Opening doors while moving

[CrackBerry]

A few weeks ago travelling on the Hertford East to Liverpool Street line on my way into work the train came to a sharp halt before Waltham Cross. We were held there for about five minutes before we moved off again. The driver said (and I quote) "Sorry for the delay, this is due to some idiot opening the doors and jumping from the train".

Now this is not something I have encountered before but does it happen often?

I spoke to the driver at the next stop and he said someone jumped from the train and ran off, he also said it has happened before.

 

[TDK]

A few weeks ago travelling on the Hertford East to Liverpool Street line on my way into work the train came to a sharp halt before Waltham Cross. We were held there for about five minutes before we moved off again. The driver said (and I quote) "Sorry for the delay, this is due to some idiot opening the doors and jumping from the train".

Now this is not something I have encountered before but does it happen often?

I spoke to the driver at the next stop and he said someone jumped from the train and ran off, he also said it has happened before.

Yes, it does happen, I had it at Norwood Junction once and from 60mph the train stopped at the 4 car mark, I was not due to stop at Norwood Junction and whoever forced the door knew exactly what they were doing

 

[O L Leigh]

Hertford East service, you say...? More like Helmand East.

O L Leigh

 

[CrackBerry]

Hertford East service, you say...? More like Helmand East.

O L Leigh

This is quite accurate!

Sadly the lack of revenue checks and no barriers on this line make it so.

I have been informed Herts Police and NXEA did a block at Hertford East over the weekend and over two days had in excess of 120 travelling ticketless.

 

[westcoaster]

It happens quiet a lot, our hot spot is elstree and borehamwood northbound, that's why on the weekend some fast trains stop there now and it seems to be helping, you would be going through the tunnel and all of a sudden the interlock light will go out then straight back on, emergency brake on, stop in the station area, herberts jump out, point laugh and walk over the foot bridge like it's no problem.

 

[O L Leigh]

Barriers would make no difference anyway. The branch is effectively lawless, with fare evasion really being the thin end of the wedge. I sometimes wonder that I wouldn't end up in trouble for aiding and abetting the illegal supply of drugs, because that's clearly what happens on a lot of these trains and there's bugger all I can do about it. I certainly wouldn't want my wife travelling up and down that line on her own after dark. It is the one place I absolutely HATE going. It will need a concerted effort by police and revenue to wrest back control and make it safe again.

As to the door pulling, these trains are all-shacks anyway. However sometimes the *ahem* little darlings want to save themselves a bit of a walk so will bring the train up in a heap between stations somewhere near one of the crossings. It's so infuriating, but realistically there's nothing you can do.

O L Leigh

 

[CrackBerry]

The revenue team are near useless on this line. Last week they got on, accompanied by two of those rail enforcement officers (high vis stab vests and head cams) to do a ticket check, ignored any of the large groups of youths, just as we were pulling into Broxbourne three young lads came out of the loo, so I detained them and the revenue team said it wasn't worth them dealing with it.

 

[asylumxl]

It happens quiet a lot, our hot spot is elstree and borehamwood northbound, that's why on the weekend some fast trains stop there now and it seems to be helping, you would be going through the tunnel and all of a sudden the interlock light will go out then straight back on, emergency brake on, stop in the station area, herberts jump out, point laugh and walk over the foot bridge like it's no problem.

Being a regular in the area, can't say I've ever heard of it happening nor have I been on a train that's experienced it.

How often does it happen?

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Hang on, you can't open doors when the train is moving. (I presume it won't be slam door stock; even if it was, it would have to have central door locking so you can't open doors between stations).

Anybody care to explain how on earth doors got opened between stations?

 

[Mojo]

Hang on, you can't open doors when the train is moving. (I presume it won't be slam door stock; even if it was, it would have to have central door locking so you can't open doors between stations).

Anybody care to explain how on earth doors got opened between stations?

By pulling the giant green handle next to the doors that has a sign beginning "to open the doors in an emergency..." on, or adjacent to it.

Or even by simply pulling the doors apart (probably not on trains with plug doors).

 

[westcoaster]

Being a regular in the area, can't say I've ever heard of it happening nor have I been on a train that's experienced it.

How often does it happen?

A few times a month of average, but is really prevalent during the football season.

 

[strange6]

Everybody was doing it only a couple of decades ago. I miss those 101's

 

[Ibex]

I have to say I've only ever heard this happen once. It was a Pendolino at Castlethorpe though, that was an odd one.

 

[Daniel]

Hang on, you can't open doors when the train is moving.

Oh yes you can. Have a look at the type of doors on a Class 317. Theres a video on youtube somewhere or someone pulling them open and hanging on the outside. They're similar to London Underground doors in a way, in that they're just on rollers and can be pushed back a certain amount before the locking bar blocks it, (but they can still loose interlock).

However you can also pull the emergency open cord/lever/button.

 

[Flywaver]

Any units with sliding doors in the style of the earlier generation just have to have the doors forced open a tad and there is a brake application.. plug doors are alot tougher. When i drove 317s all they did was lose power with associated loss of Interlock but i have since heard they get a brake application as well.