Ticket barriers arrive at Newcastle Central Station

Oct 21 2009 by Alastair Craig, The Journal

As part of the plans, all passengers will need to buy a ticket before going through the automatic barriers on to the platform.

People who want to meet passengers disembarking a train or to see them off will still be able to access the platform by picking up a pass from a station official.

The barriers are being put up in three different areas of the station – between the footbridge and the ticket shop, on the other side of the footbridge, and between the ticket shop and the car park.

It will not be the first time the Central Station has had ticket barriers, as there is evidence that gates and barriers were used from the 19th Century until the 1970s.

The Central Station was designed by John Dobson for the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway Company in the 1840s.

National Express took over the franchise for the East Coast Main Line in 2007 and installation of the ticket gates was part of the conditions imposed.

National Express bosses say they are investing millions of pounds installing gates at main line stations at Durham, Darlington, York, Newark and Grantham, as well as Newcastle.

English Heritage withdrew its objection to the plans after National Express altered the layout of the gates.