Platform etiquette being trialled on Jubilee

[Deleted]

I'm sure many of you saw the announcement in Metro earlier in the week that platform markings are going to be tested on certain Jubbly stations to see if it stops people, from barging onto trains before others have got off.

london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/01/tube-platform-etiquette-on-trial.html - there are pictures of two of the four markings being trialled in the blog post.

A number of commenters on the blog expressed scepticism as to whether this will work, so I wondered what you guys thought or if you have any photos of the markings already "in action".

Thanks

[Deleted]

It wont work. We have a white line that people have to stand behind at Heathrow Terminal 4 station, while we do our security sweeps (BAA's requirement), and it also eases the traffic flow out of the platform (1 exit only, right at the end). No matter how many announcements you make or/and how many time you point to it people still stand right in-front of the doors, in the way of passengers trying to exit the station.

What I do now, especially at King's Cross (only when wearing my uniform though), is stand there until they move out of my way completely, and tell them that letting me off first will mean they get on quicker... It usually gets through to the ones standing right in-front of me, but the rest try and board to each side...

[pakenhamtrain]

I think it will cause more problems. People would just stand around the areas.

[happybunny]

They had these at Green Park and I think London Bridge when I was there... at GPK I used to pull a bit past the stopping mark to confuse people as the platform markings didn't line up... Very stupid idea another great demonstration of LULs ability to waste £££s

[Chris M]

There were also some platform markings at Willesden Green when I was there the other day that might be part of the scheme - although that station isn't mentioned in the press release, there was a poster about it.

I didn't notice any evidence of it at West Hampstead which is going to be part of the scheme.

[Deleted]

There's also painted 'Door Stopping Area' painted on the platforms at Highbury & Islington overground platforms... those on the Westbound platform, thend to get congregations of people blocking the stairway, as they try to board the first set of doors, and guess what, they stand in the door stopping area... and won't let anyone off!

[Chris M]

Certainly at Debden westbound and Woodford westbound the "Mind the Gap" platform edge markers are good indications of where the doors will be when the train has stopped. They are probably at far more stations, but I've never paid attention to them anywhere else!

[Deleted]

I've been letting this wind me up for some time now and the other day at Lewisham DLR my patience finally snapped. Arriving alongside the platform, the train stopped, I opened the door and although I was the only person attempting to get off, a potential boarder simply walked straight at me. I dipped my shoulder and sent him flying back on to the platform to no reaction whatsoever. No sense - no feeling I guess.

[railtechnician]

hogspanker said:

I've been letting this wind me up for some time now and the other day at Lewisham DLR my patience finally snapped. Arriving alongside the platform, the train stopped, I opened the door and although I was the only person attempting to get off, a potential boarder simply walked straight at me. I dipped my shoulder and sent him flying back on to the platform to no reaction whatsoever. No sense - no feeling I guess.

When I was working in traffic hours and in my overalls I would stand wide in the doorway when alighting with my heavy bag of tools slung over one shoulder and woe betide anyone trying to board without letting me off first. I would shout 'excuse me' and if people didn't shift they generally walked into my toolbag. I have never doubted that the vast majority of punters are animals, mostly sheep following a bull or two.

[Deleted]

Hmm, clouted with a '4" across flats' wrench...

Boff! Ouch! *cringes*

[glasgowdriver]

yeah were getting these markings at westminster should be pretty fun hehe expecially with the tourists as half of them cant speak or understand a word of english might be what the problem is at terminal 4 hexdave passengers dont understand a word your saying as for happy bunny ggrgrrrrrrr i hate drivers that do that lol but still its funny on the jubilee when you see the passengers faces because the doors are not lined up right sometimes i have a lil giggle to myself

[ianvisits]

While I can slightly understand people "accidentally" blocking the exits at most stations where you are not entirely sure where the doors will be when the train pulls in - on the newer part of the Jubilee Line, which has the platform doors it is unforgivable when people do the same.

My best experience was a few years ago at Canary Wharf at a time when I needed walking sticks to get around and as I got off, a guy shoved past to get on the train.

I lost my balance and fell over (not entirely genuinely to be honest) and half a dozen concerned people leapt to help me up again. As I hobbbled away, the miscreant was getting seriously evil stares from the other passengers on the train.

[Deleted]

Works where I come from. Shame the majority of "customers" so incredibly stupid here.

[Ben]

Of course there used to be signs by the doors/gates on trains www.ltmcollection.org/photos/photo/photo.html?_IXSR_=Bx744zd25jr&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=1998/70050&IXsummary=results/results&IXsearch=gate&_IXFIRST_=56

Perhaps these should make a comeback?

[Chris M]

It certainly wouldn't harm to reintroduce them, although I doubt that many people would read them, and that even fewer would take notice. Futhermore, most of those that would take notice would be those who currently allow passengers off the train first.

As I said somewhere else (I think related to escalators), if people could be expelled from the system for endangering the safety of others and/or disobeying instructions from staff then it might make some take notice. Perhaps a 24-hour ban for a first offence, 48 hours for a second infraction, etc.
I'm not certain how it would be enforced, a block on an oystercard might be possible, but just buying a paper ticket would get around that.

[glasgowdriver]

well all i can say is station i work it got these yellow markers installed the other night and they are actually working its quite funny seeing passengers they stand look at them then decivde to stand outside the yellow X as the train pulls in and it does actually reduce the dwell time as well

[Deleted]

happybunny said:

They had these at Green Park and I think London Bridge when I was there... at GPK I used to pull a bit past the stopping mark to confuse people as the platform markings didn't line up... Very stupid idea another great demonstration of LULs ability to waste £££s

Not exactly professional!


Similar markings are used on many metro systems around the world, and the effectiveness seems to down to how people behave in the relevant culture.

In Paris, a similar trial on Line 13 resulted in more people standing in front of the doors.

In Tokyo, there are even queuing lanes marked on the platforms, which are generally adhered to by the public.

In Sao Paulo, they have gone one step further and have cattle pens on the boarding platform. These are mainly used at stations with platforms either side of the train (one for alighting, and the other for boarding passengers).

Good on LU and Tube Lines for initiating these trials. I will be very interested to see what the results of the trials are.

[stuartpalmer]

And as a further illustration that "there's nothing new under the sun", here's a link to some images of the old Glasgow Subway, including one of a lone gentleman waiting politely behind the "Q here" markings: www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1057&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

If I find my way impeded by boarding passengers when trying to get off, I find a good jab with the elbows very effective, coupled with a loud yell of "Manners!".

[glasgowdriver]

ah the good old clockword orange how i miss that haha

[Deleted]

railtechnician said:

When I was working in traffic hours and in my overalls I would stand wide in the doorway when alighting with my heavy bag of tools slung over one shoulder and woe betide anyone trying to board without letting me off first. I would shout 'excuse me' and if people didn't shift they generally walked into my toolbag. I have never doubted that the vast majority of punters are animals, mostly sheep following a bull or two.

LOL when I was a guard I mastered the art of blocking the whole of my doorway in busy times, otherwise you were guaranteed people would try to get in with you. Well they still tried but I just blocked the door and said "use another door please" "why?" "well I'm the guard and this is my door". Still used to get people try to argue with me, or try to duck under the guard's bar to stand on my gangway - errrr no I don't think so!

[Tom]

railtechnician said:

if people didn't shift they generally walked into my toolbag.

Been there... ;D

[jubileedaf]

Come on what's the point?? I mean if people can't understand/ignore verbal PA's to let passengers off before boarding. What chance does an intresting patterned yellow painted box of getting them to stand in the right palce. It doesn't even work for the staff on SATS they've had a yellow box to help them know where to stand to give us train op's optimal views of them. Yet still we have to scan the crowds looking for the baton.

[londonstuff]

I was on a Jubilee train today stopping at Green Park and it made absolutely no difference - people just stood in the middle of the boxes, which now that they've been trampled on by several thousand people are dirty and don't stand out much. Quel surprise.

[Chris M]

Although the markings weren't particularly dirty at London Bridge today, they were still being completely ignored.

[jubileedaf]

I've heard that in 2250ad these yellow markers will be replaced with transportation modules like in Star Trek. The trains won't have doors and the passengers will be "Energised" on and off the trains!! ;D. Obviously required as the trains will be operated on sky tracks lol!! But even that probably wouldn't stop people standing in the wrong place!

[jubileedaf]

As the anouncement "Stand clear of the closing doors" is obviously translated by many as " Quick run, get stuck and hold up the service!" Why not confuse them as I tried one evening.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, The train is now ready to depart. The beeps you are about to hear signify the start of the race to get on before the doors shut. Ready,Steady.."Beep beep beep
Unprofessional I know but nobody jumped on and held the doors open!!

[Dmitri]

jubileedaf said:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, The train is now ready to depart. The beeps you are about to hear signify the start of the race to get on before the doors shut. Ready,Steady.."

Great ;D.


(Yes, I'm too annoyed with people who think that waiting for the 1.5-2 minutes is too much for them)

[21146]

What's the point of putting these in a stations with platform edge doors? (PEDS). Surely the PED tell you where the train door will be?

[superteacher]

Jun 1, 2008 14:29:13 GMT @21146 said:

What's the point of putting these in a stations with platform edge doors? (PEDS). Surely the PED tell you where the train door will be?

You or I would work that out, but it's astounding how thick the average passenger is.

[Deleted]

Jun 1, 2008 17:04:21 GMT superteacher said:

Jun 1, 2008 14:29:13 GMT @21146 said:

What's the point of putting these in a stations with platform edge doors? (PEDS). Surely the PED tell you where the train door will be?

You or I would work that out, but it's astounding how thick the average passenger is.

;D Well I have seen one or two incidents of people either walking into the fixed panel... quiet Tubeboy... a few chuckles from nearby pax and one rather embarrassed, and obviously bruised pax, decided it might be a good idea to stand away and actually wait to see how it all works...