Role of the dispatcher
Brucey:
This may seem like a really stupid question, but what exactly is the role of the dispatcher (the person with the table tennis bat) at larger stations? It is something that I've always wondered but never worked out.
The reason I ask is that not all stations have them, so I assume the guard does their job at smaller stations. What do they do that the guard can't do? Also, what is the purpose of the table tennis bat thing? And does the table tennis bat thing actually have a name?
Henry:
'Train despatcher', platform staff, customer service assistant, used to be called porters many moons ago.
inspector_blakey:
At busy stations the dispatcher(s) assists the guard by closing doors (on slam door stock), or advising the guard when it is safe to close power operated doors. The dispatch bat/dispatch baton depending on how posh you are is used to give the "tip" to the guard that station duties are complete. According to the rule book this "all right" signal can also be given by raising one arm above the head*, although generally the bat is used because it's much more visible on a busy platform. The whistle itself is not a formal part of the "all right" handsignal, but is widely used both to attract the guard's attention if necessary and also to alert everyone present that the train is about to leave.
On a long train with a curved platform it can be difficult for the guard to see all of the doors at once, so having dispatch staff to assist saves the guard having to walk the full length of the train checking doors and therefore also saves time. When dispatching as HST, the dispatchers will first make sure all of the doors are properly closed, with the handles horizontal, then signal to the guard with the dispatch bat that it is OK to engage the secondary door locking. They will then carry out a second check of the doors, making sure they're correctly closed and that all of the orange lights have extinguished, before signalling once more to the guard who will then, as long as they are satisfied everything is in order, give the "right away" signal to the driver.
With driver-only trains at major stations (e.g. Reading) dispatchers will signal to the driver with a dispatch bat that is is safe to close the doors, then show a green flag once they have checked that all doors are closed and noone is trapped. In other places (e.g. Oxford) the platform starting signal has "CD" (close doors) and "RA" (right away) indicators that are operated by the platform staff in place of handsignals. White lights and green lights are used at night in place of dispatch bats and green flags respectively (although some of the more recent dispatch bats have built in handlamp signals).
Finally, dispatch staff together with guards and drivers are responsible for checking the platform starting signal (where there is one - often there will be a repeater that illuminates on the platform showing "OFF" when the signal is clear if it's not readily visible from the platform). This is designed to avoid so-called "ding ding and away" SPADs, where a train starts from a statio platform against a red signal.
Incidentally, should the need ever arise, a guard is fully competent to dispatch their own train from any station without the assistance of a dispatcher. However, as alluded to above, this will take extra time (imagine the implications of each HST running through Reading platform 4 sitting there for an extra minute or so...). Quite apart from the punctuality implications, I can't see the unions being too impressed by any attempt to reduce the role of dispatchers. dispatchers
*Apparently in days gone by staff would often use a rolled up newspaper instead of a dispatch bat, although I have no idea how true this story is!
Super Guard:
Quote from: Henry on February 09, 2010, 16:34:20
'Train despatcher', platform staff, customer service assistant, used to be called porters many moons ago.
Incorrect... Dispatcher/Platform Staff used to be called "Chargemen" in the "Good old days".
Porters carried bags for passengers, and there are none of those on the Railway anymore.
(ETA: There are plenty of platform staff that will happily assist with baggage where appropriate.)
JayMac:
Quote from: Donkey Guard on February 09, 2010, 17:19:35
Quote from: Henry on February 09, 2010, 16:34:20
'Train despatcher', platform staff, customer service assistant, used to be called porters many moons ago.
Incorrect... Dispatcher/Platform Staff used to be called "Chargemen" in the "Good old days".
Porters carried bags for passengers, and there are none of those on the Railway anymore.
(ETA: There are plenty of platform staff that will happily assist with baggage where appropriate.)
And yet, when I did agency work for FGW at BRI a couple of years ago, I was told by a couple of the permanent Service Delivery Assistants and Customer Service Assistants that I shouldn't help passengers with luggage as I wasn't paid to do that. They also told me that the RMT had told SDA/CSA's not to carry luggage, unless and until it was negotiated into contract terms.
Needless to say I ignored these old timers and helped out whenever I could. If I'm employed to offer Customer Service then that's what'll do.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page