Questions about these screens ...

[whole diary]

[grahame]

a) Can they be programmed to display "the next train does not stop here - please stand back"

b) Can they make announcements (over a limited area, of course)

c) I've noticed "communication error" messages up a bit too often for my liking - though my main experience is of the Melksham machine.  Also seen it at Saltash.  Do others display this error message rather than train times very often?

[bobm]

I was heartened to see the screen at Melksham working just before nine this morning.

Sadly my joy was short lived - it had failed by lunchtime. 

[JayMac]

The screen at Newquay was showing the "Communication error" message on both days I was there earlier this week. I reported it on day 1.

[LiskeardRich]

The speakers are quite loud. I assume an announcement could be made. They contain a phone line for the help point to connect. So dial the units telephone number and talk through it, assuming it auto answers.

[JayMac]

Since coming across a list of Help Point numbers (which appear to be PSTN) I've been tempted to call one of them whilst nearby, to see what happens.

Fear that there might be some byelaw or other other law I'd be breaking has tempered my curiosity.

[broadgage]

Since coming across a list of Help Point numbers (which appear to be PSTN) I've been tempted to call one of them whilst nearby, to see what happens.

Fear that there might be some byelaw or other other law I'd be breaking has tempered my curiosity.

I would be tempted to try it !
Provided that you don't try anything obviously malicious or rude it would be very difficult to prove any wrongdoing.
 "it was a wrong number your honour"
I doubt that you can actually talk to it with any result, probably data only.

[Richard Fairhurst]

a) Can they be programmed to display "the next train does not stop here - please stand back"

They're just web browsers with a mobile connection - they can in theory display anything you like. There's a central site for them with several pre-baked layouts, but showing something different should (in theory!) just require altering the code running on the server, rather than anything actually on the unit itself.

[bobm]

Perhaps they could alter the code so when in failure mode it shows the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) logo rather than First Great Western....

[grahame]

a) Can they be programmed to display "the next train does not stop here - please stand back"

They're just web browsers with a mobile connection - they can in theory display anything you like. There's a central site for them with several pre-baked layouts, but showing something different should (in theory!) just require altering the code running on the server, rather than anything actually on the unit itself.

I've taken a look through all the standard formats ... and none of them includes trains passing without stopping, I'm afraid.  That data's not in the XML source either.   They CAN display an extra messages added by 'control' (?) such as telling people that buses and taxis are on the way;  that's not used as quickly and routinely as I would like, but it is there.  For every case of "next train DOES NOT STOP" that would potentially be a lot of effort and I suspect the best solution would be a yellow line ...  [[ should have noted - original question based on a case of someone straying rather near the platform edge ... getting a bit of a fright as an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) came though - "I thought all trains stopped here" ]]

[ellendune]

The systems at larger stations have a "please stand back as the next train does not stop" message so there must be a code in that system. Is it a different system?

[Richard Fairhurst]

I've taken a look through all the standard formats ... and none of them includes trains passing without stopping, I'm afraid.  That data's not in the XML source either.

I believe that the HTML^▸ (Hypertext Markup Language) page sent to the screens, as currently specified, can be told to show a general warning in large text in the blue section at the top. Here's a local example right now: http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/rendercis.asp?file=3053C6.xml (this may change by the time anyone clicks on the link, of course!). So GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) could configure this to say "Fast trains are passing through Melksham today without stopping - please stand back from the platform edge."

But really, what I was getting at was more that the answer to "can they be programmed" is surely yes, they can, if GWR pay ATOS Worldline some money to do so.

(For those unaware what we're talking about, take a look at http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/ - a departure board on your very own monitor!)

[John R]

Going back to the issue that caused the question, I would have thought the driver of a fast through train should sound his horn if there are passengers close to the platform edge, or are heading in that direction. More so if the driver knows that the route is somewhat unusual, so passengers are less likely to be expecting the fast service.

[bobm]

He/she did!

It is a bit of an optical illusion but an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) approaching from the south does not appear to be going that fast when it gets close to the platform at Melksham.  In reality it is probably doing 40 to 60mph.

[Bmblbzzz]

Yellow line: I thought every platform which fast trains pass without stopping, even occasionally, had one. I would have taken the absence of a yellow line to mean that all trains stop or pass slowly.

[bobm]

Melksham hasn't yet....