How customisable is SWT Desiro PIS?

[MCR247]

On these trains, are the guards (or drivers?) able to type what is displayed on the exterior destination screen? Just wondering because I saw a Reading 450 at Feltham this morning with something I assume isn't what it normally shows (nothing bad of course - I liked it!)

 

[Bletchleyite]

On these trains, are the guards (or drivers?) able to type what is displayed on the exterior destination screen? Just wondering because I saw a Reading 450 at Feltham this morning with something I assume isn't what it normally shows (nothing bad of course - I liked it!)

I think so. I've seen all sorts of things displayed on LM units, and for that matter Voyagers, e.g.:-

The Master Cobbler (on the 1813 fast EUS-LBZ-MKC-NMP)
Merry Christmas
Bah Humbug
Zzzzzzzzzzz (for not in service and going to depot)
etc

no doubt because it was the "present" of a 350/2

 

[GatwickDepress]

There's a joker at Bletchley who regularly has one of the 350s displaying Scottish-related destinations - Balloch Pier Head, anyone?

 

[nlogax]

As seen at Waterloo, Halloween 2013...

 

[racklam]

Saw a SWT 450 outside Clapham with 'CHOO CHOO' on the boards once. Made a few people chuckle on the evening commute.

 

[A-driver]

Used to be able to do it ok southern 377s. Then a few drivers got carried away with it. Now you can only show pre-programmed destinations and messages. Often the way these things go!

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's a joker at Bletchley who regularly has one of the 350s displaying Scottish-related destinations - Balloch Pier Head, anyone?

Is that the same one that likes putting Express on the Bedford Bletchley 150's second blind?

 

[The Ham]

One thing that the internal displays need to show (if the software is smart enough) is the coach number as now it is common for Guards to say I'm i the X coach if you need assistance, yet few people are likely to know which coach that they are in.

 

[ainsworth74]

This one has always been a favourite.

 

[transmanche]

One thing that the internal displays need to show (if the software is smart enough) is the coach number as now it is common for Guards to say I'm i the X coach if you need assistance, yet few people are likely to know which coach that they are in.

Southern's Electrostars do (or at least every one that I've been on has done so).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Southern's Electrostars do (or at least every one that I've been on has done so).

On my few trips on Southern I've liked that they have things like "This is coach 4 of 12" which is particularly useful considering how many of their services divide en-route: particularly helpful for Northern monkeys like myself who aren't as familiar with that mode of operation.

I did once see a Miserytravel 142 at Halloween in Huddersfield with 'BOO' on the screen... As if it wasn't scary enough already!

 

[gimmea50anyday]

One of the good things about the voyagers is the TMS controls much of the train environment, including temperature in each individual carriage, PA/crewcall to individual carriages, right down to each individual seat display which can be programmed at will. The auto announcements featuring the voice of joanna lumley were never used from virgin days but are still programmed in afaik (i used to use them in my RSM days). The TMS in the galley featured a keyboard ( cannot recall if there was one in the shop but i believe there was) and i was known to tinker with the displays to the amisement of the punters.

On the 185 the scan acoustic PIS is used which comes pre programmed, and unfortunately cannot be customised on board the train. All PIS announcements being preset and recorded. I can of course do my own announcements at will but i cannot customise the displays in any way

 

[fgwrich]

Southern's Electrostars do (or at least every one that I've been on has done so).

But only when they work properly. And yes, I have found the infamous ''This is Coach Number 12 of 9'' and other bizarre miscounts on Southern & SouthEastern's Electrostar fleets as well!

 

[cjmillsnun]

But only when they work properly. And yes, I have found the infamous ''This is Coach Number 12 of 9'' and other bizarre miscounts on Southern & SouthEastern's Electrostar fleets as well!

You've got to love them... "Made in Derby"

 

[Minilad]

My favourite Voyager related external display change was while waiting for a train back to Birmingham after a game against Man Utd. A Birmingham driver who shall remain nameless was given the task of driving an additional train back to Manchester from Witton for United fans. He changed to front destination indicator to read ANYWHERE BUT MANCHESTER

 

[GatwickDepress]

But only when they work properly. And yes, I have found the infamous ''This is Coach Number 12 of 9'' and other bizarre miscounts on Southern & SouthEastern's Electrostar fleets as well!

Out of hundreds, if not thousands of journeys on Electrostars, I've only encountered that a few times luckily!

 

[jon0844]

Used to be able to do it ok southern 377s. Then a few drivers got carried away with it. Now you can only show pre-programmed destinations and messages. Often the way these things go!

You can customise 317s displays however you want can't you?

It's surely the driver that sets them to flicker, scroll random characters, show junk, or just have every LED stuck on...

No?

 

[59CosG95]

Didn't see it myself, but one of the SWT drivers changed the destination board to "RAMMSTEIN" on the Desiro he was taking back as ECS. I very much approve of that.

 

[jopsuk]

Didn't see it myself, but one of the SWT drivers changed the destination board to "RAMMSTEIN" on the Desiro he was taking back as ECS. I very much approve of that.

A Desiro at Ramstein!

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Didn't see it myself, but one of the SWT drivers changed the destination board to "RAMMSTEIN" on the Desiro he was taking back as ECS. I very much approve of that.

Great band!

 

[Juniper Driver]

I did put "TAXI" up once and "HELLO" on working a set of empties to Waterloo.Passenger said to me he liked the "HELLO" trick.

 

[yummy125]

I was on a Rail-tour last year, a 159 went to Kingswear & showed this:



Another rail-tour a few years ago at Woking showed this on their platform board, 3rd Train

 

[455driver]

I put Lundun on the front once, I don't think anyone noticed!

It takes a while to type everything in letter by letter but it can be done.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Hogwarts Express, Infinity & Beyond, There & Back, That's all folks have all appeared, along with Caerdydd Canolog, Abertawe, Casnewydd!

 

[TheNewNo2]

While it's not a custom one, I found this incredibly helpful destination indicator on a Voyager once:

 

[causton]

While it's not a custom one, I found this incredibly helpful destination indicator on a Voyager once:

Often seems to happen when arriving at terminus stations for some reason. Seen it on a VT 10-car at Euston and an XC 5-car at Glasgow Central!

 

[Stats]

But only when they work properly. And yes, I have found the infamous ''This is Coach Number 12 of 9'' and other bizarre miscounts on Southern & SouthEastern's Electrostar fleets as well!

They're probably trying to outdo the station CIS when it has a fit and starts announcing "due to short platforms passengers for East Croydon, Clapham Junction and London Victoria should travel in the front 12 coaches. This train is formed of 16 coaches". I wish.

 

[168lover]

our green bubble car at chinnor currently has the rather spectacle destination of Clapham Junction displayed!

 

[plastictaffy]

I think so. I've seen all sorts of things displayed on LM units, and for that matter Voyagers, e.g.:-

The Master Cobbler (on the 1813 fast EUS-LBZ-MKC-NMP)
Merry Christmas
Bah Humbug
Zzzzzzzzzzz (for not in service and going to depot)
etc

no doubt because it was the "present" of a 350/2

I know exactly who that was!! He was a Bletchley driver - went to drive for Northern a couple of days after this was done. Guards cannot program the PIS (or I perhaps wasn't shown in training!!) but the drivers can. On the 150 on the Bedford route, they are manual wind-round ones, with loads of diffeent destinations on. I once did a full round trip with "Shirley" showing on one end, and "Whitlocks End" showing on the other!!!
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I spotted one in the bay the other day at Northampton showing "Polesworth".
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There's a joker at Bletchley who regularly has one of the 350s displaying Scottish-related destinations - Balloch Pier Head, anyone?

I think I might know who that is, too - I don't believe he's a BLY man!!

 

[DasLunatic]

I was on a 172 from Brum to Kidderminster, as we stopped at The Hawthorns, the PIS read 'The Hawthorns for West Scumwich Albion'. It was a matchday too - they were playing Wolves IIRC... who won 3-1