(14 Jun 2015, 4:54 pm)Dan wrote Certainly agree with the bit in bold.
At present; fare evaders know the stations which the ticket barriers are almost always functioning, so no longer use these stations. Not only would it completely prevent fare evasion, but it would also provide assistance for customers at all stations.
Sadly I think the cost implication would be massive - not only would the infrastructure itself cost a bomb, but the continued staffing requirements too. I'd imagine that the costs would be higher than the money they'd get back from people who were abusing the system previously.
Unfortunately that is true. To give Metro credit, they've had staff plus barriers in operation lately a whole lot more. A few months back you'd walk through Haymarket on a Saturday and the barriers would be left open, dare I say at one of the busiest times of the week? Mostly busy for the younger generations too (no school etc) who would typically be more likely to evade the fare.
I think all ticket barriers on the UK rail network (Network Rail infrastructure) must be manned by someone when they're open, however when I went to Ireland last week you'd see various stations with working barriers but no member of staff. However you don't have the massive complexity of routes and tickets over there.
You couldn't leave barriers in operation on the Metro with no member of staff anyway, seeing as North East Explorer tickets can be purchased on buses (like I do) thus requiring someone to let you through everywhere - unless you could trade in your explorer bus ticket for a Metro one but that's opening a can of worms! Also Sunderland would be a tricky one with the system sharing the platforms with Network Rail - any installed barriers would have to be compatible with each other (at the cost of Network Rail or Northern too), that or separate barriers elsewhere in the station?
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