DLR on 15/3/14

[jnjkerbin]

I had to make a short journey on the DLR on Saturday from Royal Victoria to Stratford and was quite surprised to see that every train I observed was being manually driven (or at least had a member of staff at the front with the panel open). Does anyone know what the reason was for this?

Thanks

 

[Mike395]

It is quite common on trains to/from Excel on event days to be 'driven' from the front due to the crowding - they will usually have dispatch staff at major stations also.

Other than that, the only place I usually see operation from the front is on the single-line section from Bow Road-Stratford.

 

[hassaanhc]

Sometimes they are instructed to do their duties from the front if platforms are busy or works are taking place very close to the line. Other times I believe they usually have a choice where to operate from. However, once a PSA who my friend got talking to said that they have to sit at the front on Thursday and Friday evenings due to a high risk of trespassers (not sure about timings but I'm guessing it is around end of evening peak at 1900 to end of service). Oh, and if it was line speed then it can't have been manually driven as doing so limits it to not more than 10mph or so

 

[Diplodicus]

They also do it when they fancy a rest!

 

[jnjkerbin]

The event at Excel theory would make sense since I did see some people dressed in capes!

 

[hassaanhc]

The event at Excel theory would make sense since I did see some people dressed in capes!

Yes there was an event going on: London Super Comic Con http://www.londonsupercomicconvention.com

 

[telstarbox]

I take the DLR on the Lewisham branch each morning and it's quite often 'driven' from the front, with the PSA occasionally doing a ticket check around Canary Wharf.

 

[Clip]

Oh, and if it was line speed then it can't have been manually driven as doing so limits it to not more than 10mph or so

Its sure its not limited to 10mph when they are manually driven, especially the one I was on the other day.

They have a couple of 'driving' modes when at the front but most of the time they will just be there to operate the doors from the front because of crowd control and the single line stretch that Mojo pointed out.

But Sundays is when they do their retention skills so if youre out and about on a sunday you may actually see one get driven properly.