444/450 ASDO introduction into passenger service

[swt_passenger]

Supposed to start tomorrow, from what I heard a couple of weeks ago.

I thought maybe a thread to record people's observations or discoveries?

Internal PIS displays on a 444 I was on today were flashing 'Coach 3 of 5' alongside the time of day this afternoon.

Didn't see how it worked alongside the normal calling pattern display, as train was diverted after Cobham to Havant, so I guess there was no PIS code to use?

 

[TEW]

Started today. The coach number is displayed whenever there is nothing else the PIS is displaying at the time. Not many units have had the PIS update to display the coach number yet though.

 

[swt_passenger]

Started today. The coach number is displayed whenever there is nothing else the PIS is displaying at the time. Not many units have had the PIS update to display the coach number yet though.

Is the flashing, about 1 sec each on/off, going to be the normal mode of display do you think?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is the flashing, about 1 sec each on/off, going to be the normal mode of display do you think?

That sounds *incredibly* irritating and rather tacky.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

I doubt anything can be as irritating as SN's version!

This for us is going to be fun as well, we're on a learning curve just as much as Joe Public will be tomorrow.

We've had issues today with detachments and attachments, which can be a tad confusing at times, so it would be appreciated if you could be a little more patient than usual, once we get the hang of things it will be all back to normal again. (Hopefully!).:roll:

 

[TEW]

Is the flashing, about 1 sec each on/off, going to be the normal mode of display do you think?

When I was on the test ASDO train the coach number was displayed pretty constantly, certainly not flashing on and off.

 

[swt_passenger]

When I was on the test ASDO train the coach number was displayed pretty constantly, certainly not flashing on and off.

OK then, something to look out for I guess.

Just to explain my original post further, (cos it wasn't too clear), the time part of the display was rock steady at the left hand end just as you'd normally see it.

 

[Via Bank]

I was informed by the Guard on my morning train to London that it had been turned on 'as of three hours ago.'

Nothing on the PIS for me, although that's not surprising. Many Guards turn it off anyway because it doesn't handle portion working very well.

 

[TEW]

Probably the case that the unit didn't have the PIS update yet. Due to engineering works today there would have been a lot of services the PIS was unable to display anyway.

 

[hassaanhc]

Probably the case that the unit didn't have the PIS update yet. Due to engineering works today there would have been a lot of services the PIS was unable to display anyway.

Is there no option to set a custom calling pattern, or to terminate short? I've been on diverted services that did the calling patterns correctly *, but one terminating short at Clapham Junction had no PIS in use.

* Reading were calling at Clapham Junction, Hounslow, Feltham, then as normal. Windsor were calling at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Putney, Barnes, Chiswick, Brentford, Hounslow, then all stations.​

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was informed by the Guard on my morning train to London that it had been turned on 'as of three hours ago.'

Nothing on the PIS for me, although that's not surprising. Many Guards turn it off anyway because it doesn't handle portion working very well.

Interesting, as I find the LM version (which I'd have thought was the same software) seems to handle portion working just fine.

 

[TEW]

Is there no option to set a custom calling pattern, or to terminate short? I've been on diverted services that did the calling patterns correctly *, but one terminating short at Clapham Junction had no PIS in use.

* Reading were calling at Clapham Junction, Hounslow, Feltham, then as normal. Windsor were calling at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Putney, Barnes, Chiswick, Brentford, Hounslow, then all stations.​

No, the system only works on the services it has been set-up with. Some diversionary routes are available. London Waterloo-Weymouth via Guildford is another which the PIS can handle. I believe the system will handle starting short, but not terminating short. The only manual option is just a manual entry on the PIS screens, which is often used for the destination when the PIS can't display the whole service.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

No, the system only works on the services it has been set-up with. Some diversionary routes are available. London Waterloo-Weymouth via Guildford is another which the PIS can handle. I believe the system will handle starting short, but not terminating short. The only manual option is just a manual entry on the PIS screens, which is often used for the destination when the PIS can't display the whole service.

If it doesn't work correctly then you're told PIS OFF.

 

[swt_passenger]

Example this afternoon.

1T37 1427 Eastleigh to Fareham 12.450

Eastleigh displays and announcements reflecting front 6 cars only at Botley and Portchester, all the usual 8 car stops (i.e. everywhere else bar the 2 Portsmouth stns).

ASDO in operation, shown by the guard not operating from the cabs as they used to, however no apparent change to onboard displays. So no coach numbers yet alongside the time on these displays.

Question therefore, how can they get into a situation where the TMS is updated so that the ASDO works, but the PIS isn't? Are the two systems not upgraded together?

 

[Bigfoot]

Pis takes lots longer to update. The asdo update is relatively quick in the grand scheme of things. Up to 2 weeks for the Pis to be done on all units.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Given that the 444s have wifi available to customers could the system used for the wifi be used to allow updates of the PIS on 444s?

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Doubt it, I would suspect that it's done via the normal old fashioned serial cable and laptops, that I've seen fitters/tech's carry.

Although they can download stuff from the OTMR remotely, so I would have thought that it would be upload stuff to the units, en-masse as they did the fleet's TMS software PDQ.

 

[ChampsRacing]

We've actually been told not to use the PIS and to use manual announcements until the 12th October when most or all units should have the Upgrade.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Seen a few modified units running around, it seems quite odd seeing coach X of X on the internal display modules. It's also quite funny (not in the humorous sense) to see the odd number of coaches open 6 or 7 at Liss for example.

I'm surprised that it seems to have settled in so quickly, with so few glitches. Just needs some tweaks on the TMS to eliminate some spurious faults.

 

[Bletchleyite]

One thing I wonder is why IC has stuck with coach letters, while regional seems to be having coach numbers. Would it not be better to standardise?

 

[swt_passenger]

One thing I wonder is why IC has stuck with coach letters, while regional seems to be having coach numbers. Would it not be better to standardise?

Letters for reservations and numbers for SDO or splitting and joining? IF SWT actually did reservations on 444s for example, A-E would logically always be one way round, but 1-5 would be from front to back in direction of running...

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Letters for reservations and numbers for SDO or splitting and joining? IF SWT actually did reservations on 444s for example, A-E would logically always be one way round, but 1-5 would be from front to back in direction of running...

The problem is then you potentially have two of each, especially if you go to Bomo and divide.

I heard that one unit had a bit of an off day today and got removed from service due to ASDO issues. Still early days, I'm still a little sceptical about it, but we'll just have to wait for it to bed in and those behind the scenes to iron out those pesky glitches when they show up.

 

[swt_passenger]

The problem is then you potentially have two of each, especially if you go to Bomo and divide..

There must have been a solution back when SWT did reservations on 10 cars. I never used one myself though, I guess someone must know...

I do remember seeing a 9 car 159 set with letters right through the train, they would have used the perspex holders in the door windows.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

There must have been a solution back when SWT did reservations on 10 cars. I never used one myself though, I guess someone must know...

I do remember seeing a 9 car 159 set with letters right through the train, they would have used the perspex holders in the door windows.

Off to the naughty step with you, right this instant for daring to come up with such a simple & sensible solution.

 

[Matt Taylor]

We've actually been told not to use the PIS and to use manual announcements until the 12th October when most or all units should have the Upgrade.

We've been told different!

My first ASDO train was a disaster, I had a unit with a train management system fault which kept interfering with the correct operation of ASDO!

 

[HarleyDavidson]

The lovely fault 7454?

 

[Matt Taylor]

No idea, I a tail gunner Blocking the UF at Wimbledon for ten minutes in the peak was fun though!

 

[Juniper Driver]

My first ASDO was basically fine.Got into the unit to prep it and it displayed coach numbers throughout from the LE @ Waterloo.Then got in CE and it switched the coach numbers round,coach one being nearest where EP key was inserted.Although approaching Woking it announced be in the front ten although we had five on and for Winchfield be in the front seven even though we still had five on.Worked fine.Second unit we had just basically released the right amount of doors @ Shawford and Swaythling.(Same as the first)

As I noticed on here seems the second unit didn't have the full upgrade.

 

[TEW]

There must have been a solution back when SWT did reservations on 10 cars. I never used one myself though, I guess someone must know...

I do remember seeing a 9 car 159 set with letters right through the train, they would have used the perspex holders in the door windows.

The 458/5s have coach letter for the SDO. The coach letters are all reversible so can be changed as required. You could do similar for 444s if reservations were required.

 

[antharro]

Spotted this on the 1950 BMH-WAT on Sunday. Was going to post on here about it but forgot! The guard was announcing the doors on the first eight carriages would open at Clapham Junction (as opposed to the usual 5). DMIs were slowing Coach x of 10.