Anon wrote:
"Richard J." wrote in message
...
Anon wrote: [top posting corrected]
"Dave Bisping" wrote in message
93.157...
Faringdon station closed tonight at around 6:30 due to 'safety'
reasons, it was hard to hear this over the speakers but it seems
this was because there was some snow on the end of the platforms,
trains were non- stopping,

Very rude station staff trying to get people,of the platforms
including threating to call the police to remove disgruntled
passengers and physically pushing people (who as usual were give no
proper explanation)

I can not comment about this particular experience but if a member
of staff asks you to leave the station then you should without
fuss. Any questions you have should be addressed when you are
outside.

I don't think you're living in the real world. Consider this: I'm
waiting on Farringdon station for a Met train home after a hard day
at work. It's cold and snowing. I have a valid ticket which has
opened the barrier to let me get to the platform. Suddenly station
staff tell me to leave the station without a proper explanation.
Are you seriously suggesting I should meekly trudge along the
platform, up the stairs and into the street before questioning this?

If indeed it was "some snow on the end of the platform" that caused
the station to be closed, the travelling public deserves an
explanation of why it was too dangerous at Farringdon, but OK at
virtually all suburban above-ground platforms, which of course have
far more of their platforms uncovered than Farringdon.

I am not saying you do not need an explanation. What I am saying is
that if staff are to effectively evacuate a station then having to
justify this with every individual before they leave would take a
very long time and therefore increasing the risk of injury.

Which is why the explanation is essential if it's not already obvious. My
point was that in the absence of an explanation, it's unrealistic to expect
people to obey the instruction "without fuss".

What should happen in a perfect situation is audible announcements
should be made letting people know why the station is being closed
and member of staff should be at every exit to answer individual
questions.

I am sure Farringdon suffers like all stations by having there barest
minimum of staff. So would not be able to achieve the perfect
evacuation.

I see your point, but any attempt to evacuate a station because there's a
bit of snow at the end of the platform is never going to be regarded by
passengers as "perfect".

You mention that people were threatened with police action

It wasn't me.

snip
Maybe then you might be more sympathetic towards underground staff
and vent your anger at the ones who hold the purse strings and make
policy.

Again, that was Dave Bisping who criticised the staff, not the person (me)
whose post you were replying to. If you followed uk.* usenet convention in
not top-posting (which I have corrected *again*), you might avoid that
confusion.

I agree that it's very often the management rather than the front-line
staff who need to address the problems that get raised here.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)