TOCs who provide laptop sockets in stations

[brianthegiant]

I'm interested to get a straw poll of which station operators actively provide sockets in waiting rooms for people to plug in laptops & mobile chargers and which ones passively allow use of existing sockets.

I know eurostar and FGW have both installed 'laptop bars' with rows of sockets in some of their standard class waiting rooms, I'm interested if any other operators have done similar or in 1st lounges?

thanks, brian

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'm looking forward to the replies to your question (and I'm sorry that I can't answer it).

But I'd also be interested to know what other uses mains power sockets are put to . . . .
Contractors' power tools (or their power tool battery charger).
Hair driers (or hair straignters etc).
Shavers, (electric toothbrushes, etc.)
Kettles, toasters, microwave ovens.
Extension leads out of the window to who-knows-what.
Cleaner's vacuum cleaners

(and anything else)

 

[Jordy]

I've seen someone using hair straighteners on a 185 before! Not sure about plugs in waiting rooms, but its certainly a good idea.

 

[Fincra5]

Well they say Laptops and Mobile Phones only but I think they are standard supply plugs so you could use almost anything Would be funny for someone to plug in say a PS3 and TV

 

[westcoaster]

I know that on 319's the plug sockets run off the MA and as such only supply 110 volts, instead of an average supply of 240 volts you'd get in sockets at home.

 

[jopsuk]

Well they say Laptops and Mobile Phones only but I think they are standard supply plugs so you could use almost anything Would be funny for someone to plug in say a PS3 and TV

They'll be low power- reckon a TV and PS3 might blow the circuit breaker.

 

[wibble]

Well they say Laptops and Mobile Phones only but I think they are standard supply plugs so you could use almost anything Would be funny for someone to plug in say a PS3 and TV

Someone has wheeled a 27" CRT TV onto a Class 450 or 458, plugged it in and started watching it.... It was captured on CCTV!

 

[brianthegiant]

yes I think the 'laptops and mobiles only' rule is sensible, not just in terms of power consumption, but also because they're generally Class II (double insulated) so the electric shock risk is lower. Presumably this is how TOCs justify deviation from normal interpretation of the electricity at work (EAW) act (which is that all portable electrical appliances are pat tested). I think EAW would apply in stations, but not sure about on rolling stock