NXEA excels at making photographers welcome

This from a clearly very annoyed Mr Tony Miles...

Station staff at Colchester just told me that it is not permitted to wear a switched off camera, with lens cap fitted, on the station!

No wonder NX haven't retained the franchise.

Customer service from the 'Attila the Hun book on How To Win Friends & Influence People'.

UPDATE: An update from Mr Miles...

On the back of the Eye piece above I've just had a call from Virgin Trains who said:

"You are welcome to remove your lens cap & take photos at our stations whenever you like."

That's the way to get shortlisted for a franchise!

Eye wonders if there are other ways to get shortlisted for a franchise? Not being German certainly appears to be one. Readers may know of others...

UPDATE: This from Our International Correspondent...

I didn't know that being nice or nasty to a railway hack was a way to win or lose anything of consequence, let alone a franchise.

Brian Morrison - 80 Glorious Years!

Those nice people over at the Railway Herald organised a surprise Birthday Party for Brian Morrison yesterday.


Although Brian reached the tender age of 80 last week, his big-do was held on Saturday at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

Guests from the railway industry, press, photographic and ten-pin bowling worlds marked the occasion in some style.

Although absences, without due apologies, were duly noted.

New Olympics - New Danger

This from the British Journal of Photography...

Police forces are planning to use Section 44 stop-and-search powers across all underground and railway stations in the UK during the 2012 Olympics.

The powers, which have been found to be illegal by an European Court, are increasingly being used against photographers.

You have been warned.

Meanwhile if you see your friendly Bobby overstepping the mark - record it on your camera-phone.

They can't arrest all of us... can they?

Steve Bell tells it like it is...

This from the Grauniad...


'Nuff said... (with a bowler tip to Dan)

ATOC - photography not a security concern - Official

Exciting news from ATOC!

According to Railnews...

A new online guide to National Rail has been launched by the Association of Train Operating Companies to help passengers, especially those with disabilities, to find their way round more than 2500 stations. The innovation, including 14,000 web pages and interactive maps as well as 700,000 photographs, is said to be a world first.

Indeed.

And what a wonderful on-line resource for passengers... or indeed those with less benign intentions.

With this in mind Eye expects an immediate end to stories of TOC jobsworths preventing photography on stations for spurious 'security' reasons!

UPDATE: This from Simon...

While reluctant to knock what is a brilliant idea and an incredibly useful resource, I was rather amused to note that the guide to Southampton Airport Parkway makes no mention of the brand new covered footbridge complete with lifts, forming the only means of access between the platforms for those with mobility problems.

A little embarrassing as these facilities were opened to great fanfare by Minister Chris Mole only today.

This emphasises the point that ATOC will have to keep the new site bang up to date if it is to be more of a help than a hindrance.

UPDATE: This from consultancy the mhdpartnership via Twitter...

That ATOC site is shocking and just proves how archaic our rail industry is!

There is a critique on our blog.

Sarah and the security guard

Oh dear.

Perhaps a little additional staff training required for these fine gentleman at Upminster station (C2C and the General Manager of the District line please take note).



Meantimes... nice to see pictures of Sarah back in traffic!

Met guidelines on photography

This from the Metropolitan Police website (with a bowler tip to Obnoxio and The Register)

Freedom to photograph/film

Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.

Photography and Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000

The Terrorism Act 2000 does not prohibit people from taking photographs or digital images in an area where an authority under section 44 is in place.

Officers have the power to view digital images contained in mobile telephones or cameras carried by a person searched under S44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, provided that the viewing is to determine whether the images contained in the camera or mobile telephone are of a kind, which could be used in connection with terrorism. Officers also have the power to seize and retain any article found during the search which the officer reasonably suspects is intended to be used in connection with terrorism.

Photography and Section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Officers have the power to view digital images contained in mobile telephones or cameras carried by a person searched under S43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to discover whether they have in their possession anything which may constitute evidence that they are involved in terrorism. Officers also have the power to seize and retain any article found during the search which the officer reasonably suspects may constitute evidence that the person is involved in terrorism.

Section 58a of the Terrorism Act 2000

Section 58a of the Terrorism Act 2000 covers the offence of eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of the armed forces, intelligence services or police.

Any officer making an arrest for an offence under Section 58a must be able to demonstrate a reasonable suspicion that the information was of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

It should ordinarily be considered inappropriate to use Section 58a to arrest people photographing police officers in the course of normal policing activities, including protests, as without more, there is no link to terrorism.

There is however nothing preventing officers asking questions of an individual who appears to be taking photographs of someone who is or has been a member of Her Majesty’s Forces (HMF), Intelligence Services or a constable.

Network Rail and TOC employees please take note.

UPDATE: This from Rudi over at Merseyrail...

We welcome enthusiasts and don't have a problem with photography (as explained on our website).

Project Argus: We're all suspects now!

This from a very concerned citizen...

It was revealed recently that the Government was training up 60,000 civilians to "fight terrorism".

This scheme is called 'Project Argus' and is being rolled out across the country.

Today I've seen some excerpts from the course literature. The general advice ( not referring specifically to railway stations ) includes ...

• Tourists should not necessarily be taken as such and should be treated sensitively, but with caution.

• Be on guard for anyone possessing maps, global positioning systems, photographic equipment including cameras, zoom lenses and camcorders

• Be on guard for people taking pictures, filming, making notes, sketching of the security measure at tourist attractions

The Eye recommends interning all Tourists and Photographers on the Isle of Man immediately.

UPDATE: This from Bushcutta...

Good to see London Underground is already preparing the first boatload for Douglas.

According to the BBC...

"London Underground (LU) passengers are being urged to help log London's bird population by entering a photographic competition.

"Entrants are asked to photograph wild birds within a five-minute walk of a Tube station for a chance to win a prize in the Mind the Bird contest."

Just because you think you're innocent doesn't mean you're not Guilty!

Disgraceful

Please ignore this link.

;-)

Tornado flash mobbed!

This just in from our Kettle Watcher...

Turn up on your own with a camera at King's Cross on a 'normal' day and you are told to sign-in at the DSMs office if you want to take photos.

So a flash mob of 2,000 (NX estimate) turn up to see the A1 make its debut in the Capital, and nobody gives a toss about signing in.

Just show what an absolute load of bllx is perpetrated by Network Rail. And I bet many used flash too, which is a total no no, when I have been on stations !

Maybe that's how to deal with the "no photography" jobsworth - bring in Rent-a-Crowd.

Just a shame about the gormless members of the public who thought it OK to wander on the track at Holme, forcing trains to be cautioned and journeys delayed.

UPDATE: We are Dave writes...

Well, no, actually. The best way to put a stop to this bllx forever would have been for all 2,000 people to go to the DSM's office and *demand* to sign in...

UPDATE: This from our very own Eboracum (50A)...

The delay's weren't due to trespass - there was an OLE fault North of Peterborough.

That and the fact that every line side crossing was thick with gricers hoping to phot' the beast.

Which led TOC's crews to approaching said areas with caution.

Pretty sensible really.

Police, Camera, Jail !

Good news for all those little Hitlers keen to stop photography on stations.

Jail for photographing police?

Bowler tip to Old Holborn and welcome to Britain (twinned with the DER).

UPDATE: Captain Deltic comments...

So what's new?

I was threatened with arrest when photographing the undamaged section of the train involved in the Potters Bar derailment from the adjacent Sainsbury's car park looking through a high wire fence.

I suspect that the fact that the rozzer was not wearing a hi-viz vest while walking on the track may have been a factor.

Subsequently the BTP Chief Constable thought it hilarious that one of his men had threatened to scarf up (a technical term m'lud) the Captain.

To quote a well known MP - Captain, you are a very strange man.

Missing resolution

The ATOC media machine cranked into life yesterday and issued a release headlined:

"TEN NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR RAIL PASSENGERS IN 2009" (regrettably not yet posted on the ATOC comms website).

Aside from the fact that it's somewhat cheeky to impose resolutions on passengers (rather than making you own) there did appear to be something missing from the list.

Where is ATOC's New Year's resolution about allowing photos to be taken at stations without fear of harassment or intimidation?

How we once lived

A reader has contacted The Fact Compiler to share the following Hull Trains press release dated from 1999.

The press release reads "Three African women arrived at the Paragon Interchange on Hull Trains this week to attend the launch of a photographic exhibition featuring their work."

Alas, these ladies and their cameras would not receive such a warm welcome in Hull today as, according to our correspondent, it has one of the "top 5 anti-photographer stations on the English network".

He continues "When ATOC provides details of anticipated changes to the enthusiast guidelines (when is the operative word as they have had the consultations for 3 months) then maybe the industry will finally sing from the same hymn sheet about photography on stations".

Indeed!