Request stops - replacement of arms by buttons

[whole diary]

[rogerw]

As I understand it this idea originated in Scotland in respect of the far north line.  There is pressure to speed up the service and many of the request stops only attract a handful of passengers per week.

[broadgage]

Sorry to put a damper on it but I've just thought of a snag.

Currently the train slows being prepared to stop so that some one arriving on the platform at the last minute can stick their hand out hopefully in time for it to stop.

Depending on where the driver's indication is trackside or in cab the driver could reach a point where they've received no stop signal so doesn't brake but then someone presses the button at the last minute.

Like pressing the bell of bus 10 yards from the stop.

I would alter the timetable such that the advertised calling time is in fact the latest time at which the button may be pushed to stop the train. One minute should be enough.
For example if the train is advertised as being "at 13-30"  The timetable would contain a footnote that reads "request stop. Make certain that you are at the station and have operated the stop request button by 13-30"
The actual stopping time would in fact be 13-31, but this would NOT be advertised since it would mislead.
Anyone arriving after the advertised time of 13-30 would miss the train.