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I have read recently that the installation of barriers at York (and many other main stations) is more to do with security than revenue evasion. Apparently there is very little evidence to suggest that barriers reduce the number of people travelling without tickets but they do create station entrance/exit points that can be monitored more effectively using CCTV cameras (and possibly other devices).
Most new franchises issued by the DfT call for the TOC's to install barriers at their main stations and this is seen by many as the Government's way of getting others to help them with their "Big Brother" strategy.
If security is the real reason for barriers then this could explain why, at some stations, they are installed but not always used. In use or not, they are still causing a more easily monitored bottleneck. Any thoughts?
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