"Doors will open on the left hand side" - whose left?

[riceuten]

I asked this once of a conductor of an SNCF train when a similar announcement was made and he said "Always in the direction of the train"

 

[andy33gmail]

No. Usually the sign saying the door isn't in use doesn't mean you can't use that door. That's the problem I'm trying to call attention to.

What other interpretation of “door not in use” is possible? I’m struggling a little here

 

[edwin_m]

What other interpretation of “door not in use” is possible? I’m struggling a little here

Most people would take "Door not in use" to mean it is out of order and can't be used at any station. That isn't the same thing as "Door is in use but won't open at this platform"

 

[Krokodil]

Most people would take "Door not in use" to mean it is out of order and can't be used at any station. That isn't the same thing as "Door is in use but won't open at this platform"

Or indeed "Door is in use but the unit isn't sure which platform it should be arriving at so it's going to show 'out of use' until the guard releases the doors manually".

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What other interpretation of “door not in use” is possible? I’m struggling a little here

There's one class of trains I've been on a few times - can't remember which - where it shows "door not in use" at all times between stations, and only when in the platform does the light with that message on it go off.

Seems to me that's a very silly way of doing things.

Actually might have been a tram somewhere, but still can't remember which ones...

 

[styles]

There's one class of trains I've been on a few times - can't remember which - where it shows "door not in use" at all times between stations, and only when in the platform does the light with that message on it go off.

Seems to me that's a very silly way of doing things.

Actually might have been a tram somewhere, but still can't remember which ones...

Some of the newer TfW rolling stock does it. It confused me the first time!

 

[edwin_m]

There's one class of trains I've been on a few times - can't remember which - where it shows "door not in use" at all times between stations, and only when in the platform does the light with that message on it go off.

Seems to me that's a very silly way of doing things.

Actually might have been a tram somewhere, but still can't remember which ones...

That's really stupid. Whoever designed it didn't give a moment's through to the human factor.

The whole point of a "door not in use" indicator is so people intending to alight have a chance to see beforehand that the door won't open, and move to another one. That's defeated if the indicator is always on unless the door is released. If they have to do that then "door locked" text would be better.

 

[DelW]

There's one class of trains I've been on a few times - can't remember which - where it shows "door not in use" at all times between stations, and only when in the platform does the light with that message on it go off.

Seems to me that's a very silly way of doing things.

Actually might have been a tram somewhere, but still can't remember which ones...

TfW 197s do that, showing "door not in use" in red on both inside and outside buttons, until the guard releases them some seconds after the train stops. I don't know what they show if the door is actually broken. It's very confusing when you first encounter it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

Most people would take "Door not in use" to mean it is out of order and can't be used at any station. That isn't the same thing as "Door is in use but won't open at this platform"

For the 197s, it means "door hasn't yet been released" although it may be released imminently.

 

[Tester]

TfW 197s do that, showing "door not in use" in red on both inside and outside buttons, until the guard releases them some seconds after the train stops. I don't know what they show if the door is actually broken. It's very confusing when you first encounter it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==


For the 197s, it means "door hasn't yet been released" although it may be released imminently.

It does indeed, but that flies in the face of any reasonable interpretation.

What were they thinking?

 

[tfw756rider]

Some of the newer TfW rolling stock does it. It confused me the first time!

The 197s, that I assume you were referring to in your original post?

 

[D1511]

It does indeed, but that flies in the face of any reasonable interpretation.

What were they thinking?

I was thinking the very same thing. What a preposterous idea, that just invites passenger confusion.

Clearly manufacturers are over-thinking this complete non-issue as well.

 

[styles]

The 197s, that I assume you were referring to in your original post?

I'm terrible at knowing rolling stock class numbers and whatever, but probably yes

 

[nilvaj395]

TfW 197s do that, showing "door not in use" in red on both inside and outside buttons, until the guard releases them some seconds after the train stops. I don't know what they show if the door is actually broken. It's very confusing when you first encounter it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==


For the 197s, it means "door hasn't yet been released" although it may be released imminently.

Honestly if they just removed the 'out of use' text on those lights it wouldn't be as much of cause for confusion. The staff would know what it means but it doesn't cause the passenger as much anxiety.

 

[styles]

Honestly if they just removed the 'out of use' text on those lights it wouldn't be as much of cause for confusion. The staff would know what it means but it doesn't cause the passenger as much anxiety.

But then it would just say 'door'

 

[z444z]

But then it would just say 'door'

That’d be accurate.

 

[The exile]

I was thinking the very same thing. What a preposterous idea, that just invites passenger confusion.

Clearly manufacturers are over-thinking this complete non-issue as well.

it’s bad enough that the manufacturers came up with it and someone accepted it, but that nothing has been done about since beggars all belief.

 

[edwin_m]

But then it would just say 'door'

That’d be accurate.

Then, by implication, it wouldn't be a door when it was released. As I suggested earlier, Door Locked is the text that best matches the function as described - they probably even have that as a standard product for use in the toilets.

 

[styles]

That’d be accurate.

So it would be if it said 'Train' or 'Object'.

A train carriage door shouldn't need a light up sign next to it saying 'Door'.

 

[nilvaj395]

But then it would just say 'door'

Ok my bad remove door too

 

[z444z]

So it would be if it said 'Train' or 'Object'.

A train carriage door shouldn't need a light up sign next to it saying 'Door'.

I wasn’t serious

 

[styles]

I wasn’t serious

My bad, proper whoosh moment!

 

[nilvaj395]

Then, by implication, it wouldn't be a door when it was released. As I suggested earlier, Door Locked is the text that best matches the function as described - they probably even have that as a standard product for use in the toilets.

Door locked is much much better.

 

[takno]

To be fair "Toilet out of use" increasingly means nothing very much more than "toilet door got a bit confused but will sort itself out if you manually ease it out of the half-open position". Obeying lighted signs on modern trains isn't really a workable option it seems.

 

[andy33gmail]

How about “it’s behind you”

 

[Tester]

How about “it’s behind you”

That is very good

 

[edwin_m]

How about “it’s behind you”

Oh no it isn't!

 

[Hadlow Road]

But this is like Euston, where a large red X and Platform Closed leads one (O.K., me) to think that the platform is closed and out of use. Rather than simply not open just now. There is such a difference and my first sighting did cause a little consternation.

 

[Starmill]

What other interpretation of “door not in use” is possible? I’m struggling a little here

Usually when you see the sign light up, but the door is on the platform, the door then opens. It just lights up at every door at most stations with more than one platform. It's very rare you'd see the sign and then not have the door open, though of course if you got caught out...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

Most people would take "Door not in use" to mean it is out of order and can't be used at any station. That isn't the same thing as "Door is in use but won't open at this platform"

Or the door isn't currently in use, but wait 1-5 seconds and then it will be...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

TfW 197s do that, showing "door not in use" in red on both inside and outside buttons, until the guard releases them some seconds after the train stops. I don't know what they show if the door is actually broken. It's very confusing when you first encounter it.

All of the CAF trains do it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

Or indeed "Door is in use but the unit isn't sure which platform it should be arriving at so it's going to show 'out of use' until the guard releases the doors manually".

On 195s the door not in use sign stays lit after the door has actually opened for 1-2 seconds sometimes.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

it’s bad enough that the manufacturers came up with it and someone accepted it, but that nothing has been done about since beggars all belief.

I suspect few if any senior managers at the TOCs affected even understand there's a problem.

 

[CHobbs]

So I just noticed this on a Transport for Wales service.

I am travelling in a backwards facing seat. On the wall at the rear of the carriage is an electronic display.

As we approach stations, it will say, "Doors will open on the left-hand side". This is your left-hand as you face the screen which means the left side when looking towards the rear of the train.

Either this is a fault, or the side it says doors open on is dependent upon whether the screen you're looking at means you're looking at the front of the train or the rear.

Assuming it's not a fault (because I'd expect all the station info to be wrong also), to me this doesn't make sense. Consider for a moment that TfW might decide, like TfL do on some Tube services, to put it out over the public address system - you wouldn't be able to do this unless you made sure only to have screens facing one direction within each carriage.

Surely logic dictates that left hand side or right hand side is relative to forward direction of the train? Or am I going mad? Or is this just a fault and I can stop questioning life?

It’s always in direction of travel.

 

[signed]

The famous Paris Metro Line 14 announcement for the island platform at Gare de Lyon "doors open on the left" is from direction of travel as well

Gare de Lyon, Gare de Lyon, à cette station descente a gauche, doors open on the left, uscita a sinistra

Gare de Lyon, Gare de Lyon, at this station exit on the left, doors open on the left, exit on the left