Use of horns

[Rescars]

The Highway Code states that drivers of road vehicles MUST NOT sound their horns between 23.30 and 07.00 in built-up areas, except in cases of emergency. Can anyone please advise if similar restraints are placed on train drivers?

(Mods: I hope I have posted this query in the right place. Please shunt it appropriately if l haven't)

 

[dk1]

Train horns must be sounded at all whistle boards from 06:00-23:59. They may also be sounded 24hrs a day to warn workers on or near the line and for any other reason the driver feels necessary. Hope that explains.

 

[BrokenSam]

The Highway Code states that drivers of road vehicles MUST NOT sound their horns between 23.30 and 07.00 in built-up areas, except in cases of emergency. Can anyone please advise if similar restraints are placed on train drivers?

(Mods: I hope I have posted this query in the right place. Please shunt it appropriately if l haven't)

Train Drivers shouldn't use it between 23.59 and 6.00 unless you feel there's a need to for safety reasons.

 

[LowLevel]

Not so much a restraint but there are "quiet hours" between 2359 and 0600 where the driver shouldn't use the horn for whistle boards, otherwise in an emergency or when a person is seen near the line they should be used 24 hours a day.

 

[Rescars]

Many thanks for your replies all, very much appreciated.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Until December 2016 the ‘quiet time’ was a bit closer to the Highway Code’s at 2300-0700, but from that date an hour was removed from each end to create the timings mentioned above.

 

[Kilopylae]

Until December 2016 the ‘quiet time’ was a bit closer to the Highway Code’s at 2300-0700, but from that date an hour was removed from each end to create the timings mentioned above.

Any rationale given for the change?

 

[dk1]

Any rationale given for the change?

There was strong evidence that many crossings particularly those used by farmers had greater use than expected outside the original hours when horns sounded so hence the change.

 

[Peter0124]

What are the rules of using horns in tunnelled stations? Especially unnecessary use.

 

[dk1]

What are the rules of using horns in tunnelled stations? Especially unnecessary use.

There are none. If the driver feels it’s necessary it’s used.

 

[43066]

Not so much a restraint but there are "quiet hours" between 2359 and 0600 where the driver shouldn't use the horn for whistle boards, otherwise in an emergency or when a person is seen near the line they should be used 24 hours a day.

Sometimes the horn ends up being used most of all late at night, for example on the MML when heading south along the slows/fasts alongside a possession.

What are the rules of using horns in tunnelled stations? Especially unnecessary use.

None. There is absolute discretion to use it whenever you consider it necessary. I have blown the horn in London terminal stations before which always gets a reaction!

 

[Peter0124]

There are none. If the driver feels it’s necessary it’s used.

Surely pleasing someone filming (from a place of safety), to the deafening detriment of others, isn't necessary.

 

[driver9000]

Train Drivers shouldn't use it between 23.59 and 6.00 unless you feel there's a need to for safety reasons.

That only applies to Whistle boards.

 

[43066]

Surely pleasing someone filming (from a place of safety), to the deafening detriment of others, isn't necessary.

That’s entirely up to the driver in question. They could always justify it by saying they perceived that someone was close to the platform edge, or whatever. Nobody is ever going to tell a driver not to blow up when they feel they need to.

 

[BrokenSam]

That only applies to Whistle boards.

Yesh should've said.

 

[172007]

Certainly at Tyseley depot every move a train makes the horn (soft low (still quite loud)) must be sounded 24hrs a day for safety reasons.

 

[cool110]

A lot of the newer stock have depot whistles that aren't as loud as the main horn for those cases.

 

[dk1]

Surely pleasing someone filming (from a place of safety), to the deafening detriment of others, isn't necessary.

You didn't mention pleasing anybody. I would never do that. It's only for safety reasons.

Nothing annoys me more than getting the 'pull the horn' sign from a spotter.

 

[skyhigh]

Nothing annoys me more than getting the 'pull the horn' sign from a spotter.

I make a point of ignoring it

 

[Efini92]

You didn't mention pleasing anybody. I would never do that. It's only for safety reasons.

Nothing annoys me more than getting the 'pull the horn' sign from a spotter.

I always thought they were giving me the hand signal to create a vacuum.

 

[dk1]

I always thought they were giving me the hand signal to create a vacuum.

If only

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2024 ==

I make a point of ignoring it

So annoying from anybody but when it's grown adults

 

[Skeletor]

Any worksite I’ve been working on has horns throughout the night.

Anytime an Engineering train makes a movement they sound the horn.

 

[357]

Surely pleasing someone filming (from a place of safety), to the deafening detriment of others, isn't necessary.

While it might please the person filming, the use of the horn is almost always because they are standing too close to the edge of the platform.

 

[Bigfoot]

That’s entirely up to the driver in question. They could always justify it by saying they perceived that someone was close to the platform edge, or whatever. Nobody is ever going to tell a driver not to blow up when they feel they need to.

There has been many a traincrew bulletin issued reminding drivers of the rulebook rules for horny blowing due to complaints from people who live near bridges etc. Although the company could never say do not blow the horn at xxxx location as they would be liable should an incident occur that potentially could have been prevented by a horn blast. It's always the drivers decision.

I rarely blow to the arm pull of a spotter, but might blow up for some kids and parents on a bridge if I'm far enough away to not be terrifying. I have had parents ask for the horn to be blown as I leave a platform for their small child stood at the end but have refused, mostly because I witnessed a driver do the same and the child screamed and cried for the following 20 minutes!

 

[Sly Old Fox]

Never blow for the horn for anyone doing the idiotic horn hand gesture. Maybe they’ll stop it at some point.

 

[RailwayRookie]

There's a driver down my way that gives the depot whistle a toot when there are very young kids with their parents waving at the trains. Seems like a suitable middle ground

 

[Efini92]

There has been many a traincrew bulletin issued reminding drivers of the rulebook rules for horny blowing due to complaints from people who live near bridges

I can see why that would get complaints

 

[sprunt]

What's the purpose of whistle boards? Specifically, why is it important to sound the horn when passing them except from midnight to 6 am, or to put it the other way around, if sounding the horn can be avoided during those hours why is it required outside of them?

 

[dk1]

What's the purpose of whistle boards? Specifically, why is it important to sound the horn when passing them except from midnight to 6 am, or to put it the other way around, if sounding the horn can be avoided during those hours why is it required outside of them?

Are you seriously asking that question?

 

[66701GBRF]

What's the purpose of whistle boards? Specifically, why is it important to sound the horn when passing them except from midnight to 6 am, or to put it the other way around, if sounding the horn can be avoided during those hours why is it required outside of them?

They are generally on approach to foot crossings that have limited sight for users. Not many users between midnight and 6.