HS2: Platform edge doors, are they really required?

[Spekejunction]

I’ve noticed that HS2 are looking for a Platform Door Contractor.
Have they got money to burn ?
What station will require this kit?
Mersey Railway had the answer back in the day.
Close the platform entrance prior to departure.
Platform doors shackle the railway to one type of train .

 

[Geeves]

In the future its likely the trains will run without a driver so it makes sense to get the platform doors in now

 

[stuu]

Yes they are. New railways should be built as safely as possible, and they cost a minisucule fraction of the budget. They also aid boarding as people can queue in the right place which makes the whole process more efficient

 

[dosxuk]

Sounds like they're only considering this for the through stations where trains may pass at speed. Closing platforms apart from when a train is actually in the station would be unworkable for trains of this length and capacity.

Platform doors do not restrict a system to a single type of train, or even door layout. It just means there needs to be coordination between the rolling stock used and the door positioning. Away from commuter networks where doors are given over to as much space as possible, it would be trivial to accommodate multiple door patterns along a single platform. Modular systems would allow for reconfiguration where/when required.

Someone mentioned in the other thread about how this would restrict European trains from using the HS2 network. I suspect the chances of this becoming the deciding factor to cancel such a project are precisely zero.

 

[edwin_m]

Sounds like they're only considering this for the through stations where trains may pass at speed. Closing platforms apart from when a train is actually in the station would be unworkable for trains of this length and capacity.

Platform doors do not restrict a system to a single type of train, or even door layout. It just means there needs to be coordination between the rolling stock used and the door positioning. Away from commuter networks where doors are given over to as much space as possible, it would be trivial to accommodate multiple door patterns along a single platform. Modular systems would allow for reconfiguration where/when required.

Someone mentioned in the other thread about how this would restrict European trains from using the HS2 network. I suspect the chances of this becoming the deciding factor to cancel such a project are precisely zero.

You can't run at speed past a platform screen door - if it's close enough to avoid the risk of trapping people between the door and the train during boarding, then the aerodynamic forces of a passing high speed train will destroy it.

As far as I know the solution to the problem you describe is to have all platforms on tracks that are only used by stopping trains or (exceptionally) trains passing at fairly low speeds. This is the same with or without platform screen doors.

There are a few places with vertical platform screen doors that may be able to accommodate different door spacings.

 

[Spekejunction]

I checked Birmingham Interchange Plans there are two through tracks which each branch off to an island platform
The through tracks could be fenced off to safeguard anyone who has to go trackside for any reason.

 

[MarkyT]

This video is interesting, illustrating Shinkansen trains passing a minor JR-East station en route that is not equipped with the usual platform loops that don't typically have any kind of edge barrier protection system. In this case, where platforms face directly onto the fast lines, shoulder height screen barriers with powered gates are used, set back from the edge, with a secondary fencing system closer to the tracks.

 

[eldomtom2]

Also perhaps relevant are the platforms at Osaka station that opened this year with adjustable platform doors to fit different door layouts.

 

[Spekejunction]

Imagine working at this station ..the racket would drive you to drink..

 

[HSTEd]

Mersey Railway had the answer back in the day.
Close the platform entrance prior to departure.

How will you enforce this?
How will you force passengers already on the platform to leave?

How many personnel will be required for this? Who will pay them?

Compared to ongoing staffing costs the PEDs are extremely cheap.

Platform doors shackle the railway to one type of train .

No, they "shackle" the railway to trains only having doors at a subset of a list of positions.
Which is not really the same thing.

 

[dosxuk]

You can't run at speed past a platform screen door - if it's close enough to avoid the risk of trapping people between the door and the train during boarding, then the aerodynamic forces of a passing high speed train will destroy it.

As far as I know the solution to the problem you describe is to have all platforms on tracks that are only used by stopping trains or (exceptionally) trains passing at fairly low speeds. This is the same with or without platform screen doors.

There are a few places with vertical platform screen doors that may be able to accommodate different door spacings.

I believe all the through stations have passing lines, so passing trains would not be passing directly by platform doors at full line speed. The benefits of preventing access to the tracks and preventing objects from getting onto the tracks still completely apply.