16x refurb fgw

[headshot119]

The PA system is being changed for an all-in-one system combining cab-to-cab, PA and GSM-R. The recordings will be updated. This is of course linked to the information displays too.

The reason we have to give buzzers to the driver is because the door controls are only active in the leading cab. We give the driver the signal to close (1 - 2) and to go (2). I have no idea the engineering required to activate the door buttons in the rear cab but I don't think it's feasible. Some of these trains work DOO to Padd etc. The ORR or RAIB (whichever is relevant) would probably have a fit if these trains were going about with active door controls in an unsupervised cab which may have unqualified people enter (TE's, RPI's etc.) who could activate something by accident. It may seem strange but it works. I see no reason to change the method of working myself.

So how is having a door panel in the none leading cab any less safe than having a door panel in a passenger saloon like on a 150?

 

[Lrd]

So how is having a door panel in the none leading cab any less safe than having a door panel in a passenger saloon like on a 150?

The one on the 150 won't be active unless keyed in.

 

[Captain Chaos]

So how is having a door panel in the none leading cab any less safe than having a door panel in a passenger saloon like on a 150?

You need to activate the panel though using the DKS switch before it is active. Not only this but the panel should be locked shut, needing a T-Key to both unlock the cover and use the panel.

 

[TEW]

Why is it bizarre? If units are used on a mixture of DOO and guard-worked services then it has to be configured this way. It is exactly the same on Chiltern's 165s, 168s & 172s. Works just fine.

They don't have to be configured that way. Southern 377s amongst other units work equally well operated under DOO conditions with the driver operating the doors from the leading the cab or with a guard closing the doors from the saloon.
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These units are in a dire condition in general and there is far, far more that needs doing to them than USB points! The internal doors rarely work properly, the PA is awful (including the recorded announcements that actually describe Betchworth as BLetchworth (with an 'L'!!). Are there any other stations in Britain which are mis-pronounced in recorded, rather than live, announcements!? The decor is grim, too, with peeling table tops and arm rests along with FGW's horrible, garish pink and purple. The individual lights frequently don't work at all and the internal information displays are frequently either wrong or not working at all.

I really don't think they're in a terrible condition, I think they're actually in a good condition, especially compared to the state they were in prior to refurbishment. I think they are actually in a pretty good condition, they're clean, bright and pretty well maintained. The interior is not the best for the North Downs Line, with the 3+2 seating but at least it's pretty well maintained.

 

[tsr]

They don't have to be configured that way. Southern 377s amongst other units work equally well operated under DOO conditions with the driver operating the doors from the leading the cab or with a guard closing the doors from the saloon.

And, of course, the guard can use the bell to instruct the driver to close the doors, if they're in the rear cab due to overcrowding in the passenger areas.

 

[Captain Chaos]

If the toilets were a bit better (they have never been good) and they had 2+2 seating throughout I think the Turbo's would be quite nice actually. They're not that bad really. There's a hell of a lot worse we could have anyway!

 

[CC 72100]

If the toilets were a bit better (they have never been good) and they had 2+2 seating throughout I think the Turbo's would be quite nice actually. They're not that bad really. There's a hell of a lot worse we could have anyway!

Indeed, would you like some 150/1s? I can ever get you first pick on the ones which retain the carpet wall

 

[paulravuslante]

I beleive the 180s do and the HEX 332s do too.

Yes, Hex 332s have ATP as do the Hec 360s. I drive these units.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Are there any other stations in Britain which are mis-pronounced in recorded, rather than live, announcements!

Rowley Regis was (somewhat) famously mispronounced by Phil Sayer, the guy who does station announcements for so much of the network. You've almost certainly heard his voice.

He pronounced the "Row" like something you do to a boat rather than as you would describe an argument. It got picked up by the local news on what must have been a particularly slow news day and they even managed to get him to make a statement where he sheepishly apologised to the people of Rowley Regis before admitting he had never heard of the place before he had to read it out loud. Not long after that all the trains from Rowley Regis were diverted into Snow Hill so I'm not sure whether they re recorded the announcement with the correct pronounciation or just left it as they knew it wouldn't get used regularly any more.

 

[Deepgreen]

Mis-pronouncing a letter is one thing, but inserting one that shouldn't be there (the place is Betchworth, not BLetchworth!) is another. FGW have also repeatedly told me over many months that they were re-recording the public address announcements to remove spurious and irritating stuff about suspicious behaviour, etc., but it hasn't happened despite their promises that it was imminent (they told me this many, many months ago). This, plus their dire platform screens which are either broken or show blatantly wrong information, show them to be the over-stretched bus operators that they really are! That their franchise has been extended is a scandal in my view. Our railway network is rapidly turning into a linear fast food outlet in terms of quality and style!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Mis-pronouncing a letter is one thing, but inserting one that shouldn't be there (the place is Betchworth, not BLetchworth!) is another. FGW have also repeatedly told me over many months that they were re-recording the public address announcements to remove spurious and irritating stuff about suspicious behaviour, etc., but it hasn't happened despite their promises that it was imminent (they told me this many, many months ago). This, plus their dire platfrom screens which are either broken or show blatantly wrong information, show them to be the over-stretched bus operators that they really are! That their franchise has been extended is a scandal in my view. Our railway network is fast turning into a linear fast food outlet in terms of quality and style!

You must have missed my post. The PA system is being replaced with an upgraded version. The PA upgrades you have been told about should be done at the same time. Otherwise we would end up getting engineers out to update something that is going pretty soon. Which would be just a waste of money. The platform screens run off train movements. While adequate they aren't perfect. They update themselves when the train enters a new signalling section. Some sections are miles long on the North Downs and thus updates may not appear correctly (delay could be in section for instance) and is also reason why sometimes they can jump about as to how late a train can be (timing points for sections can differ). Other systems are very similar in how they work from what I understand, though if anyone can correct me then please feel free. Mainline systems with short sections and frequent signalling is always going to have far superior PIS systems to a line with large sections and infrequent signalling.

 

[FGW_DID]

Mis-pronouncing a letter is one thing, but inserting one that shouldn't be there (the place is Betchworth, not BLetchworth!) is another. FGW have also repeatedly told me over many months that they were re-recording the public address announcements to remove spurious and irritating stuff about suspicious behaviour, etc., but it hasn't happened despite their promises that it was imminent (they told me this many, many months ago). This, plus their dire platform screens which are either broken or show blatantly wrong information, show them to be the over-stretched bus operators that they really are! That their franchise has been extended is a scandal in my view. Our railway network is rapidly turning into a linear fast food outlet in terms of quality and style!

We'll if it's really that dire there are other modes of transport you are free to try and don't try and make out you are forced to take the train.

 

[tsr]

We'll if it's really that dire there are other modes of transport you are free to try and don't try and make out you are forced to take the train.

Anyone dissatisfied with the North Downs Line is welcome to take the 32 bus.

After that, the journey on a 165 will almost feel like the Orient Express... trust me.