Reading this thread is rather interesting. As somebody who is actively involved in setting and changing stop boards, it's staggering quite how many people we have here who don't see the significance of these boards.
Let's be clear, TOCs don't like to spend money unless it has a safety benefit. The obvious reason why stop boards get fitted is to minimise the chance of a stop-short, but if that was the only reason, we'd just have S car boards at the end of the platform.
Other considerations:
- Signal/DOO monitors sighting for the Driver
- Signal/OFF Indicator sighting for the Guard and/or Dispatcher
- DOO camera positioning
- Visibility for the Guard/Dispatcher of the full PTI (particularly at curved platforms)
- Visibility of particular areas of the train (following a train surfing risk assessment)
- Management of step gap (particularly at curved platforms)
- TPWS grids, AWS magnets
- Specific location requirements, such as places with a short overlap and therefore, specific TPWS fitment to cater for SASPAD incidents.
- Permissive bi-di working
- Positioning of the accessible door in relation to platform furniture
- Location of TRTS/CD/RA plungers
- Customer flows (i.e. main thoroughfares)
- Canopies and customer facilities (to minimise the amount of running for trains, slips, trips and falls, and manage dwell time)
- Entrances and Exits on the platform (think about seeing late runners who may try to board)
Would a driver stopping at the 12 car board with an 8 car train cause a major issue?
Most likely not.
Is it good practice?
No.
Should it be condoned? No
- if the Driver does this regularly, they need to be coached in case there are underlying issues.
Are the people of Rail Forums competent to comment with any authority on this individual situation and the reasons behind it?
No.
The ORR have recently become very hot on stop-boards with the introduction of so much more rolling stock where the Driver gives door release. Coupled with the various amounts of new stock with different accessible door positions, coach lengths, etc, there has been a large increase in the number of stop boards. Some operators are attempting to rationalise the approach to make it easier for all involved, but from experience of doing this, I can confirm that is is NOT as simple as you might think!!!