Information Assistant, now known as Service Operator Level 2 Information, also known in the olden days pre-PPP as Divisional Information Assistants. On Comand & Control lines such as the Jubilee, Bakerloo and Central it is done by the Service Controller Level 2 or seconded junior staff.

Anyway in answer to your question they manage the delivery of line based real time customer (and on some lines management) information, either to stations or direct to customers, again depending on the line or even station.

They sit near the Service Controller L2.

[Deleted]

c5 said:

Only on the Central and maybe the Jubilee! Some lines dont have anything!

Oh I see........I've picked that up as I work on the Jubilee Line! My first group was on the Central so thought it was the same for all

[Ben]

I would have thought its not the official duties that make it important for a station to be staffed, but rather the unofficial ones. Hypothetical here: Person gets mugged at station x, which is staffed. Goes to ticket office, SS calls BTP, comforts them, makes a cup of tea, calms them down etc.
Same thing with unstaffed station; person sits alone for 10mins crying by info post.

I really dont want that to seem crude, but there are times when the human touch is irreplaceable, and this must be recognized.

[Deleted]

Aye, I agree... Whats better... a comforting office/room and a human touch, or a voice at the end of a phone?

[Deleted]

While both personally and professionally I agree - it doesn't make an unstaffed station "unsafe".

Station staff is what makes the tube different and it's what the tourists like about the system. Something the commuters don't realise and appreciate.

[pakenhamtrain]

centralsimon said:

While both personally and professionally I agree - it doesn't make an unstaffed station "unsafe".

I absloutly agree. Around here many stops are not staffed period.

Westall is a prime example. PL1 has the old station building which is not staffed at all, 1 CCTV camera looking at the Talking brick. PL2 has a small bus shelter, 1 CCTV camera looking at the Talking Brick. Do I feel unsafe: Absloutly not! While I do feel safer at a Staffed Station I don't feel unsafe at one that isn't staffed.