Request stops...

[Sprinter107]

In all the years I've been calling at request stops, I've never known or heard of anyone getting left behined. So it would seem a lot of unnecessary expense to put in these buttons and lights.

 

[TurbostarFan]

They do have radio equipment in the cab. However, the signaller is not permitted to ring the driver when the train is in motion. It does have a facility for the driver to contact the signaller, once the signaller has sent the 'contact signaller' message. There are a number of rule book protocols that would need to be changed before the system is used like a normal text messaging system.

Correct, the radio system is designed for safety related matters. Not for the sake of allowing people to flag down a train at a request stop. Maybe giving them the facility to communicate with the guard, who can then inform the driver (using the normal protocols) would be a better idea?

 

[Esker-pades]

Or would it? Not everyone has a fancy smartphone capable of sending a stop signal to the driver/guard, and even people who do have one might encounter a situation where it cannot be used for that purpose e.g. out of credit, fault with phone, wrong or no SIM inserted, low or no battery power, etc. Surely the train driver would still approach the platform slowly and be ready to stop if signalled to stop right?

Which is the problem of needlessly introducing technology into a situation. I'm in favour of keeping the current system (as I stated in this comment and others on this thread).

 

[Struner]

I would rather sit in the car with the one who took me to the station than standing on the rain/sleet/snow/wind-swept platform.