TRIVIA: Stations where a high proportion of doors remain closed due to Selective Door Opening

[birchesgreen]

The Lakes, only the first door on the first carriage opens i think.

 

[marshlinker]

That one's a puzzle; is it because it has to match the up platform for some reason? It's a pain for the guard to have to keep calling passengers right down the platform.

It has to match the up platform because the SEML is reversible on both lines,
so a down train can in theory call at the up platform.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think it might be due to the ASDO at the station being GPS based at a guess, I know it is to match the up but that's my best guess as to why.

Most likely. By the time they were retrofitting the SWT fleet their ASDO is all confirmed with track beacons, so individual platforms can be different, and can even have different directions set up, I remember at the time this was considered an improvement over early systems used by SN and SE that used the same data for the whole of stations.

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

Mods: feel free to move this but I didn’t think it worth starting a new thread for.

Yesterday there was a 12 coach LNR train (class 350) that omitted the Long Buckby call due to "a fault with this train". The guard said that it was because 12 coach trains couldn't stop Northbound due to the curve of the platform (which can accommodate 8 coaches).

However, the next service was also 12 coaches (as were many others over the day) and it did stop, with doors only opening in the front 4 coaches.

Can anyone explain what this was all about?

 

[jon0844]

Westenhanger only does 5 of up to 12 carriages, despite the down platform being able to hold at least 8!

There's at least one station on the Peterborough to Horsham train service between Three Bridges and Horsham that is only 5 coaches out of 12 too, which could be quite a long walk for those not prepared!

 

[321362]

Mods: feel free to move this but I didn’t think it worth starting a new thread for.

Yesterday there was a 12 coach LNR train (class 350) that omitted the Long Buckby call due to "a fault with this train". The guard said that it was because 12 coach trains couldn't stop Northbound due to the curve of the platform (which can accommodate 8 coaches).

However, the next service was also 12 coaches (as were many others over the day) and it did stop, with doors only opening in the front 4 coaches.

Can anyone explain what this was all about?

Fault with SDO?

 

[InkyScrolls]

LNER 225 sets calling at Shipley open only a single door - this must be the lowest percentage surely?

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

Fault with SDO?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y80850/2026-07-26/detailed#allox_id=0

I should have mentioned that it went on to stop at the stations between Coventry and Birmingham International (eg. Canley) which I believe all / mostly won't fit a 12 coach train.

 

[Warrior2852]

Most of the intermediate stations between Fort William and Mallaig on the end of the West Highland Line are single door only.

 

[Kite159]

Most of the intermediate stations between Fort William and Mallaig on the end of the West Highland Line are single door only.

Only when those services are run with a pair of 156s. Similar with the Whitby line.

 

[Virginfan123]

The Lakes, only the first door on the first carriage opens i think.

Both doors in the front carriage open. The maximum number of carriages during regular service is 5, so only 20% of doors open.

However, I believe that 6 carriage trains have been used very occassionally in the past, especially as the majoity of stations are max 6 carriages so that would mean only 16.7% of doors open

 

[birchesgreen]

Both doors in the front carriage open. The maximum number of carriages during regular service is 5, so only 20% of doors open.

However, I believe that 6 carriage trains have been used very occassionally in the past, especially as the majoity of stations are max 6 carriages so that would mean only 16.7% of doors open

That's changed then, last time i went there (couple of years ago) only the very front door was opened. The guard had to tell me to come down to the other door as i was waiting at the other end of the carriage.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

That's changed then, last time i went there (couple of years ago) only the very front door was opened. The guard had to tell me to come down to the other door as i was waiting at the other end of the carriage.

That's literally impossible. On 172 stock, the guard panels are diagonally located, so the only panel on the platform is the rear door of coach 1 in both directions. There is no panel in the front door.

If all doors had panels, the southbound platform would fit the front door of coach 2. Alas, it doesn't, so it can't.

Both doors in the front carriage open. The maximum number of carriages during regular service is 5, so only 20% of doors open.

However, I believe that 6 carriage trains have been used very occassionally in the past, especially as the majoity of stations are max 6 carriages so that would mean only 16.7% of doors open

100% there were 6car sets operating. Which is a pain on the North Warwick as there are more stations requiring SDO to be used, than stations that fully fitted 6 coaches. Probably the main reason why 5 is now the max used as that fits at several more stations without SDO.

 

[Durradan]

There are several stations where ScotRail 2+5 HSTs only open a single door.

e.g. Broughty Ferry, Invergowrie

Yes, north of Dundee you've got Broughty Ferry, Monifieth, Carnoustie and Portlethen all with a single door on a 2+5. I think Portlethen is also SDO on a 2+4 but I might be misremembering.

 

[kkong]

Yes, north of Dundee you've got Broughty Ferry, Monifieth, Carnoustie and Portlethen all with a single door on a 2+5. I think Portlethen is also SDO on a 2+4 but I might be misremembering.

I don't think ScotRail differentiate with the 4 or 5 car HSTs. It's either all doors or local door only.

 

[Virginfan123]

Probably the main reason why 5 is now the max used as that fits at several more stations without SDO.

Even Currently, there are still many stations that have shortened platforms on the Kidderminster to Stratford route. Wootton Wawen can take 5. Wood End can take 4 northbound and 5 southbound. The Lakes as previously said is a single carriage. Spring road, Hagley and Blakedown are all 4 if I remmember correctly. It would be an operational pain with 6 carriages.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Even Currently, there are still many stations that have shortened platforms on the Kidderminster to Stratford route. Wootton Wawen can take 5. Wood End can take 4 northbound and 5 southbound. The Lakes as previously said is a single carriage. Spring road, Hagley and Blakedown are all 4 if I remmember correctly. It would be an operational pain with 6 carriages.

Spring road was always a 5 when I was down that way, same for Wythall.

 

[Durradan]

I don't think ScotRail differentiate with the 4 or 5 car HSTs. It's either all doors or local door only.

I've definitely been on 4 car HSTs that have opened all doors at Broughty Ferry (with an announcement from the conductor to say ignore the automated announcement about there being only one door opening).