Southern DOO services 2012

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

I hope this in the right thread.

I was under the impression that all Southern services were Driver Only Operated (DOO) but looking in the 2012 Working Time Table (WTT), this doesn't seem to be the case, unless it's not quite accurate? It seem's that in the morning through the rush hour, all non-metro services (Brighton, Tonbridge, Eastbourne, Littlehampton, Hastings, Horsham via Three Bridges etc) to London are Guard operated (Except the Gatwick Express between Gatwick and Victoria) and come 9am, the services are Driver Only operated? Although for the rest of the day a majority are DOO, the Littlehamptons seem to be an exception.

Would have this been the case or are the 'D' notes missing for these in the WTT? Or were the doors operated by guards only on the morning Sussex - London services?


Any help is most appreciated!

James.

 

[clagmonster]

Until the recent dispute, everything that was longer than 10 coaches and everything to or via Hove, Horsham and Lewes, amongst others had a guard. As the bulk of trains in the peak were 12s, they were mainly guarded. Only the Metro, GatEx and Brighton main line trains were DOO, even then subject to them having 10 or less coaches.

These days, only trains to Watford / Milton Keynes, Guildford and those formed of 171s or 313s are guarded. I think 455s to Redhill or Horsham must also have a guard, but they have no booked work there any more.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Ahhh I see! That explains why the 1H Littlehampton's (via Hove) are all non-DOO, thank you!

I noticed the first off-peak Victoria, the 09.19 ex-Brighton is DOO, but before that they are mostly Guards to Gatwick and then DOO from there, as they are all 'extended' Gatwick Express Brighton starters with 442's. All 10 cars though I assume, and only guessing, because there is no in-cab monitors on 442's for the other stations like Preston Park, and is DOO from Gatwick as it's non-stop and Gatwick has 'CD/RA' displays??

 

[clagmonster]

Indeed - they needed a guard or dispatcher for the 442s. There was a point a couple of years went they actually employed dispatchers at places like Burgess Hill to allow the trains to run DOO.

 

[ThameslinkUser]

Gatwick has 'CD/RA' displays

Certain stations on the BML, Gatwick, Brighton and Haywards Heath for example, are dispatched by station staff, regardless of the trains' abilities to carry out DOO. I'm not fully certain of the reasons, so I won't comment on why, however I'm sure someone else will provide more information as to why without speculation/ guessing.