Long walk for Sandown train travellers after station problems

Sandown is to seek a meeting with South Western Railway after complaints of overcrowding on the platform at Esher station on Saturday.

The closure of the station entrance on to the racecourse, because covers were being removed from the track, and the presence of ticket inspectors contributed to the congestion and led to racegoers having to walk around the racecourse perimeter to get into the track.

A racecourse spokesperson said: "The racecourse doesn’t have jurisdiction for stewarding at the station but, based on feedback today, we will seek further meetings with South Western Railway to deliver the best possible service to racegoers coming through Esher station to Sandown.

"The exit from the station was slowed by station staff checking the tickets of people coming off the trains. We were also not able to open the entrance to the racecourse on the far side of the course, behind the station, for safety reasons while we were removing the frost covers and there was a lot of vehicle movement in the area."

Sandown said the situation was resolved quickly and later deployed stewards to the station to help direct people on to trains after racing when the exit across the course was open.

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