(January 23, 2009 at 8:59 am)Kyuuketsuki Wrote:(January 23, 2009 at 8:55 am)Sam Wrote: As far as I'm aware a company or organisation gets to set the routes for customers through it's facilitys, and the rules / regulations under which different paths can be used. Given their right to insist on ticket check and an automated turnstyle being an efficient method they probably have cause for insisting on the use of an automated gate ... just my opinion though, I can't be sure.
Bummer! Thanks Sam
Kyu
Rail Law is a very specialised subject and your problems in obtaining advice will be two-fold: 1. Solicitors dealing with narrow specialisms charge the earth (no market forces y'see?); 2. Free legal services (CAB, Pro-bono units) will either not have the specialism or only deal with cases where there is a lack of justice because of the costs of the legal system.
The best thing you can do is write or call the operator of the gating system (which should be the franchisee) and enquire whether it is necessary. I would imagine that there is no legal reason to have to go through the barriers but, by the same token, there is no obligation on the franchisee to let you through a wider gate. The law probably says that they have the right to demand that you show a ticket for your journey and may implement any reasonable method to do it. In the interests of efficacy that is probably the ticket barriers which would not be unreasonable.
My respects go out to all UK rail commuters. I endured the hell of commuting from Canada Water to Goodge Street on a daily basis for 2 years on the delightful London Underground. These days I often whistle a happy tune while walking to work.
God Calls Me God
