Splitting and Joining EMUs

[LondonLarry]

I'm used to seeing SWT and LM splitting trains in station platforms, but they do it differently. Is there a 'correct' way to do it?

On SWT (with 444s & 450s), all the passenger doors remain closed whilst a train is detached.

On LM (with 350s), only the portion that's actually moving will have the passenger doors closed. The stationary portion will have its doors open for boarding/alighting.

When portions join, SWT seem to do the attachement much quicker than LM. Invaribly with LM, it can take several minutes before both portions are attached and available for passengers.

 

[SWT Driver]

There's an instruction on SWT that states that the doors MUST be closed on both of the trains that are to be coupled, however I know from experience that it doesn't matter if the doors are open on one set.

The reason behind this is it can throw up a fault on the TMS. This means the trains then need to be uncoupled & doors closed on both sets & done again, if it doesn't clear it then the trains will have to run separately & driver gets a bollocking for not doing it correctly.

The LM 350's may have different firmware, one which allows you to couple with the doors in release.

Personally, I prefer it if the doors are closed before coupling up as it stops idiots jumping in & out and screwing the doors up & giving door faults.

For detaching, all doors must be closed for the driver to get TI, NO TI, Brakes are in emergency & impossible to uncouple without doing a safety override, which of course would mean the unit then goes OOS.

 

[class377man]

On Southern the first unit(s) pulls in, loads/unloads, the rear unit(s) do the same, the doors are locked and the units join, then the doors are re-opened for a minute or two before the full 8/12 coach train leaves.

I remember once the guard of a particularly busy London bound train encouraged everyone who had been standing still for forever and a day to stretch their legs at Haywards Heath during the attachment

 

[MCR247]

A couple of years back, it was a sunday and my SWT from Portsmouth was coupling to the Poole section at Eastleigh. Our set was there first, and the doors opened. I wanted to see them attach and go off. The doors were still open when the poole section coupled.

 

[Pumbaa]

Invaribly with LM, it can take several minutes before both portions are attached and available for passengers.

That's because LM is shocking. Northampton right? I wouldn't trust half the staff there with three barge poles stuck together.

 

[EltonRoad]

Units are often split and detached at Cambridge, on FCC trains to and from King's Cross. They always lock all the doors first, and recently I noticed an announcement asking you to sit down and stow all your belongings. It's pretty quick though, a couple of jolts and it's done!

 

[Voyager 2093]

At Gatwick Airport some southern service split and ones goes to Bournemouth and one to Brighton.

 

[CJ]

may not be EMU's but i was on a TPE service to Barrow-In-Furness & Blackpool North yesterday and when the train arrived at Preston, they let the passangers off the train first then they closed the doors and then the train split. After that, they opened the doors again. :?

In my opinion, I think that when the train/s arrive, they should split first and then open the doors.

 

[Aictos]

When I have units joining at Hertford North, I much prefer the waiting unit to be locked out of use then after both are attached properly then let the driver release the doors on the right side of course.

 

[thefab444]

At Gatwick Airport some southern service split and ones goes to Bournemouth and one to Brighton.

I don't think so. Southern haven't served Bournemouth since 2003! And besides, they didn't run as portions off of Brighton services even when they did.

 

[Daimler]

may not be EMU's but i was on a TPE service to Barrow-In-Furness & Blackpool North yesterday and when the train arrived at Preston, they let the passangers off the train first then they closed the doors and then the train split. After that, they opened the doors again. :?

In my opinion, I think that when the train/s arrive, they should split first and then open the doors.

Perhaps not a smart move, if someone has a tight connection to make!

 

[class377man]

At Gatwick Airport some southern service split and ones goes to Bournemouth and one to Brighton.

I don't think so. Southern haven't served Bournemouth since 2003! And besides, they didn't run as portions off of Brighton services even when they did.

I've never known anything to split at Gatwick either.

 

[Pumbaa]

At Gatwick Airport some southern service split and ones goes to Bournemouth and one to Brighton.

Trains to Soton and Portsmouth that are meant to split at Horsham, will if late running, split at Gatwick with the fast portion going straight through to Horsham to regain time, with the slow portion calling at all shacks on old schedule.

 

[mathmo]

Units are often split and detached at Cambridge, on FCC trains to and from King's Cross. They always lock all the doors first, and recently I noticed an announcement asking you to sit down and stow all your belongings. It's pretty quick though, a couple of jolts and it's done!

Indeed, but they usually are poor at informing passengers what's going on: I've rarely spotted "front 4 coaches only for stations beyond Cambridge" (or equivalent) on the departures board at either Cambridge or King's Cross, at Cambridge everyone crams onto the ex-ECS when there may be more space on the inbound train, and various people on the platform are often confused/worried when the doors close a few minutes before the train is scheduled to depart...
My last time northbound they only informed passengers of the split on the approach to Cambridge, so I hope no-one missed it!

 

[MCR247]

I've never known anything to split at Gatwick either.

I said Eastleigh, I think you quoted the wrong post

 

[Old Timer]

Looking back a few years, the Southern Region were absolute experts at splitting and joining up EMU services, and it was a pleasure to watch how expertly it was done, courtesy of the high level brake pipes, which of course was the reason for this speed.

Whilst we did break and make trains on the Great Eastern (Clacton/Walton being the obvious) the fact was that we did not have the number of splits that the Southern had, which made their operation so very slick.

Hats off to them.

 

[Helvellyn]

I've had experience of the SWT policy not being followed. Picked up a Portsmouth/Poole train at Eastleigh. Guard on Portsmouth half closed his doors as the Poole part arrived. Unfortunately the Guard on the Poole half put the door release up too quick after the attachment (whilst the two units TMS's were synchronising) and we started getting TMS faults on departure. By Basingstoke there were four screens worth and we lost time doing a reboot of the system.

One of the reasons for closing the doors is to stop someone getting on/off during the attachment and possibly injuring themselves during any jolt. There shouldn't be one if done correctly, but it can happen.

 

[jopsuk]

The 365s joining at Cambridge always seems to be a rather violent affair, with the "stationary" unit moving considerably. I've also seen it not work, in the morning peak!

 

[mathmo]

The 365s joining at Cambridge always seems to be a rather violent affair, with the "stationary" unit moving considerably. I've also seen it not work, in the morning peak!

Oh dear. It took them three attempts last time I watched!

 

[jon0844]

Along with 'late' passengers panicking that they've missed the train because the doors don't work - and then walking away when the train is coupled and the doors are re-activated for a short bit before departure!

 

[class377man]

I said Eastleigh, I think you quoted the wrong post

You're correct. Clever me

Fixed now.

 

[mackenzie_blu]

FCC rule on spilting/joining services is to have the doors closed until its completed then open the doors. Southeastern from my experience it isn't tthis way as seen in the bays at Blackfriars many time when the Networkers join. They really do jolt as well.

 

[SWT Driver]

When I know I've got to couple up "loaded" I just activate the appropriate PIS system announcement, then as I come in stop 6' away, 3' away, 1' away then just use minimum power which is about 5% to go on gently but firmly & positively.

By doing it that way, it's very rare for me to get any faults up at all, such as mechanically coupled only & one or two others.

 

[CJ]

Perhaps not a smart move, if someone has a tight connection to make!

Well the class 185s dont have gangways (sadly) and people who boarded the rear 3 coaches thought it was going to Blackpool but instead it was going to Barrow so they had to get off at Preston and get to the front 3 coaches asap. :P

 

[slick]

I can tell you a 350 can happily be detatched with say an 8 car becoming 2 4car units with only the four that will remain locked and the front four open for boarding. The driver simply keys in at the north end of rear unit, closes off the gangway and uncouples. It is then common practice to UPC the cab that is now the rear of the front unit

Coupling on the other hand is a much more complex and sometimes long process with varying results. One of the things I wont miss working there :roll:. A few points though and things ive learned over the past year.

*All doors must be closed. As explained earlier by a previous poster a desiro will have an electronic fit if you try otherwise.

*Even if the doors have been closed on the outside via porter buttons the driver must STILL get door control and press the close doors button and confirm interlock. Sometimes and only sometimes the TMS seems to think the doors arent closed even when they are, resulting in more TMS mayhem. A classic was 3 four cars into a 12, driver went to release the doors and only the middle set opened!

* Passengers should not be allowed on the train whilst coupling although this has all but gone out the window because of LMs turnaround times on some services. The majority of drivers make an announcement to say the doors will be closing for a short period whilst coupling, some say they want them all off, and guess who has to tell them all :roll:

* Joining to a unit where a PASScom has been pulled will not work.

* Coupling on bends is highly discouraged.

350s often throw up a myriad of failures, alerts, only to clear when opening up the desk again even when coupling isn't involved. Very unpredictable units. As far as i know SWT are much better at this process and again as some one has stated the software on the SWT Desiros may be a different variation.

321's on the other hand were great. Whether open, closed, wet, dry, clean dirty, stick them together check both butterflies were out, check brake pressure continuity and bobs you uncle, 2 become one.

 

[SWT Driver]

The reason you get so many problems is because you're using the external body end door buttons, if you leave it to the driver to close the doors by using the internal door close buttons in the cab then you won't have half the problems.

SWT has banned the use of the external body end door close buttons.

 

[slick]

The reason you get so many problems is because you're using the external body end door buttons, if you leave it to the driver to close the doors by using the internal door close buttons in the cab then you won't have half the problems.

SWT has banned the use of the external body end door close buttons.

The problem with that is simply because we were always taught and told locking off units etc was our responsibility. These values have been passed along from silverlink when it probably wasn't an issue many years ago as 321's are no nonsense, no TMS etc.

It was expected of us dispatchers to carry out these duties and always has been to the point drivers expect you to do it and if you don't, well....you was seen as being lazy.

To make matters worse all platform staff and drivers have different ways of doing things and when I joined I found myself constantly having to adapt the way I worked to get even simple things done.

I definitely agree about the external controls though. That's why as I stated drivers must confirm the doors closed and interlock even if the doors were locked from outside, which has solved many coupling issues. Id love to see drivers do the whole lot though, their faces....

 

[Aictos]

At my station, the local ruling has changed for the worse as drivers are no longer considered reliable enough to properly secure a terminator especially ones which then form ECS's as it's now the sole responsibility of the platform bod to secure the whole train as directed by management.

This of course is due to some thoughful passenger making a false complaint of being overcarried and instead of going though proper channels ie though Customer Services first, he went straight to the RIAB and to FCC Director level which hacked off a few people.

There never used to be a problem and I'm not having a go at drivers in particular but that's what we've been told to do.

 

[jon0844]

Thank forums/consumer TV shows for telling people the first way to complain is to the MD!

It does usually work though, to be fair, so no wonder people choose this against going via customer services.

 

[Old Timer]

At my station, the local ruling has changed for the worse as drivers are no longer considered reliable enough to properly secure a terminator especially ones which then form ECS's as it's now the sole responsibility of the platform bod to secure the whole train as directed by management.

This of course is due to some thoughful passenger making a false complaint of being overcarried and instead of going though proper channels ie though Customer Services first, he went straight to the RIAB and to FCC Director level which hacked off a few people.

There never used to be a problem and I'm not having a go at drivers in particular but that's what we've been told to do.

It is the Driver's responsibility to take a unit out of service and stable it, not platform staff, no matter how competent they may be.

This is potentially a HMRI Inspectors field for further investigation.

What does the Union have to say about this ?