"Doors will open on the left hand side" - whose left?

[Russel]

You see a sign that looks like:

<——- Doors opening on the right

Is that not more confusing?

Is it too much to expect that someone will remember which side the arrow was pointing at?

But if they were, the screens facing the opposite direction will still having arrows point to the same side of the train, just with the word ‘left’ or ‘right’ switched.

Arrows are adding complexity to something that should be really simple, a simple uniform message on every screen regardless of where it is stating which side the doors will open in, in the direction of travel.

Really don't see why we're trying to make things difficult.

 

[JamesT]

Arrows are adding complexity to something that should be really simple, a simple uniform message on every screen regardless of where it is stating which side the doors will open in, in the direction of travel.

Really don't see why we're trying to make things difficult.

I think this is going to have to be one of those ones where we have to agree to disagree.

I cannot comprehend how you can think an arrow is making it more complex. An arrow is obvious, can be understood by anyone with no requirement to understand English, and has no requirement for someone to work out which direction the train is going in. It is literally pointing at the side the doors will open as you look at it.

 

[Russel]

I think this is going to have to be one of those ones where we have to agree to disagree.

I cannot comprehend how you can think an arrow is making it more complex. An arrow is obvious, can be understood by anyone with no requirement to understand English, and has no requirement for someone to work out which direction the train is going in. It is literally pointing at the side the doors will open as you look at it.

I'm not suggesting an arrow on it's own is making anything complex, I'm suggesting different screens displaying different messages depending on which screen you're looking at is needlessly complex, it simply isn't needed, it is what has lead to this thread in the first place.

Using the direction of travel is all that is needed.

 

[takno]

I'm not suggesting an arrow on it's own is making anything complex, I'm suggesting different screens displaying different messages depending on which screen you're looking at is needlessly complex, it simply isn't needed, it is what has lead to this thread in the first place.

Using the direction of travel is all that is needed.

I think it's fair to say that screens which disagree with each other are confusing. Screens which say something will be on the right when it's actually going to be on the screen's left are also confusing. The best way to avoid both types of confusion is to not use the word left or right at all on screens, and instead have an arrow pointing in the right direction relative to the screen.

For screens mounted parallel with the side of the train, such as above doors, I think it makes more sense to say "this side" or "the other side" (or something similar).

 

[tfw756rider]

The best way to avoid both types of confusion is to not use the word left or right at all on screens, and instead have the right direction relative to the screen.

Or the correct direction

 

[Itsjustesh]

I feel like they should just have arrows pointing on where the doors will open.

 

[TUC]

I still suspect this is an issue where over 99% of passengers have no difficulty understanding what is meant.

 

[PGAT]

The 1% that don't understand it's the direction of travel will just read the room and follow the what everyone else does. If they had some kind of visual impairment where they couldn't achieve this then an arrow wouldn't help either.

 

[185]

Just on the other side of the globe, and this train just announced doors open on the right.

I'm guessing 95% understand it, and for the 5% who don't they'll follow the others.

 

[tfw756rider]

Just on the other side of the globe, and this train just announced doors open on the right.

What's just on the other side of the globe (presumably from the UK)?

 

[TUC]

The 1% that don't understand it's the direction of travel will just read the room and follow the what everyone else does. If they had some kind of visual impairment where they couldn't achieve this then an arrow wouldn't help either.

It's actually hard when you're visually impaired to figure out from a crowd of people at the doors which side they're standing on. An audible left/right announcement is helpful.

i don't think the 1% are visually impaired people. It's those who are overthinking what left/right means.

 

[Russel]

It's actually hard when you're visually impaired to figure out from a crowd of people at the doors which side they're standing on. An audible left/right announcement is helpful.

i don't think the 1% are visually impaired people. It's those who are overthinking what left/right means.

Depends on the visual impairment, I have one and don't have an issue working out which way a crowd moves.

I doubt, in reality, even 1% are getting confused by which left is left or right is right, you'll have a few people who over think it, the rest won't care or won't be paying attention.

 

[Krokodil]

In practice it's very difficult to determine what drives it, if it's the door release or something else related to it.

On 197s it's triggered by door release at multi-platform stations. Also when running "bang road" (during engineering work for example) the signs will show the normal side and update when the guard releases the "wrong side" (but right in this circumstance) doors.

 

[The exile]

Depends on the visual impairment, I have one and don't have an issue working out which way a crowd moves.

Doesn’t help of course if you’re the only one getting off.
As with various other things, the issue is complicated by the apparent insistence on using the same wording for announcements and displays - that’s not how language works.

 

[185]

What's just on the other side of the globe

Shanghai

 

[D1511]

The Amsterdam metro deals with this non-issue quite nicely. The entire door frames are illuminated on the platform side when the unit pulls into a station.
I also like how it remembers you've pressed the door button indicating your desire to get off at the next stop, and the button stays illuminated until the doors are released......they open without having to press the button again.

 

[eoff]

You underestimate the number of people who have difficulty understanding what is the front/back of a train

Does make me wonder if there are completely symmetric trains. I have been on services that reverse direction which is another complication (have not read all posts so maybe this was mentioned).

 

[Tester]

You underestimate the number of people who have difficulty understanding what is the front/back of a train

Related.....

I have more than once joined a train at a terminal station with someone, walked past the buffer stops, got on board and been asked, "Which way does the train go?".

 

[TUC]

On 197s it's triggered by door release at multi-platform stations. Also when running "bang road" (during engineering work for example) the signs will show the normal side and update when the guard releases the "wrong side" (but right in this circumstance) doors.

Isn't usually when the 'approaching next station' announcement is made? That's the case on services in our local area, and is the point where it is useful.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jan 2026 ==

Depends on the visual impairment, I have one and don't have an issue working out which way a crowd moves.

I doubt, in reality, even 1% are getting confused by which left is left or right is right, you'll have a few people who over think it, the rest won't care or won't be paying attention.

I agee it depends upon the degree of visual impairmen. If you have little sight, the concern without the announcement is, if you are the only one getting off from a given set of doors, being able to locate the 'open door' button in time before the train departs. If you're not even sure which side disembarkation is taking place, that's an extra delay.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I agee it depends upon the degree of visual impairmen. If you have little sight, the concern without the announcement is, if you are the only one getting off from a given set of doors, being able to locate the 'open door' button in time before the train departs. If you're not even sure which side disembarkation is taking place, that's an extra delay.

This is the sort of issue where the awareness of on-train staff can make a big difference.

If a ‘guard’ or ticket examiner is passing through the train at regular intervals and/or has been alerted at the boarding station they can be well positioned to assist the visually impaired passenger to alight. Besides left and right this can include advice about gaps, low platforms, slippery surfaces and so on.

I’ve witnessed a situation where a DOO Southeastern service arrived at Lewisham (a particularly awkward station) and the driver was clearly aware of a VIP who would need to alight. After a short while at the platform he made an announcement to the whole train explaining the situation and invited all passengers to look out for anyone near them who might be having difficulty in locating the doors or alighting.

On a loosely related note; are assistance dogs trained to be able to identify illuminated door buttons or open doors? I’d not thought of that before.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Isn't usually when the 'approaching next station' announcement is made? That's the case on services in our local area, and is the point where it is useful.

At a basic 2 platform station, yes. Coming into the likes of Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury etc. the system has no way of knowing which platform will be used, thus doesn't know which side the doors will open.

 

[styles]

At a basic 2 platform station, yes. Coming into the likes of Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury etc. the system has no way of knowing which platform will be used, thus doesn't know which side the doors will open.

I mentioned upthread somewhere, but the trains do indeed give door opening indications for such interchange stations.

I'm not sure how the timing words with respect of being allocated a platform and then showing it, etc.

 

[Krokodil]

I mentioned upthread somewhere, but the trains do indeed give door opening indications for such interchange stations.

I'm not sure how the timing words with respect of being allocated a platform and then showing it, etc.

Only after the guard releases the doors

 

[TUC]

At a basic 2 platform station, yes. Coming into the likes of Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury etc. the system has no way of knowing which platform will be used, thus doesn't know which side the doors will open.

If the announcement is only made when the train has artived at the platform, what use is it (for sighted passengers)? It's already obvious which side the doors will open on.

 

[Dr Hoo]

If the announcement is only made when the train has artived at the platform, what use is it (for sighted passengers)? It's already obvious which side the doors will open on.

You ‘obviously’ haven’t been to Sheffield when a service terminates/ reverses in Bay platform 7 (which has platforms on both sides).

Folk can often be seen still frantically woodpeckering away at ‘dead’ door buttons as others stream off at the opposite side.

 

[Lewisham2221]

If the announcement is only made when the train has artived at the platform, what use is it (for sighted passengers)? It's already obvious which side the doors will open on.

On the 197s (the original subject of the thread) it isn't an announcement, it only appears on the screen.

I can understand the potential benefit of an audio announcement for a visually impaired/blind person, but otherwise I don't really see any benefit. If a wheelchair user is using it to get lined up at the correct door, the chances are they're going to be preventing the guard from accessing the ramp, so any time saving is going to be instantly lost. For everyone else, unless you're the first person at the door, you're basically just following everyone else off the train anyway.

 

[GoldenGripper]

At a basic 2 platform station, yes. Coming into the likes of Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury etc. the system has no way of knowing which platform will be used, thus doesn't know which side the doors will open.

RTT does so why can't the PIS?

 

[takno]

RTT does so why can't the PIS?

RTT does sometimes, based on access to a data feed and proprietary analysis by RTT. Getting that in a system that the trains can understand and keeping it updated is not at all trivial. The rail companies may quite reasonably have decided that they have other priorities.

 

[styles]

I'll be honest, when I posted this, I assumed 99% of people would agree with my view that the direction of travel would be the obvious answer. I'm aware arrows will confuse this, but in any case it's been eye-opening for me!

 

[nilvaj395]

The Amsterdam metro deals with this non-issue quite nicely. The entire door frames are illuminated on the platform side when the unit pulls into a station.
I also like how it remembers you've pressed the door button indicating your desire to get off at the next stop, and the button stays illuminated until the doors are released......they open without having to press the button again.

The 777 got marginally close, but they've disabled the door calling (also it doesn't light up on the platform side but both sides).