What's the guard checking for before opening the doors?

[offpeakenquiry]

(I'd have asked the guard myself, but he was busy opening the doors and I was busy rushing off the train...)

On East Coast trains, the guard opens the single door they're at, looks up and down the train to check for something, and then opens all the other doors. I can understand checking if you're closing all the doors, to make sure people aren't still boarding, but what could cause a problem when you're opening them?

There must be a good reason for it, but I can't think of one!

 

[Johncleesefan]

I'm not a guard but would say checking all doors are on the platform and the platform train interface (pti) is clear for all doors to be open

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Most guards on all trains do this, or at least should!

If nothing else, it is to ensure the train is stopped in the right place and that no carriages are beyond the platform edge. All too easy for a distracted or partially sighted passenger to open the doors and step out into thin air.

 

[Darandio]

(I'd have asked the guard myself, but he was busy opening the doors and I was busy rushing off the train...)

On East Coast trains, the guard opens the single door they're at, looks up and down the train to check for something, and then opens all the other doors. I can understand checking if you're closing all the doors, to make sure people aren't still boarding, but what could cause a problem when you're opening them?

There must be a good reason for it, but I can't think of one!

Making sure the train is stopped in the correct position, you don't want to release the doors for people to walk off into oblivion!

 

[offpeakenquiry]

And that's really obvious in hindsight. Thank you for the swift replies, that makes a lot of sense!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

For one thing, to make sure all doors are next to the platform which might not be the case if the driver has overrun or stopped short. At some stations there's very little margin for error. I'm not staff but there's probably other things they need to keep an eye out for too. Even if things only go wrong once in a blue moon, when it does the staff have to be responsible for the safety of their passengers.

 

[LowLevel]

It's to check the train is platformed. Where we are opening the local door first is optional though. I don't bother very often as my route knowledge tells me we're platformed. If you're not sure you can make the check to be sure. If I'm at the back of a train going into a terminal platform or at the back of a 2 car set where I always stop next to a certain bin or whatever I know I'm on. If I'm working an unusual length or train or the stop feels wrong (driver obviously chucking the anchors in or I feel the train slide etc) then I make the check.

 

[Adam0984]

Also all hell could be breaking loose on the platform you don't want to let passengers off into an unsafe situation

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Also all hell could be breaking loose on the platform you don't want to let passengers off into an unsafe situation

 

[Pinza-C55]

Most guards on all trains do this, or at least should!

If nothing else, it is to ensure the train is stopped in the right place and that no carriages are beyond the platform edge. All too easy for a distracted or partially sighted passenger to open the doors and step out into thin air.

It's obligatory that you have to step out on the platform and a sufficient distance from the train that you can see it in it's entirety. In my day the guard's inspectors would hide out at some stations and try to catch you not doing this.

 

[the sniper]

It's obligatory that you have to step out on the platform and a sufficient distance from the train that you can see it in it's entirety. In my day the guard's inspectors would hide out at some stations and try to catch you not doing this.

As has been said up thread, there are places where local instructions mean the Guard doesn't have to step out first. As such it isn't obligatory everywhere.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

It's obligatory that you have to step out on the platform and a sufficient distance from the train that you can see it in it's entirety. In my day the guard's inspectors would hide out at some stations and try to catch you not doing this.

They still do. its called unobtrusive monitoring and they have to monitor you doing door procedure at least once a year.

 

[Pumbaa]

It's to check the train is platformed. Where we are opening the local door first is optional though. I don't bother very often as my route knowledge tells me we're platformed. If you're not sure you can make the check to be sure. If I'm at the back of a train going into a terminal platform or at the back of a 2 car set where I always stop next to a certain bin or whatever I know I'm on. If I'm working an unusual length or train or the stop feels wrong (driver obviously chucking the anchors in or I feel the train slide etc) then I make the check.

A refreshingly confident and competent answer. If only there were more!

 

[wellwhatitis]

As has been said up thread, there are places where local instructions mean the Guard doesn't have to step out first. As such it isn't obligatory everywhere.

LM Cross City 6 cars have green lines painted on the platform at many stations. As long as both centre cabs are in the confines of the line the Guard is allowed to release the doors without stepping down. It's the only exception I know of and is to aid punctuality. Not that the Cross City is often punctual, but that is mainly down to New St.

The irony is that on a 3 car, even if the cab lands on the green line you are still obliged to step down which seems completely illogical to me.

 

[scott118]

having watched 'THE EDGE' at work, i can assure you that, he is making sure no one is about to steal his sandwiches, when his back is turned dealing with customers on his platform.

GA use a stop, step out, release, system of safety, when opening their doors, to ensure the train is complete & within the platform limits..

 

[the sniper]

LM Cross City 6 cars have green lines painted on the platform at many stations. As long as both centre cabs are in the confines of the line the Guard is allowed to release the doors without stepping down. It's the only exception I know of and is to aid punctuality. Not that the Cross City is often punctual, but that is mainly down to New St.

The irony is that on a 3 car, even if the cab lands on the green line you are still obliged to step down which seems completely illogical to me.

Indeed.

I'm sure I read on here that SWT don't require Guards to step down before releasing the doors anymore...?

 

[Matt Taylor]

That's correct, we can release the doors before opening the local door. It is at out own discretion and there appears to be an encouragement for us to do it as much as possible as it assists performance.

 

[Pinza-C55]

As has been said up thread, there are places where local instructions mean the Guard doesn't have to step out first. As such it isn't obligatory everywhere.

Which places ?

 

[reb0118]

As has been said up thread, there are places where local instructions mean the Guard doesn't have to step out first. As such it isn't obligatory everywhere.

Try that North o' the Border and there's a good chance you'll get your jotters. Horses for courses though.

 

[mbreckers]

Try that North o' the Border and there's a good chance you'll get your jotters. Horses for courses though.

Never have I seen a conductor not do the platform check before releasing the doors

Edit: I'm from Scotland and roll with ScotRail

 

[Starmill]

Isn't it now the majority of trains that operate with driver door release? This is quicker because this step is not necessary.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Making sure the train is stopped in the correct position, you don't want to release the doors for people to walk off into oblivion!

In the old days of Deltics and Mark 1s I was on a northbound train which stopped at Northallerton OOC and was full so I was standing in the vestibule. A girl near me was getting off there and she swung the door open without a care in the world and let out a little yelp as she fell to the ballast.

 

[the sniper]

Which places ?

Well there's the SWT example in the post before your's, which I appreciate you may have missed due to it being posted 3 minutes before your post, but did you miss the LM example posted by 'wellwhatitis' an hour previous to your post?

 

[Sapphire Blue]

I always thought it was to allow any impatient idiots more time to repeatedly press the door opening button before the light comes on.

 

[oldman]

I always thought it was to allow any impatient idiots more time to repeatedly press the door opening button before the light comes on.

And I always thought it was to annoy long-suffering fare-paying customers who wonder why it takes the lethargic idiots such a long time to release the doors .

 

[crehld]

Why does practice vary by TOC? Doing the doors is often cited as a safety critical task, so if that's the case why isn't there some sort of national standard?

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Why does practice vary by TOC? Doing the doors is often cited as a safety critical task, so if that's the case why isn't there some sort of national standard?

Standards are also combined with Local instructions.

Example

Mcr Piccadilly & Victoria Green Flag

Chester, Crewe, Normal Despatch

 

[Phil.]

Why does practice vary by TOC? Doing the doors is often cited as a safety critical task, so if that's the case why isn't there some sort of national standard?

Because - apparently - each TOC seems to believe that their way is best. Truth is, the best and safest way is for the Driver to be in control of the door release and the Guard/Conductor to be in charge of door closing. As for the Driver - as has been mentioned in other posts - forgetting/not realising that the train is longer/shorter than at first thought - a simple liason pre-journey chat with the Guard/Conductor like wot we used to do should sort that out. As for joining/detaching en-route goes...."hello mate, that's (insert number of coaches) we've got now".
Seemples! (but now someone will complicate it)

 

[Welshman]

In the old days of Deltics and Mark 1s I was on a northbound train which stopped at Northallerton OOC and was full so I was standing in the vestibule. A girl near me was getting off there and she swung the door open without a care in the world and let out a little yelp as she fell to the ballast.

Ah - the good old days, when you'd pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and think that was a silly thing to do. I'll be more careful in future.

Today it's on the mobile to the lawyer and sue everyone in sight.

 

[jon0844]

It's to check the train is platformed. Where we are opening the local door first is optional though. I don't bother very often as my route knowledge tells me we're platformed. If you're not sure you can make the check to be sure. If I'm at the back of a train going into a terminal platform or at the back of a 2 car set where I always stop next to a certain bin or whatever I know I'm on. If I'm working an unusual length or train or the stop feels wrong (driver obviously chucking the anchors in or I feel the train slide etc) then I make the check.

What happens if Network Rail moves some of the platform furniture, or moves some benches to make way for a new shelter etc?