They were never visible in darkness when they were at TfW. Putting them in a more sensible position facing the driver won't fix that. It was accepted at TfW but the issue wasn't unique to that part of the fleet there.
The 'sunflower' (AWS sunflower) is the round visual indicator of the Automatic Warning System (AWS).
I was on this from Truro and yes, I saw 5E90 leave ecs (with a guard) and let the them know I wasn't happy. Especially when I found the pub closed too . 115 left ecs about ten mins after cancellation
Yes, 150266 on 2Z28.
It's frustrating as it's only going to get worse if the problem isn't solved as we approach the winter time and daytime continues to be slashed daily!
Surely if it's "not safe" to operate with a sunflower that doesn't light up then it shouldn't be running ECS either then? The risks are just the same.
It does, but, playing devil's advocate here, a risk of not correctly acknowledging the AWS could be that the driver has a SPAD, that SPAD could potentially result in rear ending another train with passengers, therefore IF the AWS sunflower not being illuminated is a genuine risk then it shouldn't be used after dark on an ECS move either.
Or it could be the union making sure that it's members and the wider travelling public are kept safe.
I'd be inclined to make this observation too, particularly when it was picked up that new drivers seats would need to be fitted before the units entered service.
If it really is just AWS illumination needed, a battery LED light of the type sold for map reading in cars could be sufficient as a short term fix. Example here (not saying this particular version is necessarily suitable, just a generic example)
But I suspect there's more to it than just the illumination, since surely that would have been sorted out in less than 18 months ....
The first units have been there over 18 months, and there were a series of cab modifications requested. Meddling now is just the union being troublesome to justify its membership
If it was policy, would have been done as part of the agreed changes. It wasn't so clearly isn't policy. Either that or the union officials who agreed the cab changes were totally incompetent and forgot to check.
Where is the proof that it wasn’t?
The sunflower isn't all about when you are actually passing the signal.
Likewise throwing rocks at a body that may well be raising very valid safety concerns.
Yes, this is the answer and will ge what is happening very shortly!
Again, not to play devil's advocate but the 220/221s that *Some* of the drivers also drive do not have light up sunflowers. Yes, they dont drive them long distances on the mainline but they do drive the traction without light up sunflowers....
All responsibility for having fully operable AWS rests with the employer and not the employee. If AWS illumination was missed, it’s not down to employees whatever process is involved.
The point is that they were regarded as fully operable for the first 20 years of their life without illumination. Unless the Union said early on in the process that having examined the units they no longer considered that acceptable then it was perfectly reasonable for GWR management to assume that the "as delivered" situation was acceptable.
Agreed. But we are a quarter of a century on from when 175s were new. Much has changed in that time, especially where driving and its management is concerned.
