The new state-owned East Coast operator has abandoned proposals to install gatelines at York.

The Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis announced this morning that the unpopular proposals had been scrapped. They had sparked a major debate locally, and the outgoing franchise holder National Express East Coast had already been defeated once by the City of York planning committee. NXEC had begun an appeal.

The move may have implications for gateline plans at other provincial stations. There has also been civic opposition to proposed gatelines at Newcastle and also Sheffield, where gates would affect a bridge across the station which links two parts of the city.

Gatelines have been part of DfT policy for more than two years, and have been appearing at many stations around the country from Exeter to Aberdeen. Opponents argue that automatic barriers may be effective on metros and suburban systems, but form an unacceptable obstacle to many intercity passengers.

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