London Banter - View Single Post

[email protected] · October 23rd 12, 01:15 AM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Paul Corfield) wrote:

On Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:40:08 +0100, Arthur Figgis
wrote:

I'm pretty sure the people at Cambridge ticket office will have some
experience of selling tickets to foreign tourists wanting to visit
London for the day. I think the situation will have arisen before.

Probably - but the OP had better take a tent with him as a recent
local newspaper article highlighted the horrendous queuing problems at
Cambridge. I think the number of people in the queue was roundly 75
people and the queue stretched into the street and down the side of
the station. This despite statements from whoever operates Cambridge
Stn that all machines were working and all ticket windows open.

It's not that bad most of the time fortunately. It will be next week before
the main off-peak departures, however, being half term here. Cambridge
station is operated by the Greater Anglia franchise despite most of the
passengers using FCC.

There are major development plans around the station which include paying
for a major upgrade to the ticket hall and vending provision. The 3 Shere
ticket machines have just been replaced by 3 new alternatives. The hall was
perfectly big enough until they dumped a barrier line in it. :-(

When I went to brighton the other weekend I was mildly gobsmacked to
see massive queues for every ticket machine, the ticket office and the
travel centre. You certainly couldn't work on the basis of turning up
with 10 mins before your train went and getting a ticket!

They still aim to meet that standard at Cambridge.

Obviously they're both busy stns with strong off peak travel due to
the tourist trade but queues like that need dealing with. I am,
however, reliably informed that the Travel Centre at Brighton is to be
closed down and converted into a retail unit. So much for progress.

There are also major plans to expand ticket selling facilities at Brighton.
It seemed to have fewer ticket vending machines than the 4 at Cambridge when
I was there in September.

--
Colin Rosenstiel