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Fare-dodger barriers cost £230,000 but are left open
Richard Moriarty04.11.09
Rail bosses have spent nearly a quarter of a million pounds installing ticket barriers at a crime-ridden station — only to leave them open because of staff shortages.
The gates were installed at Peckham Rye station in May but are only operational until 7pm. They are left open after that because there are not enough staff to deal with travellers having problems going through them.
The four Oyster card barriers were installed as part of a £325,000 station upgrade. They will not be fully operational for another six months, according to train company Southern.
It spent £95,000 upgrading the station and the Department for Transport spent £230,000 on the barriers and new information screens as part of a
crackdown on fare-dodgers.
But far from cutting crime, British Transport Police figures show there were more recorded offences at the station in August and September than in the period last year, rising to 26.
A BTP spokesman said: “The slight rise in offences can be attributed to proactive operations at the station — particularly Operation Chicago, which sees officers stationed at key transport hubs across south London and includes the deployment of metal-detecting arches and drug-detection dogs.
“The operations are aimed at disrupting criminals and deterring disorder to create a safer environment for people travelling on the railways.”
A DfT spokesman said: “The gates have resulted in a 12 per cent increase in revenue, showing the number of people that were previously travelling without valid tickets.
"There is a requirement from April next year to staff them all the time the station is open.”
Despite the revenue increase, the Tories hit out at the spending. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: “The news that nearly a
quarter of a million pounds of public funds was spent on barriers that are left open in the evening raises serious questions about whether the Government is really seeking value for money
when it spends taxpayers' money.”
A Southern spokesman said: “Currently, there are insufficient staff numbers to man the gates.
“This was always going to be the case, but we can give assurance that the gates will be fully staffed from April.”
Reader views (18)
Some of us do live Peckham and use Peckham rye station on a regular basis. The gates being left open as others have noted is not unique to Peckham rye. Some of the comments as usual are informed by past perceptions and prejudices against Peckahm and the people of Peckham. I would rather have the gates then the police with sniffer dogs that used to frequently greet and terrorise innocent commuters on the way home on the off chance of catching some fare dodges. One has to ask how much such operations cost in the long run compared to the gates regardless of them being left open or not. One complaint I do have the lack of automatic oyster card machines to buy your tickets at Peckham rye station.
- Alternative Future Peckham, Peckham
I used to work at that station, everyday someone would pull a knife on the staff if we dared ask to see a ticket, a couple of us had guns put in our faces too.
In one day 3 security guards were hospitalized.
I wouldnt go back there if they offered me 50k a year.
As someone else said, even Harriott Harman doesnt walk around without body armour and police protection.
- Dave Brown, London
£235000 for gates that stay open or 2 evening Part time station staff for 10 years.
- Mr S.Port, London
recruit new staff from RBS .
- Chak, leicester
At the heart of this problem is the lack of staffing in the evenings at many stations, not solely Peckham.
Improving that means spending more money on staff. Tfl and the Mayor have absolutely no desire whatsoever to do that, so nothing will get solved. Barriers are, at best, cosmetic but without the staff to back them up, do nothing at all to deter either those determined to bunk their fare or those with more serious criminal intentions.
- Richard, London UK
It's the same scenario at Streatham Common Station operated by Southern where the gates are left open when there's no staff both day or night. Installing the electronic gates there has brought no passenger benefit as still don't accept pay as you go oyster cards and they create large queues of commuters trying to exit the station at the same time.
- Christine, Streatham London
25 years ago that was a no go area after about 8PM,
I can't bear to think what it's like now!
- Mike, Clapham
Govia Southern/SouthEastern in my view whem it comes to ticket checking and numbers of staff are the worst. All non main line London rail services should become part of London Overground run by TfL. Only then will there be full staff numbers.
- Gerry, Chatham KENT UK
At high-crime stations we clearly need a mark two Oyster barrier, with gates at least six feet high, or preferably all the way to the ceiling. They make full-height turnstiles, so why not full-height modern ticket barriers?
Of course, we need fully staffed stations FIRST!
- Nigel, London
Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
No, as the most popular route is the No. 12 to Oxford Circus isn't referred to as the Peckham Free Bus for nothing!
- Mark, South-East London
Not as bad as the ones at Stratford for the Jubilee which are constantly open and appear non-operational!
- Chris, Harold Wood
This is not a new occurrence. This is standard practice at many stations whenever there are no staff on duty at the barriers, and not just late at night. It has been happening at Epsom station for years, at various times of day & night.
- Mike B, Epsom, Surrey, England
Remember, this is the place where its own MP, Harriet Harman, walks around with a police escort and body armour.
It's one of the most violent and crime ridden areas in London.
- Jowo, Peckham
Agreed with Bob. They would need to hire security guards to stop the youth in that area jumping the barriers at night time. Police would also need to be close by to help train staff who are trying to do their job.
- Serox, Sutton
This is daft. I´m lost for words. Why not just close down Peckham Rye station and make everybody catch the bus? Would that solve the problem?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
so 2.4million unemployed - yet no staff to watch gates...what a mad country this has turned into!
- Gary, amesham
I use the station fairly often and would agree with Bob.
The thing that gets me is how can those four gates and the few feet of barriers cost £ 230k? Additionally what was the other £ 95k spent on? I see nothing that can be described as a 100K upgrade! Somebody must be having a laugh!!!
- Mark, South-East London
Even if it was manned most of the citizens of that particular area of South London wouldn't let it stop them, and yes I used to live there before anyone kicks off.
- Bob, Cheam
