Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 11:15 28 Mar 2024
- Man suffers life-threatening injuries after train stabbing
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
* Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Woman found murdered on Orpington to London train (*)

Train RunningCancelled
09:12 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
09:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
10:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
10:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
10:41 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
11:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
11:05 Swindon to Westbury
11:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
11:23 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
11:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
11:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
12:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
12:17 Westbury to Swindon
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
06:00 London Paddington to Penzance
06:05 Penzance to London Paddington
07:28 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
07:33 Weymouth to Gloucester
09:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
11:12 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
11:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
Delayed
06:37 Plymouth to London Paddington
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
08:48 London Paddington to Swansea
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
09:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
09:51 Warminster to Gloucester
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:23 London Paddington to Oxford
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 11:22:16 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[161] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[91] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[62] Return of the BRUTE?
[53] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[49] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[38] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: 'Short platforms' that aren't short?  (Read 12815 times)
Kernowman
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 104


View Profile
« on: December 16, 2014, 00:02:35 »

For a few years now coaches A and B on down 8 coach HST (High Speed Train)'s are not unlocked at Camborne due to 'short platforms' and departing passengers are advised to move back to coach C, however coaches A and B appear to be always completely platformed. The best answer for this situation that I can get, from the station staff, is that 'A and B may not be platformed' from which I can only assume that there is a concern that HST's might overshoot the station? - Unless anyone knows otherwise? I'm also wondering if there's any other stations where a similar situation arises?Shocked
Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7155


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2014, 00:35:10 »

For a few years now coaches A and B on down 8 coach HST (High Speed Train)'s are not unlocked at Camborne due to 'short platforms' and departing passengers are advised to move back to coach C, however coaches A and B appear to be always completely platformed. The best answer for this situation that I can get, from the station staff, is that 'A and B may not be platformed' from which I can only assume that there is a concern that HST's might overshoot the station? - Unless anyone knows otherwise? I'm also wondering if there's any other stations where a similar situation arises?Shocked

The sectional Appendix says that P2 at Camborne is 184 m long. It also says:
Quote
PLATFORMING OF PASSENGER TRAINS IN CORNWALL
Down trains. HSTs must normally be stopped with the TGS vehicle platformed. The Driver of an HST formed with eight trailer vehicles and TGS at the rear must stop the train with the leading driving cab opposite the 10 coach marker board.
At Camborne, however, HSTs formed with eight trailer vehicles must always be platformed so that the rear power car is clear of the level crossing.

Now seven cars plus the power car is 7x23+18=179 m, so you can't get coach A in. The wording does suggest that 7+2 should not cause a problem, without being explicit.

The expected accuracy of stopping at that point - which I don't know - might dictate that B could not be platformed reliably in practice, as suggested. I note that there is "a location of known low adhesion" just outside the station. That's actually on the Up Main, but does suggest this is not the easiest place to stop exactly where you want to.
Logged
Thatcham Crossing
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 793


View Profile
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2014, 09:06:52 »

Often see this at Thatcham. On the down platform, if the HST (High Speed Train) stops in the right place, at least 6 coaches are clearly platformed.

In my experience the doors are usually only opened on 5, although it does seem to vary. One TM(resolve) told me that is because of the curve in the platform and the ability to observe all doors that are open.

You'd think there would be an SOP (Standard Operating Instructions) by Station.
Logged
TRAINMAN57
Jr. Member
**
Posts: 28


View Profile Email
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2014, 11:08:42 »

This also the case at westbury on the up, only 6 coaches should be released if the signal is on(20m from said signal).So you have to position yourself at the rear of coach c, if signal is off then all doors can be released.
Logged
Andrew1939 from West Oxon
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 535


View Profile Email
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2014, 12:06:16 »

The SDO (Selective Door Opening) system on FGW (First Great Western) HSTs (High Speed Train) seems to vary from train to train. Here at Hanborough we have a 3 car platform. Some HSTs can stop with coaches A, B & C, doors unlocked. However some only allow the doors on two coaches to be unlocked. I am told that this is because on some trains the door unlocking is contolled for pairs of coaches and on such a train unlocking the doors of coach C would also mean unlocking the doors of coach D which would be off the end of the platform.
Logged
devon_metro
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5175



View Profile
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2014, 12:21:30 »

The SDO (Selective Door Opening) system on FGW (First Great Western) HSTs (High Speed Train) seems to vary from train to train. Here at Hanborough we have a 3 car platform. Some HSTs can stop with coaches A, B & C, doors unlocked. However some only allow the doors on two coaches to be unlocked. I am told that this is because on some trains the door unlocking is contolled for pairs of coaches and on such a train unlocking the doors of coach C would also mean unlocking the doors of coach D which would be off the end of the platform.

As I understand it the SDO system is fairly complex and only certain combinations of doors may be opened, depending on the last use of the SDO system. I'm sure somebody familiar with the system might be more familiar with it.
Logged
readytostart
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 607


View Profile
« Reply #6 on: December 16, 2014, 14:27:01 »

The way the XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) SDO (Selective Door Opening) system works on HSTs (High Speed Train) is all down to the location of the SDO panels within the train, generally of all the door control panels throughout the train only two per-side are SDO.
You have the option of opening the whole lot, doors in front of you (as you face the panel) or doors behind you.
As the Trailer Standard vehicles are all pretty similar and interchangeable you may find that they've been swapped round during maintenance over time, altering the exact position of door panels therefore affecting what doors are open at SDO stations, though the usual positioning allows for a five or two coach release.
Logged
Super Guard
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1308


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2014, 15:57:15 »

The Camborne situation I believe is all to do with not blocking the level crossing as the traffic builds up quickly.  In normal formation public doors for coaches A/B are usually platformed, TGS/Guards door is not.  The door panel to open between A & B is situated by the door in Coach A, so if the train is slightly past the stop-board you'll be unlocking an un-platformed door, and then you'd have to run back to B/C to open.

Of course if the train is in reverse, then the front passenger will definitely be off, and the risk again for the next set of doors still exists.

As readytostart says, door panel locations can change the situation too.  Where the emergency doors are in the buffet, there are no door panels, so heading towards London in the normal formation, then it was impossible to open 5 coaches (back in the day of 3 first/5 standard Wink).  Of course a mini-buffet has panels, so you can open 5.  Somewhere like Yatton which will easily take 5 coaches could see 4 or 5 being opened purely dependant on the buffet type.  A coach the wrong way round in a formation may cause no panels be available between two coaches, so reducing the number available.

There is a SDO (Selective Door Opening) master-guide to tell TM(resolve)'s how many coaches each platform will fit, and then it's up to their discretion/operating decisions on the day to implement.

As for the FGW (First Great Western) SDO technology, there is also a SDO-HOLD option.  "Basic" example.  As a TM, if you leave Newbury from the rear door, you are sending a door lock signal down the train.  When you arrive at Hungerford and only open the front 6 coaches because of the short platform, when you select doors AHEAD (facing what you are opening), that lock signal from the back of the train is still active, as it is not being cancelled by the doors being opened.  As a result, the front doors will open and when the TM removes their key, the doors will lock back-up again as the lock signal from Newbury is still active.  However, by selecting HOLD, those forward doors unlocked will stay unlocked and the key can be removed.  The TM MUST return to the panel where HOLD was selected to lock the train and dispatch.

However, if when leaving Newbury the TM locks from coach F, the lock signal is then sent from there.  So on arrival at Hungerford, they can open the doors ahead from coach F, and remove key and dispatch further down as the lock signal is then cancelled.  I would then lock from coach C at Hungerford, as 3 coaches at Bedwyn is next allowing me to open the 3 and move down, but by locking from D/E/F would then require HOLD to be used at Bedwyn.  Hopefully that explains a bit of the operating side of it, or just caused more confusion!  Cheesy
Logged

Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own.  I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.

If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 17865


I am not railway staff


View Profile Email
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2014, 00:33:21 »

Many thanks for posting an obviously very interesting and complex question, Kernowman - and may I offer you a warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum.  Smiley

Chris from Nailsea. (Another relatively short platform).  Wink Cheesy Grin
Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Kernowman
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 104


View Profile
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2014, 01:47:28 »

Firstly thanks for the responses.

The Camborne situation I believe is all to do with not blocking the level crossing as the traffic builds up quickly.  In normal formation public doors for coaches A/B are usually platformed, TGS/Guards door is not.  The door panel to open between A & B is situated by the door in Coach A, so if the train is slightly past the stop-board you'll be unlocking an un-platformed door, and then you'd have to run back to B/C to open.

- Very True, at Camborne there is a small gap between the level crossing and the start of the down platform but keeping the crossing clear is important.
Spot on about coaches A and B, thankyou - only the TGS/Guards door is not platformed - it usually stops around the platform ramp leaving all public doors platformed. The down platform is on a down gradient and an HST (High Speed Train) would have to overrun the stop board by at least two thirds of a coach length in order for the rear door of coach A to be off the platform.
I appreciate the complexities of SDO (Selective Door Opening) operation, when it comes to selective door opening, but I still say that if an eight coach HST, in correct formation that stops where it should at Camborne, shouldn't need any doors to be kept locked as the only door not platformed is the front of the TGS which is usually not for public use anyway.  

Km Shocked Wink
Logged
Super Guard
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1308


View Profile
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2014, 21:33:10 »

Many thanks for posting an obviously very interesting and complex question, Kernowman - and may I offer you a warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum.  Smiley

Chris from Nailsea. (Another relatively short platform).  Wink Cheesy Grin

4 coaches  Grin
Logged

Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own.  I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.

If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 9809



View Profile
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2014, 21:38:27 »

As well as the problems with panels being on hold, there's also the added complication with the panel at the end of the coaches with mini-buffets which is set up so you have to think twice as it is different to all the rest as it is backwards compared.  Caught at least one TM(resolve) out when Platform 7 at Reading was temporarily shortened.

Logged
Kernowman
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 104


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2014, 18:14:39 »

Interestingly, I did the 16.06 Pad - PZ 8 coach HST (High Speed Train) throughout at the end of last week and although the TM(resolve) announced that coaches A and B would be kept locked at Camborne he actually (safely) unlocked All doors at Camborne.  Shocked 
Logged
Louis94
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 446


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2014, 11:10:28 »

Interestingly, I did the 16.06 Pad - PZ 8 coach HST (High Speed Train) throughout at the end of last week and although the TM(resolve) announced that coaches A and B would be kept locked at Camborne he actually (safely) unlocked All doors at Camborne.  Shocked 

There is a similar situation at Totnes on the down platform, normally the rear coach of First Class remains locked - the rear door can sometimes be just off the platform. However the whole set can fit JUST depending on where the driver stops compared to the stop board, when all doors are platformed normally all doors are released as the train manager can see from where he is to do the SDO (Selective Door Opening).
Logged
FarWestJohn
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 235


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: December 26, 2014, 11:34:37 »

A bit off topic but short platforms that are short.

I had not realised until this year's Tall Ships event that Falmouth Town station could only take two cars.

For the event the Maritime line ran two 3 car trains which could not stop at Falmouth Town station.

I believe this station is recycled as it was previously Perranporth Beach Halt on the line from Chacewater to Newquay.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page