Why are there no ticket barriers on DLR??

Question

If the DLR uses the same tfl ticketing and oyster card system, why cant they have ticket barriers at all stations like on the tube, rather than the little boxes at the side of the walkways to tap your oyster card?

Answer 1

It boils down to the fact that DLR was owned by a serperate company to Transport For London(TfL) & they did not feel the need for barriers. Now that DLR comes under TfL  this may change.

It also depends on how wide the access to and from the station is as to if barriers can be fitted as in some places the entrance is to narrow to fit a gate-line and if one was fitted it would be breaking Health & Safety Law.

I hope that my answer helps.

Joolz

Answer 2

There are a lot of safety and security issues about ticket barriers at stations.  If the barrier system is installed and working, then there must be an operator present, licensed to use the system at all times. Even if they walk away to assist another person they must be in sight of the barriers or open them.

As Transport for London will not pay or employee anyone at these stations, then they can not place barriers in.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Because most (all?) stations on the DLR are unstaffed - and unstaffed stations, by law, cannot have barriers. (Even if barriers were allowed, they would be pointless, as people could just jump over them with impunity.)

In stark contrast to the Tube, the DLR was intended from the outset to be very cheap to build and run, with low-cost driverless trains and unstaffed stations.

Answer 4

Yeah I know... it makes no sense.

But the DLR was meant to be an automated & efficient system, with as few staff working on it as possible (driverless trains, people scanning in and out without having to go through gates).

It means the entire TFL network has big "holes" in it, if I get on a DLR at Canary Whard but forget to scan my ticket, then get off at Bank they have no way of ever knowing where my journey started...