Guard on Croydon to Milton Keynes service

[CheapAndNerdy]

I have noticed on a couple of occasions while travelling south from Kensington Olympia that, up to Clapham Junction, there is a guard who is controlling the doors and making announcements. However he "disappears" at that point. Is this union rules, some arcane contractual arrangement, or am I simply unobservant?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Presumably a crew change.

 

[the sniper]

However he "disappears" at that point. Is this union rules, some arcane contractual arrangement, or am I simply unobservant?

I don't know the area well, but south of Clapham Junction could the train be Driver Only Operated (DOO)?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Entirely possible, I'm afraid I don't know that area well enough.

 

[313103]

The service is indeed DOO operated between East Croydon and Clapham Junction.

 

[Mojo]

I wondered this the other week when I saw the Southbound working dispatched from Clapham Junction with bat and green flag shown to the driver, but Northbound with a guard on board.

 

[the sniper]

Everybody probably knows this, but a similar thing happens on the Chiltern Main Line. Guard's only work as far south as Banbury, then the trains go DOO to Marylebone.

 

[Pumbaa]

Yes - threw me off first time I saw it, especially as just the week before on a 350 the guards went right through (obviously).