Short platforms

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Is there a list anywhere of which coaches on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) will be platformed at stations with short platforms?

I know train managers announce which coaches to exit from shortly before arrival, but if you knew before you boarded it would make life easier.

[stebbo]

Back in the "good old days" announcements of which carriages to use for which station were made at Paddington - which made for very long announcements for the Penzance and Hereford trains. I think the paper stickers that used to be placed in train windows also indicated which stations had short platforms.

Nowadays you just get people running madly up the train just before it's due to leave. Had one such person at Hanborough last week. I agree it would help if on-train announcements were made in plenty of time ansd also at the start of the journey.

[CLPGMS]

I do not think that any list has been published.  However, the general rule is that, wherever possible, Coach A will be platformed as that is where cycles are stored.  Which other coaches (B, C etc.) depends on the length of the platform and the location of the door operating panels.  One exception is where a signal would have to be passed to get Coach A alongside the platform - e.g. on the up line at Evesham - if the train is in normal formation with First Class leading.

[Rhydgaled]

you just get people running madly up the train just before it's due to leave.

This is why I believe coupled multiple units without Unit-End Gangways should not divide en-route or serve stations with short platforms unless at least one coach of each unit is platformed. And anouncements should probably be given after each stop explaining which part of the train passengers need to be in to allow passengers to walk along the train, remaining on board, in their own time.

[Umberleigh]

New (?) policy is to keep the First Class coach L locked, at least this us what I heard from guard on Friday last when travelling up from Truro.

[ChrisB]

This is planned to be done when 2x5car bimodes run along the Cotswold Line. However, different coaches will be platformed according to their length, so announcements on leaving one styop would only be about the following one.

[IndustryInsider]

That's one of my concerns about the Cotswold Line and 10-Car Bi-Mode trains (the same can be said to a slightly lesser extent about other routes with short platforms) - if you are going to platform just six out of the ten coaches at certain stations then that is a recipe for delays and confusion.  Yes, I know that HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do a similar thing now, but they're not as long and it will potentially affect Standard Class as well as First Class customers, some of whom may need to walk well over 100 metres down the train to find a door that opens.  I do hope due consideration is being given to this and that many of the platforms will be extended to cater for at least seven, preferably eight, 26m long carriages.

[ChrisB]

The lengthening of certain CL platforms is to 6cars I believe

[IndustryInsider]

If indeed that is the case I forsee problems ahead... 

[stebbo]

I trust Hanborough will be one of them - not that I use the station myself but most times there seems to be somebody running up the train.

[ChrisB]

Yep....as I remember

[IndustryInsider]

They'll all need doing - at least the ones that'll have these 10-Car IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s stopping at them.  Even the two longest (at Kingham and Moreton in the 'Down' direction) aren't quite long enough.

[ChrisB]

Not sure that'll be happening, so it may be SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) at most platforms

[IndustryInsider]

How would SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) work?  With a double stop at each station concerned?  Or with the rear half of the front train on the platform and the front end of the rear train on?  Either option = delays and confusion galore!

[Rhydgaled]

How would SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) work?  With a double stop at each station concerned?  Or with the rear half of the front train on the platform and the front end of the rear train on?  Either option = delays and confusion galore!

The option I have highlighted in green is what I would expect. Would you agree that a single 9-car unit (using SDO) would be better for short platforms than a pair of fives using SDO?