ScotRail request stop buttons at stations

[XAM2175]

I visited Scotscalder on Friday (2nd September) while bagging various quiet stations on the Far North Line and have some photos demonstrating the process for using the request stop button:

Thanks very much for taking the time to share those.

Yes, very good of you!

 

[Techniquest]

Thank you from me as well, it's good to see them actually in action and knowing how they actually work and look like in advance of a journey to such a station. Scotscalder is on my list of things I'd like to do one day, just because, even though I haven't kept track of stations visited/scored in a long time. I really should dig out my list of un-visited stations and see which ones I've done since in the course of ticking off trains etc.

I hope your station scoring trip went well!

 

[Energy]

I visited Scotscalder on Friday (2nd September) while bagging various quiet stations on the Far North Line and have some photos demonstrating the process for using the request stop button:

1. Sign on entering station about request stop kiosk
2. Sign in waiting shelter next to request stop kiosk confirming that the traditional method of signalling to the driver is still available. (A train I was on which was not requested slowed down accordingly). I assume this may eventually be removed if the trial is successful (as implied in post #71)
3. Request stop kiosk showing time and status of next trains (sorry for the reflection!)
4. If you press the button more than twenty minutes before the next train, a message pops up at the bottom saying the request function is not yet available
5. At twenty minutes before the train is due, a message pops up with details of the next service and the instruction 'press the button to board the service'. In this case the train was on time, so if the train were delayed I'm not sure if this activation time would also change.
6. After you press the button, the service details turn green and the message says 'this service will stop at this station'.

There wasn't any indication of a cut-off time after which the service could no longer be requested, and I pushed the button just under twenty minutes before my train so couldn't see what would happen if I waited longer. This would surely require precise information on the position of the train, since you'd still want to be able to request a delayed train that was yet to arrive, and I get the impression that the train running information on the existing passenger information screens only updates infrequently (e.g. at radio token exchange points).

Tempting though it was to hide out of sight of the approaching train to check if it still stopped, I had a schedule to keep so stood prominently on the platform as the train approached but did not signal. Naturally the train stopped.

While the system was only active at Scotscalder, I noticed the kiosks had been installed at Kinbrace, Kildonan, Rogart and Invershin but covered out of use. Rogart is the only one with more than one platform and had one on each platform. I didn't spot them at Altnabreac or Dunrobin Castle unless they were hiding in a building, and didn't check Culrain.

Given that there are only 3 or 4 trains per day in each direction at Scotscalder, I think most people will arrive at least 10 minutes before hand so I doubt people being too late to press the button will be too much of a problem.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Given that there are only 3 or 4 trains per day in each direction at Scotscalder, I think most people will arrive at least 10 minutes before hand so I doubt people being too late to press the button will be too much of a problem.

It would be useful to know though. If it is the previous token exchange point, or station call, that could be some time before. There are instances where, despite your best intentions, you can be delayed and arrive at the station close to departure time eg stuck behind a tractor, roadworks, walk took longer than expected and many others.

It is good to see that the equipment confirms your request (by turning green), that would probably be my biggest concern other than getting to the station.

 

[najaB]

It is good to see that the equipment confirms your request (by turning green), that would probably be my biggest concern other than getting to the station.

I'm wondering if the information going green confirms that the button has been pressed, or (preferably) that the signal has been received by the driver.

 

[Railsigns]

I'm wondering if the information going green confirms that the button has been pressed, or (preferably) that the signal has been received by the driver.

It confirms that the stop request is stored in the system. The 'stop' message is only sent to the train when it's close to reaching the point where the driver has to decide whether or not to start braking for the station stop.

 

[P Binnersley]

I noticed these at a request halt on the Salzberger Lokalbahn (Arnsdorf .b Lamprechtshausen https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@47.9698148,12.9341295,374m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0). There was a panel inside the shelter with two buttons: the user pressed one according to the direction they wanted to go to request the train to stop. I don't know how it was worked - perhaps set a signal to red or sent a message to the cab?

I suppose the rationale is to allow unrequested trains to pass at higher speeds, to avoid danger from people who fear the driver might not see them who stand at the edge of the platform to wave (perhaps with arm extended beyond the platform edge) and to suit disabled people who may not be able to wave clearly.

I visited the Salzberger Lokalbahn the 1990's It operated a white flashing light at the station in the drivers line of sight (Like this one at Oberndorf). They timed out after 5-10 minutes and my train went sailing past. Fortunately it was a 30 minute service.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I'm wondering if the information going green confirms that the button has been pressed, or (preferably) that the signal has been received by the driver.

Other than playing on my insecurities, I'm not bothered. I have made my request and the request has been accepted. There is only so much I can be personally responsible for! Failure to subsequently stop, whilst inconvenient to me with such a low train frequency, is for Scotrail and Network Rail to resolve. Having said that, like a 'ticket machine out of order' or 'ticket office closed' before boarding ticketless I may nowadays be inclined to take a picture with my phone as an evidence trail. In a similar mindset I would check the terminal a few minutes before the due time to ensure it was still saying 'this service will stop' and, as per @jawr256 , I would make myself visible on the platform as the train approached.

 

[najaB]

It confirms that the stop request is stored in the system. The 'stop' message is only sent to the train when it's close to reaching the point where the driver has to decide whether or not to start braking for the station stop.

That's just as good - the main thing is that it fails 'safe' in that there's no danger of the button press not being acknowledged by the system.

 

[_toommm_]

I’ve seen today that more screens (albeit currently taped out in use) have been installed at Kildonan, Rogart and Culrain. Chances are they’re installed at the other request stops too, I just missed them.

 

[jawr256]

I’ve seen today that more screens (albeit currently taped out in use) have been installed at Kildonan, Rogart and Culrain. Chances are they’re installed at the other request stops too, I just missed them.

Yes, that was also true for Kinbrace and Invershin when I visited at the start of the month. Didn't spot any at Altnabreac or Dunrobin Castle though

 

[CEN60]

Yes, that was also true for Kinbrace and Invershin when I visited at the start of the month. Didn't spot any at Altnabreac or Dunrobin Castle though

The plan is to install one at Altnbreac and increase the linespeed to 75 thru' the station (eventually)

 

[Blindtraveler]

So now this is actually implemented, how does it work? I appreciate there are photos here but that's not much help to me as I'm a blind screen reader user. I'm also someone that might spend so long finding the button that the train is halfway to the next request stop by the time I found it. Will the train stop if I do it the old-fashioned way? Some answers would be good

 

[najaB]

I'm also someone that might spend so long finding the button that the train is halfway to the next request stop by the time I found it.

Would you be likely to travelling to a request stop unassisted (genuine question)?

Will the train stop if I do it the old-fashioned way? Some answers would be good

Currently, yes. They may change things in the future but nothing has been publicly announced.