Great Western Coffee Shop

So we had just pulled out of Reading last night on 1D93 1749 London Paddington to Didcot Parkway, and a mere minute or two later there was an abrupt halt to the train. It really did stop quite sharply! Then the sound of an alarm, and a some what bemused "Hello?" from the driver came over the PA. I was sitting right next to the cab so could hear the driver calling someone (the signal center I assume), saying an alarm was going off and he thought someone might have pulled the emergency stop and needed to leave the cab to check. He then went down the train with his trusty T key.

Couple of minutes later it all went quiet, and he came back through into the cab. Again called someone and heard him saying a someone had pulled the stop as they realised they were on the wrong train and that he had told her to get off at Tilehurst and go back to Reading.

Made a announcement over the PA to that effect, and then off we went.

Ignoring the reason for the actual emergency stop being pulled, it was nice to see how quickly it was all resolved and that there was not some massive great "reset procedure" that had to be followed and delay the already delayed train yet further.

Driver was great, very communicative, reacted very quickly (he said he thought it might have been a medical emergency as he walked back to the cab), and soon got us back on our way.

My first time in such a situation, and given the amount of slippage the trains have when it is wet on the rails, I was pleasantly surprised how quickly it pulled up to a stop!

So if not a medical emergency, was any further action taken against the person who "got on the wrong train" I wonder. I always understood that such thoughtless action was not without consequence on our railways.

Further action would not usually be taken unless it was done deliberately with malicious intent.  People panic and do things they might not consider normally.  It doesn’t happen too often.

Education needed to make people realise that it is incorrect use of the alarm....just as in the 999 education going on.

Sure common sense would be to approach a member of staff, explain you thought you where on the right train, and you've realized your on the wrong one, rather than pulling the emergency handle and hoping to run away.

Some people apply common sense, and some panic and reach for the emergency alarm.  It’s very difficult to change human nature.

Maybe in the general case, but not on a driver only operated 387s. But at the same time it should on modern stock be possible to communicate with the driver without stopping the train.

Paul

As I believe is the case with the Class 180, and should be with the IET(however, seeing a video on youtube makes me wonder).   Is there a system where above a certain speed, the alarm activation required the person to speak to the driver once he has pulled to a stop in a location of his discretion, and at slow speeds, if the alarm is pulled the train comes to a complete stop(i.e leaving a station)