Interesting Dispatch Situation at Worcester Foregate Street today

[BAFRA77]

Was sat up on Platform 1 in God’s own country earlier waiting for the service down to Oxford. Train at a stand was a WMR up to Brum.

About a minute or so before departure - a passenger emerges from the staircase up onto the platform.

As they’re about to press the button on the nearest doors - all of those controls go out - so I assume the doors have been locked out.

“Schrodingers Commuter” who both is and isn’t a traveller at this point looks around confused.

The guard - who then steps out from the back cab - says nothing - but shakes their head at the passenger for a second - and then proceeds to step back in the cab with the person still stood forward of the yellow line - and completes the dispatch process.

One other thing stuck me as a bit strange - we normally have the station staff on the PTI with a baton - but on this occasion - I couldn’t see one around.

As the train pulls away - the member of the public - still stood forward of the yellow, turns away with a look of defeat on their face, and heads back down the stairs.

I shrug my shoulders and comment to myself - “Just another day in Worcester”

As a layman - any thoughts on how this was dealt with etc from the venerable hive mind?

 

[transportphoto]

Sounds like the person missed the train and that it departed without incident. Whilst there is a fascination with the yellow line publicly, the guard must have considered it safe to dispatch.

 

[scrapy]

The yellow line is usually there to indicate a position of safety from a passing train (usually above 100mph) even though at Worcester my guess is linespeed is much lower, not a distance for safe dispatch. So whilst the distances may be similar TOCs policies on this will differ.

 

[The exile]

Sounds like the person missed the train and that it departed without incident. Whilst there is a fascination with the yellow line publicly, the guard must have considered it safe to dispatch.

If it is one person, the chances of the guard’s sight lines being blocked are pretty remote (the person in question being clearly visible).

There will be situations where it is pretty clear that the person is going to make no attempt to board the train and if they’re going to do something stupid deliberately it probably makes little difference whether they start with their feet in front of of the yellow line or a quarter of a centimetre behind it.

 

[transportphoto]

If it is one person, the chances of the guard’s sight lines being blocked are pretty remote (the person in question being clearly visible). There will be situations where it is pretty clear that the person is going to make no attempt to board the train and if they’re going to do something stupid deliberately it probably makes little difference whether they start with their feet in front of of the yellow line or a quarter of a centimetre behind it.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[birchesgreen]

Not sure what this thread is on about, see such occasions at stations across the country all the time. Saw it earlier today at Albrighton.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Wouldn’t be the case at Crewe. They scream at you if you dare to even look at a train being dispatched.

 

[KNN]

Different TOCs have very different views on when it's safe to dispatch

 

[dodecahedron67]

Different guards too. It’s noticeable which guards have seen rush hour crushes and which are used to empty branchline platforms imo

 

[sabanda]

Wouldn’t be the case at Crewe. They scream at you if you dare to even look at a train being dispatched.

Southampton Central can be the same at times. Don’t even try breathing if you’re within a few inches of the yellow line!

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Platform 1 at Forgate is mandatory dispatch due to the signal being unsighted. Platform has a large curve which limits fill view of the train. Platform staff will usually be up near the drivers cab to see the signal.

Both dispatcher and guard are responsible for managing the PTI, and if the passenger didn't step back from the train before the guard closed their door and gave the driver 2, that is very poor and very high risk given the poor sightlines for that platform in particular! Depending on what door the passenger was trying to open, obviously.