ON MAY 28, The Press published a letter from CABYS (Campaign Against Barriers at York Station), with a further report reiterating the group’s “barrier fury” on May 30, with a token from the Green Party.

These “barrier protesters” expect to be believed they are the authorities on the possible impact of installing York Station barriers.

The Green Party representative alleged that National Express East Coast had “completely lost the plot on customer service”, adding that “some people had to wait five minute to get off the platform”. This situation has arisen daily, ever since large numbers of people began travelling. It has never yet driven anyone away from their travel intentions in significant numbers.

Railways have been built and developed over more than 100 years, mostly by staff dedicated to their trade. They certainly have a wide knowledge of how the railway should be run, in all its facets, including the needs of the passengers and their safety.

CABYS says it needs evidence that barriers would protect revenue etcetera, saying: “Barriers are less effective on long distance than ‘commuter stations’.” Really?

Tickets should be checked, etc, surely, as they are now. And Grand Central will surely look after its own interests.

As for harm to the appearance of the Grade II listed building, the modernisation of the usual customer facilities did not cause any such harm.

Barriers and automated machines of many kinds are met with during everyday living and arrangements are often made for disabled persons. Congestion occurs regularly for many reasons, even at supermarket tills, for example.

Many hazards mentioned by CABYS occur as people go about their daily business, including children being injured. The point is, these would still be likely anywhere, barriers at stations or not.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.


• AFTER reading many letters about the proposed barriers at York Station, I am surprised nobody has stated the obvious.

National Express East Coast says one reason for the barriers is to prevent fare evasion, but what is to prevent a fare dodger going to the ticket office, purchasing the cheapest fare on offer, say York to Poppleton, proceeding through the barriers and boarding the train of his choice with a much longer journey than the ticket he has purchased?

What arrangements will be made for season ticket holders and railway staff with free travel?

AP Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York.


• NATIONAL Express East Coast (NXEC) seems determined to ignore the large number of objections to the ticket barriers at York Station.

According to the spokesperson, they are needed to “prevent fraudulent travel” (The Press, May 30).

What is wrong with the-tried-andtested use of ticket inspectors on all trains? I recently travelled from York to King’s Cross without seeing a single ticket inspector. No tickets were checked during the whole journey.

NXEC would do well to employ more staff instead of erecting ticket barriers.

Jean Frost, Woodlands Grove, York.