Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

• andrew ganley, cheam, england

  This is just one more example (of hundreds) that show the railways should
  NEVER have been privatised, why cant the travelling public see this,no sadly
  all they see is a brightly coloured train and think 'ooo isnt this nice'
  All power to the people of Sheffield,stick it to Mr Souters tinpot TOC.
  
  

• Steve, Eastbourne

  Like people say its operated without barriers before and Midland Mainline who used to run this service were proud to say they operated an 'open station policy' This has got nothing to do with fare dodging and all to do with collecting every last penny and to cut costs i.e get rid of guards on trains and extend DOO.
  
  The DfT said they didn't need to install them so why does the DfT insist on these stupid barriers they are not at Piccadilly! It seems to me that train operators promise things that have not been thought out at all and then need to put up the prices to pay for it!
  
  Like Graham said why don't they just put extra people on the train so the minute it starts moving then check everyones ticket if they are that bothered about losing the money. I used to be a guard and rather than delay a train they didn't care a less about the fare the delay was 10 times what the fare would be.
  
  This is all political nonsense and quite simply (if it hasn't already) take the commitment out of the franchise like at york.
  
  The best company is Virgin who on their original franchise haven't installed barriers anywhere. But when this runs out next year will the Dft be saying to put barriers at piccadilly, Euston, Carlisle etc etc...
  
  Europe has avoided this stupid barriers but train companies are obsessed with them because they thing it increases revenue but in reality it might mop up local journeys on busy trains but they are nothing but a nusicance to the normal traveling public.
  
  Down with these barriers hopefully the DfT will stop insisting on them and the old ones now that are 10 years old and need replacing will be ripped out with proper trained people on the train to check tickets

• Greg Tingey, London, England

  That footbridge was built with at least partly, Sheffield ratepayers' money.
  now EMT, who are not even the majority-of-trains operator there, are trying it on.

• Mr. C. Ductor, Manchester

  I think Sheffield already has a second footbridge over the station, but not in public use. Why don't EMT extend it & stick that one in use for non rail users, emerging near the M&S on the concourse, cheaper than construction a new one. It would pay for itself over the life of the franchise. Only other option would be gates on the platforms.

• Graham Collett, York, UK

  I thought the Dept for Transport has released EMT from their obligation to provide barriers - are they reneging on the deal?
  
  We successfully fought the barrier plans at York, so all power to Sheffield folk!
  
  Better fare collection on the trains by all rail operators is the answer.

• Steve Jarvis, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

  Why don't the train companies just make their ticket checkers/collectors actually check tickets and sell tickets to those without them. I have a monthly pass to travel into Sheffield and back again to meadowhall every day. I get my tickets checked once maybe twice a week at most. Perhaps they should spend more time making sure trains run on time, I saw the laughable poster on a NorthernFail train yesterday claiming 9 of 10 trains ran on time when in reality only 6 trains have left on time since January which I have caught.