Station trading losses from gating

Apparently gating schemes around the country have had a considerable impact on station trading revenue. Richard Malins has reported that information from elsewhere, such as Waterloo, suggests that there is a reduction of at least 10% in overall income, though this can sometimes be greater - one outlet at Cambridge reported a 60% drop in revenue. This is on top of the fact that some trading points have had to be removed entirely to make room for the barriers.

The causes are:

• The division of the station into paid and unpaid areas, reducing pedestrian flow in both - naturally fewer people will enter the "gated" areas, but also those waiting for a connection are less likely to cross the barrier lines to use shops in the main concourse of the station;
• The "anxiety" caused by the barriers, meaning that people are focused on getting through them and therefore have less inclination to spend; and
• The additional time taken to get through the barriers, meaning that people have less time for other activities at the station.

This is another nail in the coffin for National Express's so-called "business case" for the barriers - which as yet they have declined to share with the public or anyone else. The negative effects on station trading will, of course, reduce yet further the scarce funding available for necessary improvements to the rail system.