FAMILIES, lovers and trainspotters will be allowed onto train platforms across the region when ticket barriers are installed.

Free passes will be handed out on a discretionary basis to allow friends and family to greet passengers and allow trainspotters into stations on the East Coast Mainline.

National Express will install the barriers at Newcastle, Durham City, Darlington and York during the coming months to prevent ticketless passengers boarding trains.

However, people wanting to gain access to the platforms only will be able to ask staff for a pass.

Temporary gates were erected last year at Darlington station ahead of the permanent automatic barriers being installed this summer.

The plans were criticised for “taking the fun and romance” out of train travel.

Mike Barker, a Darlington councillor, wrote on his online blog that it would bring an end to “touching scenes of tearful goodbyes or cheerful hellos, as young lovers part or meet”.

The Northern Echo also reported the case of one mother who could not say goodbye to her solider son before he headed off to war, for which National Express later apologised.

However, a briefing paper which has been distributed to interested parties, including councillors, said platform passes would be given out by staff on a discretionary basis.

They would be for people to assist or welcome friends, family and colleagues, and for rail enthusiasts.

A spokesman for National Express confirmed the barriers would be installed over the coming months.

The spokesman said it had always been the company’s intention to allow family and enthusiasts onto the platform for free and have been handing out passes since the temporary barriers were erected.

He added: “Staff will receive training to make a decision and are advised to use their common sense to allow members of the public with a pass.”

Coun Barker said: “It is a great improvement on what they originally appeared to be doing. The staff on the temporary barrier were being quite strict on relatives allowed onto platforms.”