The news is a few weeks old now, but I thought it might be of interest to a few people here...
You may remember that from the December 2007 timetable FGW management created a new policy whereby the front Power Car of a HST would *always* be in the platform at stations with short platforms regardless of the formation of the set. This was despite the practice of 25+ years previous whereby the Train Manager's office should be in the platform.
Because of this, three bike storage areas were put into the Power Cars, together with numerous blue "High Speed Train bike loading point" signs on the platform, and a publicity campaign. The new Cycle Policy covered 6 A5 pages! The new areas are accessible only by the sliding doors on the powercars which were to be opened by the Train Manager (or First class host if he/she was not doing their regular duties).
As a result of the combination of having only a small number of Standard Class doors avaliable on the platform, together with the train manager having to run up & down the platform to open the Power Car sliding door and return to the door panel from which doors were opened, High Speed Services which called at short stations had appalling punctuality, mostly to do with bike related problems.
Anyway, from mid February, starting in Cornwall AFAIAA, signs were erected informing drivers of 2+7 and 2+8 HSTs, where First Class is at the front, where they should stop. Drivers are also being retrained over the next 6 weeks.
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1985431.0.all_change_at_charlbury_station.php
I've also heard (but can't confirm if correct) that electrical modifications are taking place which allow the Train Manager to lock the doors from a point different from where the SDO doors were released.
You may remember that from the December 2007 timetable FGW management created a new policy whereby the front Power Car of a HST would *always* be in the platform at stations with short platforms regardless of the formation of the set. This was despite the practice of 25+ years previous whereby the Train Manager's office should be in the platform.
Because of this, three bike storage areas were put into the Power Cars, together with numerous blue "High Speed Train bike loading point" signs on the platform, and a publicity campaign. The new Cycle Policy covered 6 A5 pages! The new areas are accessible only by the sliding doors on the powercars which were to be opened by the Train Manager (or First class host if he/she was not doing their regular duties).
As a result of the combination of having only a small number of Standard Class doors avaliable on the platform, together with the train manager having to run up & down the platform to open the Power Car sliding door and return to the door panel from which doors were opened, High Speed Services which called at short stations had appalling punctuality, mostly to do with bike related problems.
Anyway, from mid February, starting in Cornwall AFAIAA, signs were erected informing drivers of 2+7 and 2+8 HSTs, where First Class is at the front, where they should stop. Drivers are also being retrained over the next 6 weeks.
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1985431.0.all_change_at_charlbury_station.php
I've also heard (but can't confirm if correct) that electrical modifications are taking place which allow the Train Manager to lock the doors from a point different from where the SDO doors were released.
they'll be putting seats in the power cars soon, lol
