How do signallers know which platform to send trains to?

[fandroid]

Agree in the most part, however that wouldn't really apply in your given example - where at Preston would passengers 'wait on the concourse'?

The general principal of "let them wait" only really applies to termini. Most through stations show the platform on the indicators and hope they don't have to change those at the last minute. However, the same "let them wait" disease applies to Heathrow Airport, which never tells anyone the gate number until about 30 minutes before takeoff. Other European hub airports aren't embarrassed to take the risk of a gate change, and show the allocated gate several hours ahead of time.

 

[Jimini]

However, the same "let them wait" disease applies to Heathrow Airport, which never tells anyone the gate number until about 30 minutes before takeoff.

More time in the lounge / bar

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

While from current experience in Italy the platform is shown in advance but is frequently and obviously incorrect

More seriously, most major European stations are worked far less intensively than their UK equivalents - but I agree, showing platform numbers (with a caveat) might be worth trialling.

There are some places - in my personal experience Westbury is by far the worst offender - where platform changes seem to be the rule rather than the exception! Turn up there any time but particularly in the evening peak, and it would be unusual not to see at least 50% of the departures screen flashing (I.e. to denote a platform alteration.) In this case I believe it is because of numerous signalling restrictions and overlaps at both ends of the station meaning that even the slightest late running can cause a long chain of changes to occur as the signallers strive to avoid delay. In this case it would be extremely unhelpful to give passengers any preconceptions about which platform to stand on.

Edit - to tie back into 30907’s observation - I bet there aren’t many 3-platform stations of similar size and nature on the continent with as intensive a service as Westbury, particularly after this May‘s change when the local service to Bristol becomes 3tph all day!

 

[zwk500]

The general principal of "let them wait" only really applies to termini. Most through stations show the platform on the indicators and hope they don't have to change those at the last minute.

Platform changes at through stations are much less likely to be needed of course as trains aren't terminating so less likely to swap sets or crew.

However, the same "let them wait" disease applies to Heathrow Airport, which never tells anyone the gate number until about 30 minutes before takeoff. Other European hub airports aren't embarrassed to take the risk of a gate change, and show the allocated gate several hours ahead of time.

UK Airports explicitly don't tell you the gate to maximise duty free revenues.

 

[306024]

Over the years much of the responsibility for planning platform allocations has moved from being locally planned to being planned by HQ train planners. Two main reasons, the spread of Automatic Route Setting, and delay attribution. But as mentioned, stations like Brighton, and Norwich, always have swaps on the day to suit units on and off for maintenance.

At Liverpool St there is some clever software being trialed for out of course running or platform blockages, which is claimed to have reduced delay minutes considerably.

As for calling it a ‘Docker’, (post #6) only ever heard of that in Scotland, it may be a phrase spreading south but it’s not a universal term.

 

[The Planner]

As for calling it a ‘Docker’, (post #6) only ever heard of that in Scotland, it may be a phrase spreading south but it’s not a universal term.

A&D book is another.