ScotRail "Request to Stop" Ad

[Scott M]

Aware I am being pedantic here, but on the advert ScotRail have put out on social media to highlight how request to stop works, the train treats the situation as if it were a bus and stops so that the front door aligns with the passengers on the platform (see attached photo for stopping position).

Only problem with this is that it appears the rear door has not made it to the platform. Would this be a potential safety issue re: a passenger on the train opening the rear door, or can the driver choose to only activate the front doors?

Fully aware that this has probably only been done for the purpose of the video and that in operation they wouldn’t risk any safety issues.

 

[najaB]

Only problem with this is that it appears the rear door has not made it to the platform. Would this be a potential safety issue re: a passenger on the train opening the rear door, or can the driver choose to only activate the front doors?

On short platforms Scotrail use local-door operation. Only the door that the guard is at will open, all others remain locked.

 

[Essan]

It's not unusual on the WHL (and presumable therefore, the Kyle and Far North as well) for only one door to be opened.

 

[Starmill]

Aware I am being pedantic here, but on the advert ScotRail have put out on social media to highlight how request to stop works, the train treats the situation as if it were a bus and stops so that the front door aligns with the passengers on the platform (see attached photo for stopping position).

Only problem with this is that it appears the rear door has not made it to the platform. Would this be a potential safety issue re: a passenger on the train opening the rear door, or can the driver choose to only activate the front doors?

Fully aware that this has probably only been done for the purpose of the video and that in operation they wouldn’t risk any safety issues.

The train probably isn't actually stopped in the photo.

 

[800001]

Aware I am being pedantic here, but on the advert ScotRail have put out on social media to highlight how request to stop works, the train treats the situation as if it were a bus and stops so that the front door aligns with the passengers on the platform (see attached photo for stopping position).

Only problem with this is that it appears the rear door has not made it to the platform. Would this be a potential safety issue re: a passenger on the train opening the rear door, or can the driver choose to only activate the front doors?

Fully aware that this has probably only been done for the purpose of the video and that in operation they wouldn’t risk any safety issues.

There are some Scotrail stations especially in the far north where the train does mug fit the platform (am sure there is one that doesn’t even fit one carriage).

 

[najaB]

There are some Scotrail stations especially in the far north where the train does mug fit the platform (am sure there is one that doesn’t even fit one carriage).

Conon Bridge station comes to mind. I think it *just* fits a 1-car 158, though it would be a matter of inches!

 

[The Puddock]

Conon Bridge station comes to mind. I think it *just* fits a 1-car 158, though it would be a matter of inches!

The platforms at Beauly and Conan Bridge are both 15m long so don’t fit an entire class 158 coach. The car stop markers are positioned so that the middle two sets of doors (the inner doors of both coaches) are platformed, and only one or other local door will be opened.

 

[Cails27]

Conon Bridge station comes to mind. I think it *just* fits a 1-car 158, though it would be a matter of inches!

Likewise Beauly which isn’t even a whole carriage length!

 

[najaB]

The platforms at Beauly and Conan Bridge are both 15m long so don’t fit an entire class 158 coach.

Likewise Beauly which isn’t even a whole carriage length!

Thanks both. I've not been up that way since about 2016 so the memory was a bit hazy.

 

[Essan]

There are some Scotrail stations especially in the far north where the train does mug fit the platform (am sure there is one that doesn’t even fit one carriage).

I think Locheil Outward Bound is only one carriage long too

Never known anyone to get on or off there. Always intrigues me as to why it's a scheduled stop whereas Lochailort isn't (every time I've been on the Mallaig line someone has boarded or disembarked at Lochailort )

 

[800Travel]

How do people get off at request stops? Is there a stop buzzer like a bus, or do they need to find the guard?

 

[najaB]

How do people get off at request stops? Is there a stop buzzer like a bus, or do they need to find the guard?

They have to tell the guard, though most guards will make a note of it when checking tickets.

 

[Essan]

How do people get off at request stops? Is there a stop buzzer like a bus, or do they need to find the guard?

There are announcements on the train to inform passengers that they need to contact a member of staff. The guards on these services tend to be quite proactive - indeed, it's usually the only time I get my ticket checked onboard a train between Evesham and Lochailort.

 

[Starmill]

The platforms at Beauly and Conan Bridge are both 15m long so don’t fit an entire class 158 coach. The car stop markers are positioned so that the middle two sets of doors (the inner doors of both coaches) are platformed, and only one or other local door will be opened.

This is precisely what makes me guess the pictured train hasn't actually stopped yet. In nearly all cases the guard would have the door next to the wheelchair spaces opened.

Obviously there could be rare cases where that's just not possible. On some trains where there are multiple wheelchair spaces in different coaches only one might be on the platform.

 

[sng7]

I think Locheil Outward Bound is only one carriage long too

Never known anyone to get on or off there. Always intrigues me as to why it's a scheduled stop whereas Lochailort isn't (every time I've been on the Mallaig line someone has boarded or disembarked at Lochailor

Isn't Loch Eil Outward bound a tocken exchange point for the RETB signalling system hence train may have to stop there anyway?

 

[Alvin_official]

I think Locheil Outward Bound is only one carriage long too

Never known anyone to get on or off there. Always intrigues me as to why it's a scheduled stop whereas Lochailort isn't (every time I've been on the Mallaig line someone has boarded or disembarked at Lochailort )

Possibly cause there's a outward bound centre there?

 

[Lucy1501]

Isn't Loch Eil Outward bound a tocken exchange point for the RETB signalling system hence train may have to stop there anyway?

A long section token can be issued to Glenfinnan rather than just to Loch Eil Outward Bound negating the need to stop there.

 

[Teds]

I have recently travelled on the far north line from Beauly. The guard announces which door will be opened in good time for any passengers to be at the door when the train stops. The guard steps off the train first and boards last. The guard on my train said that there were usually passengers at Beauly but far fewer at Conan Bridge. Incidentally, neither station is a request stop although not all services call. Northbound on the 0700 from Inverness, the crew changed at Lairg. The guard came through the train as soon as it left to check any tickets for passengers who boarded at Lairg and to check with everyone on the train to see if anyone wanted the request stops. Southbound, the guard checked tickets after every station. For boarding, some stations on the far north line now have panels on the station where passengers indicate that they want to board the train. This information is passed to the driver by radio. I noticed several stations where the train passed the request stop at a good speed. It confuses the PIS which gives the 'in station' announcement after the station has been passed.

 

[skyetraveller]

I have recently travelled on the far north line from Beauly. The guard announces which door will be opened in good time for any passengers to be at the door when the train stops. The guard steps off the train first and boards last. The guard on my train said that there were usually passengers at Beauly but far fewer at Conan Bridge. Incidentally, neither station is a request stop although not all services call. Northbound on the 0700 from Inverness, the crew changed at Lairg. The guard came through the train as soon as it left to check any tickets for passengers who boarded at Lairg and to check with everyone on the train to see if anyone wanted the request stops. Southbound, the guard checked tickets after every station. For boarding, some stations on the far north line now have panels on the station where passengers indicate that they want to board the train. This information is passed to the driver by radio. I noticed several stations where the train passed the request stop at a good speed. It confuses the PIS which gives the 'in station' announcement after the station has been passed.

Yes but that's better than the old system where the driver was responsible for moving the PIS on if the request stops weren't needed so you could arrive at Achnasheen to be told you were at Lochluichart, two stops back! The conductor on my train out of Kyle was excellent today, going through the train just before giving the RA to check if anyone needed Duirinish, 5 mins out, then doing a full ticket check and noting any other request stops.

 

[Falcon1200]

Never known anyone to get on or off there.

I nearly alighted there (Loch Eil Outward Bound) once! Way back in 1986, when it was still a request stop, BR sent a group of supervisory staff, including me, on a personal development course at the Outward Bound centre. The only problem was that not one of us thought to tell the Guard we wanted to get off there, so of course we sailed straight through!

 

[marks87]

The train probably isn't actually stopped in the photo.

This is precisely what makes me guess the pictured train hasn't actually stopped yet. In nearly all cases the guard would have the door next to the wheelchair spaces opened.

Obviously there could be rare cases where that's just not possible. On some trains where there are multiple wheelchair spaces in different coaches only one might be on the platform.

The photo in the original post is a still from a video. The attached is a screenshot of the same video at the point the train is fully stopped. It’s barely moved any further forward, if at all.

 

[CEN60]

For the record - the station in picture is Duncraig on the Kyle Line (Request Stop immediately before Plockton, on the way to Kyle, from memory its long enough for a 2 car 158.

 

[louis97]

It confuses the PIS which gives the 'in station' announcement after the station has been passed.

This isn't the PIS getting confused, I believe it is trigger by the driver pressing the 'PIS advance' button in the cab. The driver still needs to manually move on the PIS if the request stops are not required, or if a station with a local door is called at.

 

[Skiddaw]

Is Falls of Cruachan still a request stop? We once did a request stop there (we were climbing Ben Cruachan via the dam) and had to run the length of the train as only the doors in the front carriage were opened for us (and we were at the back of the train). I remember the guard was getting a bit impatient by the time we got there!

 

[Railsigns]

Is Falls of Cruachan still a request stop?

It hasn't been a request stop for many years.

 

[najaB]

Is Falls of Cruachan still a request stop?

Had a quick look on Realtime Trains and it doesn't look like it is.

 

[u12sdm]

For the record - the station in picture is Duncraig on the Kyle Line (Request Stop immediately before Plockton, on the way to Kyle, from memory its long enough for a 2 car 158.

It is indeed Duncraig but it is too short for a 158. Front door operation is in place at Duncraig and also at Attadale

 

[class350desiro]

Aware I am being pedantic here, but on the advert ScotRail have put out on social media to highlight how request to stop works, the train treats the situation as if it were a bus and stops so that the front door aligns with the passengers on the platform (see attached photo for stopping position).

Only problem with this is that it appears the rear door has not made it to the platform. Would this be a potential safety issue re: a passenger on the train opening the rear door, or can the driver choose to only activate the front doors?

Fully aware that this has probably only been done for the purpose of the video and that in operation they wouldn’t risk any safety issues.

guards can open just the one door whilst the others stay locked I’m pretty sure

 

[Kite159]

guards can open just the one door whilst the others stay locked I’m pretty sure

Local door only?

Sometimes it's the only way some trains can serve stations with short platforms

 

[transportphoto]

guards can open just the one door whilst the others stay locked I’m pretty sure

I’m not sure how local policy is applied in ScotRail, I know of at least one TOC which allows for the “local door” to be operated (front) and then any further platformed doors to be butterflied using the external handles.