On most DMUs and EMUs in, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, they use a rather interesting method. The train comes to a stop and the Driver opens the doors. Then when the train is ready to leave the Guard blows a whistle and waves either a flag or a baton towards the cab (which the Driver sees by leaning out of the window or looking at a mirror or looking at a CCTV monitor depending on the stock) and then immediately gets back in to the train. Then the Driver closes all of the doors and departs. So the Guard despatches the train but the Driver closes all of the doors (including their local door) when they receive the Guard gives them the flag or baton signal.
I think most locomotive hauled stock and high speed stock in Mainland Europe follow the same method that NS in the Netherlands use on all of their trains. This is where the Driver opens the doors and then the Guard closes the doors with a key and then the Driver departs as soon as the doors are closed. But there is no bell or buzzer or anything like that.
On most trains i have seen in Estonia and Latvia and Lithuania (and some in Germany too) they have a Guard onboard who seems to be guaranteed on all trains but they have no involvement in despatch or even looking out at stops. So this is quite similar to the Guards on Greater Anglia and the OBMs on Southeastern who are safety critical and guaranteed to be onboard but are not involved in despatch.
On most trains (at least the Elektrichka trains) in Russia and Belarus and other ex Soviet countries they seem to have multiple people in the cab and one of them sort of acts as a Guard to look out the train when it arrives and departs. There always seems to be at least two people in the cab and often three or four people and one of these is basically a Guard who checks the platform. In addition they also have multiple ticket inspectors (up to six per train on busy services) checking and selling tickets.
Ireland is quite similar to the UK. But all of their trains except cross border are DOO. On the Enterprise services they use ten bell despatch (just like the Cross Country 220s and 221s and Southern 377s use) on the normal De Dietrich sets or use flag despatch when a 22000 or 29000 set replaces them. On the once a day in each direction Newry stopping service the regular Guard normally rides with the Driver in the cab on the Dundalk to Newry section. This is not allowed in the UK any more but it is still permitted in Ireland for Guards to ride in the cab. Northern Ireland still has Guards on all trains and uses the Driver open and Guard close method and the Guard gives two on the buzzer on all 3000 and 4000 trains.
Is there anywhere else in Europe outside of the UK that uses the traditional British method where the Guard opens the doors? I know some places like in the Netherlands the Guard closes the doors but does any country have trains where the Guard opens them too? Also does anywhere else in Europe use bells or buzzers to signal the Driver to depart? Or are we the only European country with bells and buzzers?
Also how do the 373s and 374s work? Do these work in the British style or Mainland European style? Do the Guards open and close the doors on these? Do they have bells where the Guard gives two on the bell to the Driver to depart?
The only other places in the world that i can think of that use the traditional British method (or something similar) is Australia and New Zealand and Canada and USA where most trains have Guards responsible for opening and closing doors and signalling the Driver to depart.
On the Wellington Suburban Trains (Metlink) in New Zealand they use the classic British method where the Guard opens the local door and steps out to check the platform and then opens the other doors. The when the train is ready to leave they close all the other doors then close their local door and use a buzzer to signal to the driver. On the Auckland Suburban Trains they are the Driver Open Guard Close method. They did attempt to go DOO in Auckland a few years ago but that does not seem to have happened.
Sydney and New South Wales in Australia also seem to use the classic British method of the Guard opening and closing the doors. I believe they also have a bell to signal the Driver to depart. Although health and safety does not seem to have reached Australia as the Guard leaves the cab door open and leans out as the train approaches and departs. A very dangerous method that the UK has not allowed for decades.
Brisbane a d Queensland use a different method where the Driver opens the doors. Then when the train is ready to leave the Guard gives two bells and the Driver closes the doors and departs. But there is no bells after closing the doors so the Driver just departs as soon as the doors are closed. Like in Sydney and New South Wales they use the rather dangerous method of keeping the cab door open and leaning out as the train arrives and departs.
Canada and USA still have Guards on the vast majority of their trains and i believe they are fully responsible for opening and closing the doors. I think they also use the British method of opening their local door first and then checking the platform. I think they have some sort of bell or signal they use to signal the driver to depart.
