Luggage locker
A luggage locker (also: Gepäckmietfach, luggage storage machine) is the most chargeable storage of luggage at major transport hubs such as railway stations and airports . In contrast to personal luggage storage , luggage lockers are a self-service facility .
Classic luggage lockers
Classic luggage lockers are usually set up in larger numbers and in several sizes either in a separate locker room or on a wall of the reception building . They are usually dimensioned in such a way that items of luggage in the usual sizes fit easily into them - the customer often has the choice between different volumes, which are priced differently.
A distinction must be made between two main variants of this type of locker. On the one hand, there are key-operated systems in which, after closing the door and paying the rental price, a key can be withdrawn in advance, which is later used to open the compartment. On the other hand, there are centrally operated locker systems in which the locker is first reserved and paid for via a central operating unit and finally the luggage is placed in the assigned locker. Here the customer receives a magnetic stripe card or an RFID coin to pick up his stored items .
If the pre- paid minimum rental period is exceeded when the luggage is collected , the additional usage fee for the luggage locker must be paid before the locker can be opened. If the left luggage is not picked up within a specified period of time (usually 72 hours), the locker will be opened by the locker supervisor and the contents will be handed over to the lost property office .
Automated luggage storage systems
In addition to the classic individual lockers, there are also automated luggage storage systems (e.g. in Cologne's main train station ), the appearance and operation of which differ considerably from the previous ones. The customer having recourse a central delivery and pick-up machines . After the rental amount has been paid at the machine, an empty container for receiving the luggage is provided by an automatic conveyor system, in which the traveler puts his luggage. After this has been done, the container is also automatically moved to a central automated warehouse, where it remains for the duration of the storage. The customer does not notice this process, which can lead to irritation and misunderstandings.
In this case, the customer receives an electronic identification medium (e.g. a magnetic stripe card) as a receipt and to collect the stored luggage. After reading this information at the machine, the container with the customer's luggage is driven out of the warehouse within a few seconds, made available at the pick-up machine (which is usually identical to the delivery machine) and opened.
The advantage of this system is that it requires little space, as the storage area for luggage can be relocated to places that are difficult to access (e.g. a remote room or the basement ). On the other hand, in the event of a software error or even a power failure, it is not possible to collect stored items and there is a risk that another customer's luggage container is mistakenly provided for the collection. This system also makes it difficult to find the luggage if the customer loses or damages the identification medium.
useful information
- Luggage lockers are often portrayed in crime films as dead mailboxes or storage locations for all kinds of prohibited items (e.g. stolen goods or weapons).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hans-Joachim Kirsche (ed.): Lexicon of the railway . VEB transpress, 5th edition Berlin 1976, p. 308.