Platform tickets on the Bluebell

A fellow workmate of mine made a visit to Sheffield Park this weekend on his way back home from a long weekend away. On arriving at Sheffield Park the service train had already left which was a disappointment to him. But taking this in his stride he wanted to make a visit to the shop on the station to buy one or two items. On entering the platform he was asked to show a ticket to travel or to show a platform ticket. Being that all he wanted was to visit the shop he couldn’t warrant buying a platform ticket. Because he wasn’t able to enter the shop with out a platform ticket the railway has now lost out on extra revenue which would between £40 and £50. This non entry policy to the platforms on the BB seems over the top and a bit of a rip off. I can understand on special events weekends and gala weekends but a normal running weekends is well over the top.

Does any other preserved railway charge platform tickets to non traveling people?

 

At £2 its hardly a rip off and its all for a good cause, you can even get platform tickets on gala days at the BB, many railways insist on travel tickets during special events where as the BB doesn't.

 

The GCR has platform tickets. Don't know how much on 'ordinary days' but on special events it's £5.00, redeamable when a travel ticket is bought.

I agree with 'Spindizzy' that £2.00 is scarcely a rip off.

(Is 'Spindizzy' an SF fan?)

Regards

 

The GCR policy is more than fair. Maybe the BB could refund the £2 non-event charge if you spend £20+ in one of their retail outlets?

 

Sorry I'm a computer simpleton, what's an SF?

 

How often have you heard the tale, 'if only I'd been allowed in for free, I would have spent a small fortune in the shop/cafe/whatever.' Pigs might fly (other than on the Valley), as well.
There are many railways that charge for platform tickets and I don't begrudge them this. After all, it's the cash that keeps them all going for our pleasure.

 

The Bluebell Railway does not sell platform tickets. It is a Station Admission charge, which at SP allows entry to the platforms enabling visitors to view and photograph departing/arriving trains, along with access to the engine shed, shop, etc.

Why do some railway enthusiasts expect to take 'free' advantage of everyone elses hard labour and investment?

Chris

 

Don't think the conception that everyone passing is a diehard crank looking to freeload is a very good one, what about for example the family passing Shffield Park who take a a speculative look, what impression do you want to give:

A) Wow that looks well worth a visit!, we'll be sure to come back another day for a ride.

B) What a ripoff! im not giving them my money if they are so petty.

Can see where your coming from with in a good cause and every bit helps but sometimes it helps to look at the bigger picture.

 

I almost had the same experience on Saturday. Me and my Dad went to order the 50th Anniversary Hornby Collectors set and very nearly didn't get a platform ticket but glad we did now. Though it was only about £4 for the 2 of us.

 

The WSR sell platform tickets at Dunster for 50p (I think).

 

I think the difference is rather obvious just by looking at them, don't you? And a bit of discretion/intelligence applied by booking office staff?

(Cue predictable cries from diehard spotters "Double standards, we're you're bread and butter, help help we're being repressed...")

I think £2 for a platform ticket is more than a fair price, given access to the loco shed, etc, is included. Of course the OP is bound to say that his mate was going to spend "£40 to 50", because if he'd written that he was going to spend bugger all then the argument wouldn't have any credibility at all.

IMHO it has very little credibility anyway - what's £2 on top of "£40 to £50"? Just a tiny donation to help the Bluebell with it's running costs.

Talk about tight-fisted.

 

We charge a £1 platform ticket for adults (children free whne accompanied). This is also refundable against tickets, purchases in the shop or cafe over £5. There have been very few complaints. This is particularly the case if you speak to the visitors and point out that ticket sales are our income.

 

I quite accept the right of other heritage railways to apply an admission charge.

I think the idea of a platform ticket (or admission ticket if you prefer) depends on the location, function and extent of the station/centre. Other factors come into play if such admission charges form an important part of the income strategy. It helps sometimes to look at comparable attractions. For example, I expect to pay to visit, say, the Space Centre at Leicester and enjoy all the exhibits there, even though I might spend a small fortune on goodies from their shop.

Platform tickets are available at most WSR stations, although I believe Dunster is the only station where purchase is preferred (the income directly benefits that station). At Minehead it would be catastrophic for the shop if visitors paid to access the station and even if a refund system was in place it would be difficult to administer. The same goes for Bishops Lydeard. The layouts of most WSR stations are not really suitable for mandatory admission charges and I feel the general feeling is to encourage visitors to freely walk in and enjoy the stations. They may then be inclined to leave a donation or spend some cash or maybe even catch a train.

One thing is quite clear. Any access strategy must recognise the majority of visitors are not railway enthusiasts. And the majority of visitors will compare the access strategy of the heritage railway with that of other (competing) attractions. And if they think they are being ripped-off, they'll walk away.

Steve
WSW

 

I suppose the difference with Sheffield Park compared to Minehead is the fact that there is very little passing trade. The Bluebell doesn't have a Butlins down the road full of families looking for something to do so I can see why they dont charge.
£2 for an afternoons entertainment watching steam trains and wandering round the sheds is well worth it. B

 

Absolutely. I quite agree!

Steve
WSW

 

Surely Platform tickets are a traditional railway institution? I can remember having to buy them in BR days, so what is wrong with recreating the past? As others have said, you'd have to be very tight to begrudge spending £2 on one.

 

Sounds like the platform ticket barrier needs to be behind the retail outlet, or the retail outlet needs a more sensible door placement, to me.

Not rocket science at all.

If you put your shop behind a barrier you must expect lower takings.

This is something that will bite the big railway, which very largely uses turnover rents, as it applies barriers to platforms and restricts footfall.

We may see the railway as a deserving case - the public will just see people in playtime uniforms playing at being railwaymen, and walk away with their wallets closed.

 

Although, Tim, I understand that there is a letter about our platform tickets in Heritage Railway. Much along the lines of the OP. I'm told.

 

Sound common-sense indeed ! Have to agree 100%.

 

The only rip-off the Bluebell is doing is setting a price tag of £150 for the Hornby Bluebell 50 pack. A single Hornby Terrier costs around £45 and a Maunsell carriage costs about £24. So around £70-80 should be a fair price for the 50th Anniversary pack, sorry but £150 is just a blatant rip-off. It was a brilliant idea to do a special editon pack of a black Stepney with a blue Maunsell carriage but to charge that amount of money is just a con.