Class 158/159 SWT Door Locked

[swt_passenger]

Surely it would reduce dwell times, at the moment a whole coach load of people have to enter and leave through one door.

Nobody's doubting that, but it depends what SWT's overall priorities are. Many peak trains are formed of three or even four units in multiple, and towards London the leading cab will invariably have a first class section behind it. The station displays normally warn about not using the leading door.

The worst effects on dwell are probably seen on the 158 used on the Salisbury/Romsey stoppers on the stretch between Southampton and Eastleigh, but they don't seem to disrupt the service overall.

 

[swt class 450]

Nobody's doubting that, but it depends what SWT's overall priorities are. Many peak trains are formed of three or even four units in multiple, and towards London the leading cab will invariably have a first class section behind it. The station displays normally warn about not using the leading door.

The worst effects on dwell are probably seen on the 158 used on the Salisbury/Romsey stoppers on the stretch between Southampton and Eastleigh, but they don't seem to disrupt the service overall.

As well as the extra dwell time it causes between Southampton Central and Eastleigh you also always get lots of passengers on the platform who dont realise that it is locked out of use and keep pressing the button wondering why it is not opening.

 

[pompeyfan]

As well as the extra dwell time it causes between Southampton Central and Eastleigh you also always get lots of passengers on the platform who dont realise that it is locked out of use and keep pressing the button wondering why it is not opening.

Except... of course.... it doesn't. Majority of users on the route know the leading door is locked out. In any case. It doesn't take long for even the most infirm people to walk 23m.

 

[JB_B]

I'm glad this question has come up.

Years and years ago I asked a 158 driver about this on our arrival at Brighton ( probably in the Wessex Trains days ) - his only reply was "Have you ever been to Worthing?"

 

[vikingdriver]

The only place you have lots of confused leading door button pushing seems to be Woking and this seems to be those waiting further down the platform, expecting a longer train, as they reach the first door they come to. Romsey rounders tend to be fine, the only slow loading seems to be a busy peak with the 57 car (standard coach) leading as there is a reluctance to use the 1st class door. Though I believe several services on this route now have a declassified 1st class to speed things up.