I'm not a regular user of Platform 2 in the evening but have been following this story with interest. Is the issue that although Southern might be happy to leave the gate open after the station becomes unmanned, they don't want to leave it open after the last train has run - and they have no means of closing it without someone visiting the station? Do they close the gate from Platform 1 after the last train? If not, why do they need to close the gate from Platform 2. If they do close the gate from Platform 1, why cant the person who does that close the gate from platform 2? All a bit mysterious - but it is absolutely clear that on ebit of Southern has no idea what another bit is doing.