All of Britain’s Train Operating Companies and Network Rail
welcome rail enthusiasts to their stations. Here we have included
some guidelines to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable
experience.
Before you enter the
platform
At major stations, please let the duty station manager know you
are there. This means that the station staff will be informed and
can go about their jobs without concern. At smaller stations you
should speak to a member of the station staff to let them know
you are there.
On the station
platforms
You should act safely and sensibly at all times. Please remember
the following:
- stay clear of the platform edge and behind the yellow lines
where they are provided for safety reasons
- do not trespass onto any area of the railway that is not
available to passengers
- do not climb on any structure or interfere with platform
equipment
- do not obstruct any signalling equipment or signs which are
vital to the safe running of the railways
- avoid wearing anything which is similar in colour to safety
clothing, such as a high-visibility jacket as this could be
confusing for train drivers or other employees
- avoid congregating at busy areas of the platform (eg. customer
information points, departure screens, waiting areas, seating, etc)
or where you may interfere with the duties of station staff
- be aware of your surroundings. We kindly ask you to take note
of any unusual behaviour and activities and report anything
suspicious to a member of staff or, for more serious incidents, to
British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, dial
999. Your presence at the station can be very helpful to us as
extra eyes and ears and can be a positive security benefit
Photography
You are allowed to take photographs on stations if it is for
personal use. For any commercial photography, you must seek prior
permission from the appropriate train operator or from Network Rail
at their 17 major stations. On busy stations using a tripod may
cause a dangerous obstruction to passengers so you may be asked to
remove it. You must also keep tripod legs away from platform edges
and behind the yellow lines. You are not allowed to use flash
photography on platforms as it may distract the attention of train
drivers and train dispatch staff and is therefore a potential
safety hazard. You are also not allowed to take photographs of
security related equipment such as CCTV cameras.
Railway
bylaws
To ensure ease of travel and safety on the railway system, which
includes passengers, staff, property and equipment, everyone must
observe the railway bylaws. You can pick up a copy at any station
or download one from the Department for Transport (DfT)
website.
General
A key priority for BTP and train operators is to ensure the
safety of all passengers and staff. You may sometimes be asked to
move to another part of the station or to leave the station
altogether. Station staff should be happy to explain the reason for
this. If you are travelling by train they may ask you to stay in
the normal waiting areas with other passengers. Please follow
their instructions – members of staff are authorised to consider
the safety and security of all passengers at all times.
Thank you for reading and complying with these guidelines. We
hope you find this information useful and enjoy your next station
visit.