Doors locked just before I press on a delayed train

[notafanofgwr]

Curious to know thoughts. Arrive in good time to Paddington to discover my train has been cancelled (B), as has the next direct train after (C). The previous train (A) is so heavily delayed it's still on the platform and the departures board, I make a dash for it.

Bloke 10 seconds in front of me gets on. Doors are locked between this and me arriving at them. Two train staff on the platform chatting as I look down the platform wondering why between them and the platform staff member, they couldn't have left the doors open ...

The train is delayed. There weren't a ton more people running to pile on. Would've made my day a bit better. Just seemed like a real F off to the customer... Stood there like a lemon watching the two train staff climb aboard and lock the local door.

 

[Highlander1]

Curious to know thoughts. Arrive in good time to Paddington to discover my train has been cancelled (B), as has the next direct train after (C). The previous train (A) is so heavily delayed it's still on the platform and the departures board, I make a dash for it.

Bloke 10 seconds in front of me gets on. Doors are locked between this and me arriving at them. Two train staff on the platform chatting as I look down the platform wondering why between them and the platform staff member, they couldn't have left the doors open ...

The train is delayed. There weren't a ton more people running to pile on. Would've made my day a bit better. Just seemed like a real F off to the customer... Stood there like a lemon watching the two train staff climb aboard and lock the local door.

The train was delayed. They're not going to delay it further for one passenger. Also, did they know the next two services were cancelled? I understand from your perspective its frustrating but that doesn't mean they have the same perspective.

 

[notafanofgwr]

One of the things I'm curious about! I would assume they knew, but maybe they don't! Don't work on the railways, so have no idea how far individual services are seen as part of a whole.

Sure, on the delay for one passenger point (though why lock the doors and then stand on the platform for another 30 seconds; got to be one or the other).

 

[Jobi-wan]

After you get on there’s another passenger running up to the train so they wait for that person, too. Oh and here comes another one, better wait for them. Oh and another… where do you draw the line?

 

[800001]

Curious to know thoughts. Arrive in good time to Paddington to discover my train has been cancelled (B), as has the next direct train after (C). The previous train (A) is so heavily delayed it's still on the platform and the departures board, I make a dash for it.

Bloke 10 seconds in front of me gets on. Doors are locked between this and me arriving at them. Two train staff on the platform chatting as I look down the platform wondering why between them and the platform staff member, they couldn't have left the doors open ...

The train is delayed. There weren't a ton more people running to pile on. Would've made my day a bit better. Just seemed like a real F off to the customer... Stood there like a lemon watching the two train staff climb aboard and lock the local door.

Because the door close process was started before you were near the train, this process takes more than 30 seconds.
The person in front of you most likely got on as the door close process was in progress.

However without being there to witness it, the above is just my thoughts.

 

[Haywain]

so have no idea how far individual services are seen as part of a whole.

You have to remember that "the whole" includes stations down the line, connections to other trains, and what bith the rolling stock and crew will be scheduled to do subsequently.

 

[notafanofgwr]

Because the door close process was started before you were near the train, this process takes more than 30 seconds.
The person in front of you most likely got on as the door close process was in progress.

However without being there to witness it, the above is just my thoughts.

This is the sort of info I'm after. So when the door close process happens, it's still physically possible to open and close the doors (this is what the person in front did)?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==

After you get on there’s another passenger running up to the train so they wait for that person, too. Oh and here comes another one, better wait for them. Oh and another… where do you draw the line?

Absolutely, also get that. I'd note that I was one of three people stood next to the doors, with no one else anywhere nearby, presumably because it'd come off the board by that point. That's why I'm trying to get a sense of how it should work e.g. would've been a lot more straightforward if the platform assistant had blown a whistle etc.

 

[saismee]

Platform staff likely have nothing to do with the door open/close procedures, so they aren't the ones with any power to hold it for you. It was likely either the driver or train manager who did this at some point when the door in question was open. This would've caused it to ignore any button presses and only stay open if obstructed, locking immediately after closing.

It is just unfortunately one of those things that happens occasionally. I can't count the number of times I've seen people rush through the barriers at my station and barely miss the train within seconds. Sometimes it's a real pain as I can see the door open button turn off right as they get to it. Sometimes it's a bit cathartic when they're especially rude and expect to have special treatment through the barriers for being late.

 

[notafanofgwr]

Platform staff likely have nothing to do with the door open/close procedures, so they aren't the ones with any power to hold it for you. It was likely either the driver or train manager who did this at some point when the door in question was open. This would've caused it to ignore any button presses and only stay open if obstructed, locking immediately after closing.

It is just unfortunately one of those things that happens occasionally. I can't count the number of times I've seen people rush through the barriers at my station and barely miss the train within seconds. Sometimes it's a real pain as I can see the door open button turn off right as they get to it. Sometimes it's a bit cathartic when they're especially rude and expect to have special treatment through the barriers for being late.

Am unfailingly punctual so haven't really seen much of this firsthand. But shouldn't the platform staff blow a whistle or call so that these passengers know it's too late? Or is it that disconnected they might not know themselves?

 

[Gloster]

This is the sort of info I'm after. So when the door close process happens, it's still physically possible to open and close the doors (this is what the person in front did)?

Not quite. When the guard or driver presses the Close button a buzzer starts sounding as a warning and after a few seconds any open doors will start closing. Pressing the button after the buzzer starts (I think the lights around the button will be flashing) will have no effect: it will neither hold an open door open or open a closed door. I suspect that the man ahead of you heard the buzzer and then immediately used an open door that was just beginning to close after the short period of warning: this is the only thing to do.

Note: I have been out of it for many years, but I reckon this is correct. Others may correct me.

Remember: there is one of you annoyed at not catching the train, but there were probably lots of people in the train iritated that the delayed train hadn’t yet left. Some you win, some you lose: that’s life.

 

[notafanofgwr]

Not quite. When the guard or driver presses the Close button a buzzer starts sounding as a warning and after a few seconds any open doors will start closing. Pressing the button after the buzzer starts (I think the lights around the button will be flashing) will have no effect: it will neither hold an open door open or open a closed door. I suspect that the man ahead of you heard the buzzer and then immediately used an open door that was just beginning to close after the short period of warning: this is the only thing to do.

Note: I have been out of it for many years, but I reckon this is correct. Others may correct me.

Remember: there is one of you annoyed at not catching the train, but there were probably lots of people in the train iritated that the delayed train hadn’t yet left. Some you win, some you lose: that’s life.

Ah, see this confirms I think my suspicion. Man in front opened the door via the button, then it closed. I.e. the process was started whilst I was clearly on my way to the door.

And don't worry! I'm not going to lose sleep over it (if I were that bothered by being delayed by GWR, I'd never leave the house. Just a bit frustrated that's all).

 

[AndrewE]

However it is very gratifying when the Guard (?) controlling the train doors ushers late arrivals in through the one they are controlling before the final door closes and despatch. I think lots of people I have seen leaping in at the last minute are very grateful to traincrew who allow this.

 

[notafanofgwr]

However it is very gratifying when the Guard (?) controlling the train doors ushers late arrivals in through the one they are controlling before the final door closes and despatch. I think lots of people I have seen leaping in at the last minute are very grateful to traincrew who allow this.

Well! That's the other thing. If I'd realised the doors were about to lock, I'd have angled my run towards the local door and hopped on there.

The guard and train manager were still on the platform a good 30 seconds after the other doors locked.

 

[saismee]

However it is very gratifying when the Guard (?) controlling the train doors ushers late arrivals in through the one they are controlling before the final door closes and despatch. I think lots of people I have seen leaping in at the last minute are very grateful to traincrew who allow this.

AIUI this is the "correct" customer-focused approach which is supposed to be done, but it obviously depends on whether it's a DOO service or not.

 

[800001]

AIUI this is the "correct" customer-focused approach which is supposed to be done, but it obviously depends on whether it's a DOO service or not.

Only if it's not a cab door like LNER guards use at times!

 

[Kite159]

However it is very gratifying when the Guard (?) controlling the train doors ushers late arrivals in through the one they are controlling before the final door closes and despatch. I think lots of people I have seen leaping in at the last minute are very grateful to traincrew who allow this.

Although even at times like those, there comes a time the guard has to close their local door even though late passengers are still trying to come towards the train from the barriers at busy London terminus.

 

[AndrewE]

Although even at times like those, there comes a time the guard has to close their local door even though late passengers are still trying to come towards the train from the barriers at busy London terminus.

I think that in those circumstances the (late) passengers would accept the situation. If not, then they need to wake up to the reality: a train has to go at some point!