25 Sept Mirage at Liskeard.

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Erm ... I'm asking this as a complete novice on this subject, but would the coal train have had a headcode - that was perhaps entered wrongly by someone? 

Yes - when they used to run regularly from british coalfields they were class 7's when full and class 6's when returning empty. Though if the system only recognises class 1 and 2 passenger trains even if it was entered wrongly and happened to be another passenger trains headcode then it should have displayed that train rather than the freight train.

Like I say it was in the early days and I'm sure several patches have been applied to the software since, BUT it remains a fact that as soon as disruption hits a certain level, these automated systems really struggle to cope.

All Didcot powerstations are 6xxx Loaded and 4xxx empty

[r james]

I guess eventually,a more modern system will be used to identify the actual trains which are arriving etc.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes - when they used to run regularly from british coalfields they were class 7's when full and class 6's when returning empty. Though if the system only recognises class 1 and 2 passenger trains even if it was entered wrongly and happened to be another passenger trains headcode then it should have displayed that train rather than the freight train.

All Didcot powerstations are 6xxx Loaded and 4xxx empty

That's right - though they were class 7's when loaded back in the HAA hopper days - imagine the pathing problems you'd get now slotting all those 45mph coal trains in amongst the Chilterns and Voyagers between Leamington and Banbury!

[Tim]

CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) sometimes goes wrong, it's fact of life.

Sorry Ollie, but I don't agree.   If we settle for second best that is what we are guaranteed to get. 

[Ollie]

Find me something that is perfect.
CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) can go wrong for a variety of reasons whether it be down to human error or technical error.
The key would be to notice where things do go wrong, find a solution to stop it from happening again.

But it is my belief that nothing can be 100% perfect all the time.

[Tim]

Nothing is perfect, and I supose that it is unrealistic for the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) to be working all of the time.  Computers fail, get vandalised, fuses blow etc, but when it is working I don't think it is unrealistic for the information to be 100% (or at least 99.999%) acurate.  No infomation is far preferable to teh wrong information.  The repeat failures (such as the ones at Exeter mentioned below) are particularly inexcusible. 

[Ollie]

I can agree regarding the comment about trains from Barnstaple when they get to Exeter. But faults like that rely on it being reported. I wouldn't have anyway of knowing if it has been, maybe the staff at that particular station know, and if they have reported it then they may have been told if anything being done about it.

[Tim]

It all comes down to good management.  The staff at Exeter ought to know about the fault.  Either they havn't reported it because they are demotivated and don't belive that it would be put right if they did or they have reported it and nothing has happened which only serves to demotive them and discourage them from reporting problems in the future.

[G.Uard]

The travelling Doris can be a nightmare, particularly when some playful colleague broadcasts the "full ticket check" message...at Lawrence Hill on a rush hour, inbound, 3 car 158.