Thameslink Driver taken ill at Elephant & Castle this evening?

[DelayRepay]

Yes it has. I think it was last year, I was on an FCC train stopped at Elephant and Castle. The driver was out of his cab trying to fix a door problem in the rear (8th) carriage on a 319.

Are there any trains where passengers can contact "someone" via the help points (other than the driver)?

I don't want to get into scenarios but it is not uncommon to lose mobile signal on a train. If the alarms could go to a control room as well as the driver this would help. Maybe they could be similar to the ones on stations (general query and emergency) and connect to the same place.
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Another possibilitty if, as happened here the driver (brave bloke and hats off to him) managed to get the train to a station and release the doors then a platform help point could also be used to contact the TOC. Hope this chap recovers and gets back where he belongs, i.e. on the rails soon

Releasing the doors isn't a problem, a passenger could do that with the emergency handle. To me the biggest concern is, if the train comes to a stop how does anyone know the driver is ill? Unless he can open his cab door, most of the passengers would probably just grumble about another delay and tweet the TOC to complain that the driver wasn't making any announcements.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

If the driver doesn't acknowledge the vigilance device after a certain amount of time would that trigger (possibly automatically) a GSM-R call from the relevant signaller to the driver?

Hope the driver of the train recovers

 

[oversteer]

I will preface this by saying that I am more than happy for people to correct/shout at me if this is not good advice!

If you were able to gain access to the driving cab to tend to the driver and they hadn't or were unable to raise help themselves then the best thing to do would be to hit the big red button with the picture of the train on it on the radio in the attached picture which will connect you to the signaler, I'd dial 999 as well.

That's interesting to know.
The only thing I'd suggest is to make sure 999 gets called first - they will give you first aid advice which IMO would be the first priority over contacting the signaller, assuming of course the train itself is OK

 

[bionic]

I heard yesterday that it was not a heart attack but a bad case of food poisoning and the driver is recovering at home.

 

[Antman]

I heard yesterday that it was not a heart attack but a bad case of food poisoning and the driver is recovering at home.

Well that is good news, doesn't say much about canteen facilities though

Just out of interest, if a driver becomes incapacitated between stations and there is a guard on the train would the guard be authorised to drive the train to the next station where medical help would be much quicker?

 

[Dieseldriver]

Regarding the DSD alarm with GSMR radio. On the stock I drive, if you leave the master controller in forward with the brake handle in emergency, a DSD alarm won't be sent. What this would mean is if it was DOO, the driver became seriously unwell and brought the train to a stand with an emergency application, no alarm would be sent to the signaller.

 

[RichardN]

Yes, they can, with GSM-R. It'd be interesting to know if it's ever actually happened outside of a training scenario though.

I've been on a train which played a retirement "good luck" message to a signaller (who was travelling at the time) patched from Three Bridges. It was preceded by an announcement from a driver, saying he had a message from Three Bridges signalling control.

 

[BestWestern]

DOO - cross your fingers and hope for the best, as always.

 

[tony6499]

Well that is good news, doesn't say much about canteen facilities though

Just out of interest, if a driver becomes incapacitated between stations and there is a guard on the train would the guard be authorised to drive the train to the next station where medical help would be much quicker?

No the guard can't drive a train, only protect it and summon relevant assistance

 

[Mojo]

As far as I'm concerned, the real issue here is not the lack of a guard on the train, but the lack of station staff to assist. They would be in a much better position to request and meet an ambulance, provide care and compassion to the driver in a comfortable place away from the prying eyes of the public and the train, and provide alternative transport advice to customers affected.

 

[455driver]

Yes, they can, with GSM-R. It'd be interesting to know if it's ever actually happened outside of a training scenario though.

When I worked for SWT I had it a few times when the signalman has made a PA call on the train informing the Guard of a platform change which meant the train had to call at a short platform and would require SDO being used, I had already informed the Guard of this after seeing the signal!

It can be a very useful tool when used properly, whether the overworked signallers in these ROCs (when its all gone base over apex they will be overworked) will ever be able to use it properly is another debate we could have.

Wishing this chap the speediest of recoveries and hopefully it isnt anything serious!

 

[ADRboy]

Can the GSMR PA announcements only be made after a DSD call, or could they be used during times of disruption to give updates to passengers?

 

[carriageline]

I'm fairly sure you can use them whenever. But, if the service is that up the wall the last thing I want to do, or will have time for is giving travel advice to passengers on trains!

Also, hope the driver recovers fast and well!

 

[ADRboy]

I'm fairly sure you can use them whenever. But, if the service is that up the wall the last thing I want to do, or will have time for is giving travel advice to passengers on trains!

Also, hope the driver recovers fast and well!

Completely understandable, if you're the signaller then you've enough to deal with getting the service back to some sense of normality.

Was just wondering that if it is physically possible, could it be used by others at the TOC to do it/update the PIS screen etc. Obv without taking away from its main purpose.

Best wishes to the driver btw. Forgot to mention in my original post.

 

[Statto]

Aboard an FTPE 185 I think. Helicopter Heroes I think was the tv program! Sure the clip is available on BBC somewhere.

Up on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJPqIod2lKk

 

[GB]

Signaller being able to use the radio for PA announcements was part of CSR too wasn't it?

 

[SPADTrap]

From what I hear the driver requested his own ambulance via the GSM-R and then made a PA seeking any competent person to offer assistance which alerted an off duty nurse who happened to be travelling and came to help. Great professionalism in difficult circumstances. I hear the driver is also recovering.

 

[Carlisle]

Signaller being able to use the radio for PA announcements was part of CSR too wasn't it?

I think that's correct , wasn't it a condition of running a DOO train from their initial introduction over 30 years ago that this facility had to be available to the signalmen controlling their route

 

[Bald Rick]

I think that's correct , wasn't it a condition of running a DOO train from their initial introduction over 30 years ago that this facility had to be available to the signalmen controlling their route

It is correct, signallers can make announcements direct to train under GSMR and CSR. And it is done, just not often. Allegedly, in some PSBs, late turn signallers would put in their orders from the chippy to the night team on their way in.

Hope the driver gets well.

 

[TUC]

Is that a serious concern? I kind of think if I'm suffering a heart attack then the niceties of the rulebook can go hang.

Hear hear!

 

[tsr]

Was just wondering that if it is physically possible, could it be used by others at the TOC to do it/update the PIS screen etc. Obv without taking away from its main purpose.

Trial systems are in place to provide live disruption info on screens onboard some Southern 377s. Not sure of the connection type though. Also curious as to how the Victoria Line '09 stock updates its connection/disruption information underground in a non-GSMR area. Presumably messages can be sent over a dedicated channel on the bespoke radio network.

New Class 700s should be able to display live info on the displays, as well as all manner of other things!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Putting the tech discussion aside, any news on the driver, has he recovered or is recovering?

 

[Daniel]

Also curious as to how the Victoria Line '09 stock updates its connection/disruption information underground in a non-GSMR area. Presumably messages can be sent over a dedicated channel on the bespoke radio network.

LU don't use GSMR, instead they use 'Connect'. The ability for service control to make a PA to the train over the radio is available on Connect too, for those who were wondering. The disruption information you are referring to is fed to the train through the connect system by the individual Line Information Specialist.