Mark 4 Dispatch

[Isaac123]

When I was at Manchester Picadilly today I saw a dispatch of a TFW Mark 4 set to Cardiff,When the dispatcher had blown the whistle for the close doors he then did another after the doors had closed,Does anyone know why?

 

[800Travel]

When I was at Manchester Picadilly today I saw a dispatch of a TFW Mark 4 set to Cardiff,When the dispatcher had blown the whistle for the close doors he then did another after the doors had closed,Does anyone know why?

Believe the first is to say the doors are clear to close - no passengers still boarding etc., and then the 2nd after the doors have closed is to say - no one is trapped in the doors, people are behind the yellow line etc., it's safe to depart.

 

[GW43125]

First whistle/handsignal: "station work complete"-signal to guard that station duties are complete, passengers have boarded/alighted and it is safe for the guard to close doors
Second whistle/handsignal: "train safety check complete"-signal to guard that doors are closed and obstruction lights are out, nothing is trapped and it is safe to depart. Guard will then close their local door and give the "right away" (2 buzzes)

At some stations, instead of the guard giving the right away, they signal to the platform staff as they close their local door, who then operate an indicator on the platform.

This is generally standard procedure for any assisted (involving station dispatch staff) dispatch of a guarded train. For a driver only train, these will be shown to the driver instead of the guard and the "train safety check complete" signal is usually accompanied with a green flag/lamp to the driver or operating a right away indicator on the platform.

 

[godfreycomplex]

At some stations, instead of the guard giving the right away, they signal to the platform staff as they close their local door, who then operate an indicator on the platform.

Manchester Piccadilly is one of those stations incidentally

 

[MP393]

On occasions at Piccadilly, there will be an extra dispatcher to give the RA. The extra whistle (which would be the 3rd) would be from one dispatcher, in the middle of the train, to one closer to the RA switch, to signal it’s ready to switch the RA.

 

[Sheffcaster202]

Guard will then close their local door and give the "right away" (2 buzzes)

Just a slight correction, 2 on the bell buzzer is “Ready to start” not right away

*Extract attached from TW1 rulebook