From: Richard Porter, Marlow-Maidenhead Passengers' Association
Subject: Overcrowding on stations
Certainly the early dissemination of information is crucial. We have a situation at some stations – Paddington is a typical example – where platform numbers are posted up only three or four minutes prior to departure, even though the train has been in the platform much longer.
In some cases passengers have a long walk e.g. from the concourse to platform 13 or 14 at Paddington, or to the far platforms at Marylebone. This results in large numbers of passengers congregating around the departure boards and then rushing like lemmings to get to their trains when the platform is eventually posted.
It would be better, except in times of disruption to services, if the booked platform were posted up straight away, or as soon as the preceding train had departed. The risk of course is that if a train is cancelled or delayed owing to a crewing or technical problem it would be necessary to shift passengers from one platform to another, which might entail passing through two gatelines.
It would also be helpful if platform numbers, at least at termini, were printed in the public timetable, as they are in the working timetable, but with a suitable 'caveat viator'.
