Shortest Turnaround

[tsr]

Quite recently i saw a two coach 171 (171 730) get turned around at Uckfield in about just two minutes as it arrived in very late (typical GTR).

By no means unheard of. If a 171 is playing ball it doesn't take long at all to turn them round. Being a /7 or /8 improves the chances...

 

[swt class 450]

By no means unheard of. If a 171 is playing ball it doesn't take long at all to turn them round. Being a /7 or /8 improves the chances...

So do the 171/2 and 171/4 units take longer to turn around than the 171/7 and 171/8 units?

 

[LordCreed]

So do the 171/2 and 171/4 units take longer to turn around than the 171/7 and 171/8 units?

I could understand if the 171/2 and 171/7 were the quickest to turn around given they are two cars?

 

[tony6499]

Seaford branch in the rush hour used to have 4 minute turnaround which was pretty difficult to do especially if held at Lewes for a late running London

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I recall reading about turnarounds at the old (Wirral) Liverpool Central Low Level being a very slick operation utilizing crews waiting at the departure end of the platforms, and jumping on board as soon as the stock arrived.

I'd guess that the Stourbridge and Butetown branches have fairly quick turnarounds too.

 

[krus_aragon]

I recall reading about turnarounds at the old (Wirral) Liverpool Central Low Level being a very slick operation utilizing crews waiting at the departure end of the platforms, and jumping on board as soon as the stock arrived.

I'd guess that the Stourbridge and Butetown branches have fairly quick turnarounds too.

Butetown could be done quickly when required, but the timetable is slack enough (with no conflicting moves) that I've never seen it rushed.

 

[swt class 450]

I could understand if the 171/2 and 171/7 were the quickest to turn around given they are two cars?

Yes indeed unless they are coupled with other units. Maybe the 171/2 and 171/4 units have different Driver and/or Guard controls which makes it take longer than 171/7 and 171/8 units.

 

[Crossover]

Not timetabled, but I have seen the likes of Voyagers turn round at Piccadilly in under 5 mins in times of diruption

 

[plastictaffy]

We've got some 12 minute turnarounds at Euston in the morning peak.

 

[onlinespotting]

Delayed virgin trains services turn around in minutes at Manchester Piccadilly, boarding as soon as it has alighted

 

[Taunton]

I recall reading about turnarounds at the old (Wirral) Liverpool Central Low Level being a very slick operation utilizing crews waiting at the departure end of the platforms, and jumping on board as soon as the stock arrived.

Yes, it was indeed a slick bit of everyday working. I spent many moments in my younger years watching it on my way home, and there was a detailed thread about it here a while back.

It was designed and installed by Westinghouse in about 1905, with the conversion to electric operation, and the signal/point operation was completely automated. It lasted until around 1977 when the Loop Line replaced it. An island platform with a headshunt beyond, signals and points operated automatically and the rush hour turnround was 3 minutes from arrival to departure, with train frequency every 2.5 minutes. At moments there was a train each side of the island, with a third in the headshunt. The points were air-operated, and the HISS-BANG of them throwing was audible throughout the station.

The height of juvenile excitement was, inevitably, to slyly jump in on the arrival side after the porter had done the perfunctory throwing-out check, and ride into the headshunt and out again!

 

[theageofthetra]

2 min turnaround on the double manned morning and evening peak Bromley North- Grove Park shuttle.

 

[tsr]

So do the 171/2 and 171/4 units take longer to turn around than the 171/7 and 171/8 units?

I could understand if the 171/2 and 171/7 were the quickest to turn around given they are two cars?

Yes indeed unless they are coupled with other units. Maybe the 171/2 and 171/4 units have different Driver and/or Guard controls which makes it take longer than 171/7 and 171/8 units.

Broadly speaking, the controls are similar, but there are one or two things about the cab environments on the /2 and /4 refurbished units which have proved to throw up a few issues during the first few months of their operation. These include cab door interlocking and the PIS system. Something like this can easily lose a minute or two during a very tight turnaround, at best. Obviously there have been other problems as well but those would usually manifest themselves just as well (!) whilst on the move.

 

[Harbornite]

Stourbridge Town Shuttles have booked turnarounds of two minutes, one minute less than the journey time to Stourbridge Jn.