Dispatching at Leeds

[Andyh82]

Is there any pattern or logic to what services get despatched at Leeds. Obviously VTEC services do, but some Northern services do despite only being a 2 car pacer, is it certain platforms or certain types of service or stock?

 

[Crossover]

TPE have a despatcher at Leeds too. It may be a local instruction for Leeds that everything must be, but I don't know for sure if that may be the case

 

[Adam0984]

Every station and platform is risk assessed and Leeds falls into high risk all trains dispatched

 

[185]

Leeds went self dispatch in the late 1990s for a period, where we had to plunge out. A number of incidents took place, mostly involving trains waiting at the mid-platform signals and finally it was judged simply far to dangerous to self dispatch as staff were occasionally focussing on the farthest end signal (eg 12A / D) and not their own. That said, on the odd occasions when staff were missing during the night, on agreement with the Leeds Panel signaller and his boss' authority I have seen the occasional train self-dispatched over the years as a last resort.

First Transpennine Express successfully managed in 2015 to implement self dispatch at Manchester Airport after initially trying and failing in 2009. Initially, many signals were trackside, and out of view of conductors - the 'OFF' indicators were sited behind the road-bridge for some time too making for a quite risky dispatch. Following fulll resignalling with the extra platforms it was passed off as safe. One place I heard they did fail was Liverpool Lime Street, where it was initially approved following a (company) risk assessment then later overturned when ORR reviewed that assessment. Lime Street is a wiggly station with exceptionally poor signal & off indicator siting - and a skee-wif gantry of signals off the end that could relate to any platform.

 

[Bromley boy]

What does “self dispatch” mean here?

I’ve always assumed Leeds, as a major terminal station, would have CD/RA indicators as the dispatch method.

 

[221129]

What does “self dispatch” mean here?

I’ve always assumed Leeds, as a major terminal station, would have CD/RA indicators as the dispatch method.

Self dispatch is where you dispatch a train without platform staff assistance.

 

[IanXC]

What does “self dispatch” mean here?

I’ve always assumed Leeds, as a major terminal station, would have CD/RA indicators as the dispatch method.

Self dispatch means that the train crew themselves dispatch the train without the assistance of any platform dispatch staff.

No CD/RA at Leeds, in my experience that equipment is very rare other than in ex Network South East locations or on the West Coast Mainline.

 

[HowardGWR]

I think OP, it should be 'dispatch'. The other is for sending messages.

 

[Adam0984]

Self dispatch means that the train crew themselves dispatch the train without the assistance of any platform dispatch staff.

No CD/RA at Leeds, in my experience that equipment is very rare other than in ex Network South East locations or on the West Coast Mainline.

Leeds is fitted with RA and is occasionally used by VTEC for DOO ECS to Neville Hill

 

[IanXC]

Leeds is fitted with RA and is occasionally used by VTEC for DOO ECS to Neville Hill

Interesting, clearly I need to be more observant next time I am there!

 

[tsr]

I think OP, it should be 'dispatch'. The other is for sending messages.

It seems they can be used interchangeably. As the activities of train dispatch (which I prefer, to be fair) or despatch are full of sending messages and communication protocols, I'd have no problem with either, if there is indeed a variation in meaning nowadays.