SDO - seems bad.

[whole diary]

[Jim]

I have many a time helped the guard out on the 17.33 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-PGN. When the old Valenta power cars did that service, if one was on the front and I was on the service, I would do it all the way down to Paignton(staying at the front), this in turn put me at the front, and the TM^‡(resolve) on the coach nearest to the buffet (where he would then revert to on departure). Thus he was at the back, I was at the front made for a timley dispatch after each station, as hardly any doors got closed. When you were late, it was even more useful, along with the driver who would give plently of 'thrash'!

It worked quite well, as quite a few of the stations loaded from the front. More than once I got a nice can of coke or 2 on the Paignton-Newton Abbot return leg!


Thats enough of me babbling on!

[smokey]

I saw a Delayed PZ-Padd HST^▸ (High Speed Train) arrive at Truro, as manaul announcements had been made about first class at the front trailing to coach A at the rear before the train arrived, it took about 30 seconds for about 20-30 to alight and about 120 to get on including a Wheel chair, and as the announcement had finished with please close the doors after you board, from stop to start the train was stationary for less than 1 minute so even with SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) delays can be avoided.

[willc]

The big day for the changeover to stopping all HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) with standard class coaches on short platforms will be Sunday, May 18, the start of the summer timetable, according to Mike Carroll, the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) London and Thames Valley route director, at Friday's meeting in Charlbury.

[eightf48544]

From smokey

"However after the Sleeper fleet of MKIII's were buit early 80's, we then saw the MKIII Wessex Electric (London-Weymouth) and MKIII coaches for Ireland, with PLUG DOORS so who told porkies.

More to the point wouldn't PLUG doors save a lot of station dwell time, untill a door fails of course!!!! "
 
Power operated plug doors are probably the only real solution to this problem  but I can't see that happening as we are going to get the all singing all dancing IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.). Alternatively  would it be possible to remove the outer  catch which is what seems to cause of some of the problems, the door appears shut (not swinging) but is on outer catch only so has to be either  pushed/kicked shut quite heavily or reopened and slammed.

Which is why HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) supurb trains that they are, are  really Intercity stock, not semifast or commuter stock they should run for at least 30 minutes betwen stops.

[Btline]

I suggested having the doors on springs earlier, and the addition of an interior handle (so the windows could be sealed shut).

But someone said that they would find it too difficult to push the door open!

[Conner]

(so the windows could be sealed shut).

NO! AHH, all the head out potential lost! 

[Mookiemoo]

(so the windows could be sealed shut).

NO! AHH, all the head out potential lost! 

Nothing nicer on a hot summer evening to stick ones head out of the window on the approach to a station

Safety note:  Always do this FACING the direction of travel, withdraw ones head if there is ANY obstacle within 6 ft of the train, do not do this when travelling at full speed!

KEEP THE WINDOWS

[Conner]

You are safer having your head out of the window for the whole journey than just sticking it out as you can see what is coming, the safety notices fail to say that.

[devon_metro]

(so the windows could be sealed shut).

NO! AHH, all the head out potential lost! 

Nothing nicer on a hot summer evening to stick ones head out of the window on the approach to a station

Safety note:  Always do this FACING the direction of travel, withdraw ones head if there is ANY obstacle within 6 ft of the train, do not do this when travelling at full speed!

KEEP THE WINDOWS

Amateurs

Personally I think waving to family through the open windows is an iconic image of rail travel these days and shouldn't be lost for the health and safety brigade.

[Andy W]

Rather than use SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) I think they should guarantee anyone who gets out of the train from a door that is not by a platform will be nominated for a 'Darwin Award'. http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/
If anyone wants a good laugh read about Lawnchair Larry. 

[Btline]

It would be a shame to see the windows go, but I still think that handles should be put inside - many people don't know how to open the doors (the window says "Do not lean out etc.").

My other rationale for sealing the windows would be to help regulate the temperature in the passenger saloon (i.e. make the air con/heating more effective) AND make the coaches quieter. Unfortunately, people do not shut the windows, and they are not on an upward spring!

[devon_metro]

Some windows have springs although for obvious reasons are not that strong.

[Conner]

Some windows have springs although for obvious reasons are not that strong.

I think all did but many no longer work.

[Btline]

Some do - but only spring halfway up, useless (and uncomfortable for the poor person nearby!).

[Chris from Nailsea]

There are some advantages to having windows that can be opened if necessary, however:

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/3127447.stm

Quote
"These new trains did not have windows that could open so it was like a greenhouse effect. The air conditioning broke down and we were left with almost no air inside the carriages. It was intolerable."

and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2739939.stm

Quote
As the air-conditioning had stopped working and all the windows were sealed, he said, passengers first opened the doors via the emergency locks.  But they were later told they were about to be towed back to Waterloo, so the doors were closed and locked for safety.  But then the train did not move, he said. "We sat around for another two hours and that was when we had to break the windows because the only doors that we could open were on the side of the track that other trains were passing us by on.  Rather than being foolish and opening them on that side, we just smashed windows in order to get some air back into the place."