How does the conductor give the RIGHT AWAY INDICATOR to the platform staff

[A-driver]

In very cold weather, on stock not fitted with timed self-closing doors, I believe it is permitted to close and then re-release, in order to prevent doors remaining open needlessly. Also a good idea if you have a rammed train and crowds are still attempting to board whilst you await the road. I'll also do it at times if the signal is imminent, obviously with the dispatcher's agreement if the platform is manned.

Im interested how you know the signal is imminent? It's obviously not for me to say and companies have different policies for dispatch but personally I don't even think about dispatching until I have the road, even if I am sure I will get it after the east coast has rushed throu on the down fast etc.

I think my manager would get very twitchy indeed if he saw me attempt that or even saw me looking at DOO equipment with a red signal!

I don't mean this to start an argument, I am just interested if that is done a lot where you are?

 

[BestWestern]

You cannot give the RA on a red signal as it is interlocked. Generally speaking platform staff shoulf not give any close door signals whilst the starting signal is at danger and if they do then the guard should not close the doors. This is the first cog in the many that could cause a SASSPAD.

Fair point about the RA, I should have mentioned that I was thinking simply of a platform staff giving a tip, or the Guard closing up. There is a risk of SASSPAD if there are absent minded crew involved I suppose, but making a conscious decision to close the doors for a specific reason, while knowing full well that you don't have the road, shouldn't present any significant risk for most IMHO. Simply because you are taking one stage of the 'process' and isolating it from the rest of that process, thus the temptation to carry out the logical next step is removed. Different from other mistakes, for example arriving at a short platform and carrying out a full door release procedure. I have no doubt that a Competence Manager would probably take your view rather than mine, but thankfully at our place we haven't quite reached the stage of nannying where a Guard isn't trusted with his own doors, at least as far as I'm aware!

 

[bronzeonion]

With the Night Riviera Sleeper ther is no Driver-Guard buzzer so I have seen quards lean out of the window (The Norm) Or Stand on the Platform and give the Green Light on their Bardic and hop on as the train starts to roll.

Makes sense on the Caledonian as it's a MK2 with an inwards opening door for the guard but how does that work with an outward opening one fitted to MK3's? I thought they were interlocked?

 

[sarahj]

On Southern, closing the doors on a red light is a big no no. It can, and has led to spads. There are some drivers around who have been known to go when they get interlock and the last thing you would ever want to do is go down that road. We have to follow the STANDs procedure.

Signal
Time
and no doors (open)
then Signal

ie that last look that the signal is in the off position.

 

[BestWestern]

Im interested how you know the signal is imminent? It's obviously not for me to say and companies have different policies for dispatch but personally I don't even think about dispatching until I have the road, even if I am sure I will get it after the east coast has rushed throu on the down fast etc.

I think my manager would get very twitchy indeed if he saw me attempt that or even saw me looking at DOO equipment with a red signal!

I don't mean this to start an argument, I am just interested if that is done a lot where you are?

That's a fair question, and one I thought somebody might ask! Obviously we cannot say that we 'know' a signal is imminent, only the Bobby knows when he's going to change the traffic lights. I'm thinking mainly of those situations where you are awaiting the signal, after time, and can quite clearly see what is almost certainly the reason you don't have the road, usually something arriving across your path. In that situation I will often close up once the other train has landed, and take position at the local door to observe the signal/banner/off indicator. Obviously if we're at a location with dispatch I'll talk to them first, they generally confirm what you're thinking. I've never had one refuse so far. That isn't to say that I've never found myself still waiting a minute or two later and re-released them of course! Another one is where we have a TRS on the platform, due in the case I'm thinking of to there being a level crossing not far away. By the time I've hit the plunger and walked back to the train, they're usually all on and off, so I'll hit the close button and wait for the signal, usually changes just as the hazards go out

I appreciate some might feel it carries a risk, but I'm perfectly happy that I've made a conscious decision to do something based on the situation at the time, and having just made that decision I'm highly unlikely to become so distracted that I'll forget what I did and why and just carry on regardless. I'd also say that this is only ever on units with door interlock, including whichever local door I'm using, and I'll concede that I wouldn't do it on slam door stock or if using a crew door with no interlock (150/1 in our case; brakes off once you've closed up the pax doors). So far, nobody has ever raised issue with it, but I have no doubt one day somebody probably will.

 

[FGW_DID]

I can only speak from experience with Turbos and HST's but surely we are mixing up simply closing doors and closing doors then locking them?

Obviously on stock that the doors lock as soon as they are shut its different but if the train can sit there with its doors shut not a problem.

As for dispatch staff giving any sort of signal / tip whilst a red aspect is displayed. no no and thrice no. You do not do anything until that signal clears. we didnt even blow our whistles to hurry people along if the signal was red as this could easily be mistaken.

 

[BestWestern]

I can only speak from experience with Turbos and HST's but surely we are mixing up simply closing doors and closing doors then locking them?

Obviously on stock that the doors lock as soon as they are shut its different but if the train can sit there with its doors shut not a problem.

As for dispatch staff giving any sort of signal / tip whilst a red aspect is displayed. no no and thrice no. You do not do anything until that signal clears. we didnt even blow our whistles to hurry people along if the signal was red as this could easily be mistaken.

I would never expect or encourage a proper tip as a sign to simply close the doors if the signal was on. What I would generally do would be to approach the Dispatcher and simply suggest that I would like to close them, for whatever reason, and they are generally fine with that. There is always the unofficial 'sliding hands' gesture which usually gets the message over, but I prefer to speak to them to avoid any confusion.