When to "pull the cord"?

[nick198]

I was intrigued as a passenger (I don't work in the industry but I am very interested in it) to read the discussion on medical emergencies.

It got me thinking - when should the emergency cord/handle/button be used?

It seems to me that if there's something wrong with a person, best to leave it until the next station and find staff in the meanwhile, if you can. If there's something wrong with the train, best to pull it right away.

Is this more or less the right assumption? If so, it would be great if this was explained more clearly when onboard.

Nick

 

[38Cto15E]

Many many moons ago (1984?) I was on the London to Ft William sleeper and being excited was awake early and looking out of the door window.
When we stopped at Arrochar (I think) it was still quite early (6ish), the train stopped and nobody got on and nobody was getting off, so the guard gave the driver right away and closed his door and window.
Once the train was moving someone got off the train and the movement of the train meant they were unable to shut the door.
I saw the door was swinging open so I pulled the chord.
When the train suddenly stopped it was enough for the door to swing shut.
I was able to explain to the guard what had happened and everyone was relaxed about the incident.

 

[noddingdonkey]

I would imagine it depends on the circumstances. Is it a stopping service or a long distance one? Can you attract the attention of the Guard or another member of staff in another way (Call for Aid perhaps?)

I would imagine that stopping the train in the middle nowhere is liable to delay medical treatment rather than hasten it.

 

[swt_passenger]

On many (most?) modern trains there are two separate 'handles', one to call the driver and another to stop the train in an emergency. On SWT Desiros they are on opposite sides of the doors. I think the instruction posters make it fairly clear which one to use, but I can't recall the wording from here...

 

[cf111]

Many many moons ago (1984?) I was on the London to Ft William sleeper and being excited was awake early and looking out of the door window.
When we stopped at Arrochar (I think) it was still quite early (6ish), the train stopped and nobody got on and nobody was getting off, so the guard gave the driver right away and closed his door and window.
Once the train was moving someone got off the train and the movement of the train meant they were unable to shut the door.
I saw the door was swinging open so I pulled the chord.
When the train suddenly stopped it was enough for the door to swing shut.
I was able to explain to the guard what had happened and everyone was relaxed about the incident.

A perfect example of when to pull the cord.

I suppose any decent answer would depend on the stock - if hitting the button/pulling the lever will stop the train then I wouldn't do so unless the train was on fire (or something like that) or we were in a station. If it was a "press to speak to the driver" button then I would do so in any emergency unless I could see the guard or it was quicker to get to them.

 

[BestWestern]

On many (most?) modern trains there are two separate 'handles', one to call the driver and another to stop the train in an emergency. On SWT Desiros they are on opposite sides of the doors. I think the instruction posters make it fairly clear which one to use, but I can't recall the wording from here...

Not quite... On all stock built since privatisation, and a few classes built shortly before it, the Passcom won't bring the train to a shuddering halt but instead attracts the attention of the Driver. On recent stuff there is an intercom facility and you are required to explain the issue, whereupon the Driver will decide whether the train needs to be halted where it is or if he should continue. The 'other' device will be the emergency door release - this does apply the brakes, but only to facilitate a safe evacuation once the door opens. On a Desiro this is two-stage; the instruction is to operate the lever a second time to open the door once the train is at a stand.

Other similar devices are the 'Call For Aid', which alerts staff but without the immediacy of a Passcom activation. Usually found in disabled-access toilets and in wheelchair areas.

 

[Antman]

The only time I've ever used one was on a slammer, some kids were larking about and the door (to quote one of them) "just came open". The braking slammed the door shut again and both driver and guard came along and once they were satisfied that nobody had fallen out we continued on our way. The guard did ask if I wouldn't mind giving him my contact details just to confirm what happened which I did but never heard anymore about it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was intrigued as a passenger (I don't work in the industry but I am very interested in it) to read the discussion on medical emergencies.

I've pulled it twice. One was on the District Line at Sloane Square (I think) when a young child's father appeared to be going in and out of consciousness (possibly drink, but hard to tell) and the kid was panicking. The staff quickly came along, took them off, reset it and off we went.

The other time was when the traincrew failed to come and let a cyclist out of a Pendolino at Brum International (you need a carriage key) - this was late in the day during "blockade buster" diversions, so had I not done so he may not have reached Euston without a 50 mile bike ride from MKC; in normal circumstances I probably wouldn't have done.

On neither occasion was I criticised for doing so. The approach in both cases was pull handle (in station) then frantically wave at staff to get the issue dealt with as quickly as possible. (Disappointingly on the Pendolino the driver failed to answer it himself).

 

[matt_world2004]

I pulled it twice. On the same train. Some little scrote shoved their oyster card in the ventalation fan of a central line train the carriage filled with smoke/dust so we pulled the cord at Greenford. However by the the the train had stopped it had cleared up.(I was only 19 myself) The driver was a bit suspicious at first he took a look at the ventalation shaft and then went back to his cab and continued driving. The train was clear and it got to shepherds bush. Loads of passengers piled on at shepherds bush and the train started to pull away within seconds of pulling away the carriage filled with smoke again causing a massive stampede to the opposite end of the carriage. Pulled the cord again , train taken out of service and we all caught the next one.

 

[TDK]

This is quite a grey area and it all depends on the scenario - However if there is danger that could cause injury or death the cord must be pulled be it a fault with the train or passenger in danger.

Reasons to pull the cord immediately :-

1. Train in danger
2. Suspected derailment
3. Fire on the train (some may disagree but I think it should be pulled)
4. Door open in traffic
5. You see someone trying to board and are trapped in the doors.
6. A broken window (both skins)

Reasons to pull the cord at a station:-

1. A person unwell
2. Fighting on the train
3. Someone behaving inappropriately
4. A door obstruction
5. Someone needing assistance to alight as the doors are closing.

There are many other reasons but these give you a rough idea.

 

[HowardGWR]

Just out of curiosity, why first No 6 (immediate)? If a window is broken, why not wait until the next stop?

 

[PermitToTravel]

AIUI the cord is primarily provided for platform-train interface issues? It should certainly be pulled if the train starts moving and someone is leaning on it, caught in the doors, about to fall in the gap, about to somehow manage to fall out, a door is on the catch, or something along those lines. I would think that pretty much any other problem is better solved by finding the guard or waiting for the next station?

 

[neilb62]

I've pulled it twice. One was on the District Line at Sloane Square (I think) when a young child's father appeared to be going in and out of consciousness (possibly drink, but hard to tell) and the kid was panicking. The staff quickly came along, took them off, reset it and off we went.

The other time was when the traincrew failed to come and let a cyclist out of a Pendolino at Brum International (you need a carriage key) - this was late in the day during "blockade buster" diversions, so had I not done so he may not have reached Euston without a 50 mile bike ride from MKC; in normal circumstances I probably wouldn't have done.

On neither occasion was I criticised for doing so. The approach in both cases was pull handle (in station) then frantically wave at staff to get the issue dealt with as quickly as possible. (Disappointingly on the Pendolino the driver failed to answer it himself).

As 'international' is a staffed station the cyclist is nothing to do with the train crew! It's up to station staff to get them on and off. And as you were either fully or partly in a station the Driver has no real need to answer the call....

 

[TDK]

Just out of curiosity, why first No 6 (immediate)? If a window is broken, why not wait until the next stop?

If both skins of a window are broken it could cause injury to anyone in that surrounding area especially if the train enters a tunnel where the window could possibly implode. Stop the train immediately and make the area safe then continue is by far best practice.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As 'international' is a staffed station the cyclist is nothing to do with the train crew! It's up to station staff to get them on and off. And as you were either fully or partly in a station the Driver has no real need to answer the call....

In that case the procedure on the handle needs changing, as "pull handle and speak to driver" is not correct when in a station.

 

[najaB]

I would think that pretty much any other problem is better solved by finding the guard or waiting for the next station?

Not if you have reason to believe that the train is derailed or similarly in immediate danger. AIUI, in the Eschede disaster the detached shoe came up through the floor of the train quite a while before the actual derailment. However procedure at the time required the guard to inspect the damage before requesting a stop. As a result of the delay the derailment happened right before the bridge and 101 people lost their lives.

If I was on a train and a six foot long piece of metal came up through the floor, the cord would be getting pulled!

 

[PermitToTravel]

Yes, that's a very important exception. If bits are falling off or into the train or the train is falling off the rails then the cord certainly should be pulled

 

[1018509]

This discussion leads onto "getting your supervisor to believe you that a derailment is ongoing while you are on the radio to him."

In was the shunter in a cabin between 20 odd sidings - a train with a seized motor came in on skates.

It partly negotiated a sharp bend then the third car derailed and started to come across the other roads towards my cabin pulling the rearmost two cars with it before it stopped.

The comments on the radio were not to be believed until it dawned that something was really up.

I suppose my running to a place of safety while reporting on the radio that the dud on 19 was coming in on 19, 18, 17 and 16 roads didn't help.

 

[neilb62]

In that case the procedure on the handle needs changing, as "pull handle and speak to driver" is not correct when in a station.

Or the Driver may have simply chosen not to speak to you, or more likely the handset to reply wasn't working! Our instruction is simply to reply if not busy ( by definition we would be with the alarm going off, overriding it and choosing when and where to stop) it not a time to be getting into conversation!

 

[TheNewNo2]

For ill passengers, the advice on LU is to wait until the next station, but of course stations come a lot more quickly on LU than other services.

 

[LowLevel]

Just out of curiosity, why first No 6 (immediate)? If a window is broken, why not wait until the next stop?

If both skins of a window are broken it is a serious safety of the line issue for several reasons. One, because it could shower the occupants of the train with glass as previous stated. Two, the cause needs to be investigated immediately. Scrotes chucking rocks are inconvenient and the police need to attend but far more seriously could be something like a freight train carrying stone or metal with a door open (my train has been showered with ballast before) - it needs to be stopped immediately before either it damages any more trains or it could quite easily kill someone on a platform or on the lineside. If both skins are gone unless it's a droplight or toilet window the carriage has to come out of service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not if you have reason to believe that the train is derailed or similarly in immediate danger. AIUI, in the Eschede disaster the detached shoe came up through the floor of the train quite a while before the actual derailment. However procedure at the time required the guard to inspect the damage before requesting a stop. As a result of the delay the derailment happened right before the bridge and 101 people lost their lives.



If I was on a train and a six foot long piece of metal came up through the floor, the cord would be getting pulled!

Quite. Notably German trains, certainly ICEs, have a dual facility - a red emergency brake handle, and a green passcom. I would definitely have gone for the red one in that case. The green one would be good for most other problems.

 

[PermitToTravel]

For ill passengers, the advice on LU is to wait until the next station, but of course stations come a lot more quickly on LU than other services.

An exception is the Metropolitan line through Neasden or Willesden Green (or Wembley Park southbound in the morning peak), or the Piccadilly line through Turnham Green, where there are platforms at open staffed stations that trains will usually run through non-stop and an ill passenger could be off the train several minutes faster. All four of those stations have defibrillators so I could imagine a handle being pulled there making a difference

 

[broadgage]

Over the years, I have pulled the emergency cord several times, all on slam door stock.
Once was a door open, I suspect that kids had opened it deliberately, but no matter what the reason it clearly needed an immediate stop.
Another time was a fire on board, a drunk was asleep and has friends thought it funny to ignite newspapers under the seat. Again a proper reason for stopping the train.
The third time was when the train was struck by something substantial when passing a worksite. Neither the driver nor the guard was aware of anything amiss, and both doubted my version of events until they saw the dent along half of one carriage ! (I later heard that the train that I was on had struck a partially open door of a freight wagon being used for engineering work on the adjacent track)

This may seem a lot, but it was spread over thirty years of frequent rail travel, much of it in the late evenings when things are arguably more likely to go wrong.

 

[BestWestern]

Yes, that's a very important exception. If bits are falling off or into the train or the train is falling off the rails then the cord certainly should be pulled

Unless it's a broken traction rod on a Mk3, in which case there is a strict instruction (to crew, of course) NOT to pull it! I've always considered it's pretty likely a passenger would pull it anyhow, but there we go!

 

[PermitToTravel]

hock: what happens if it's then pulled?

 

[BestWestern]

hock: what happens if it's then pulled?

Supposedly, the sudden braking can cause the then very unstable bogie to derail...

The broken rod is indicated by the carriage concerned oscillating violently. The correct procedure for the Guard then is to contact the Driver or, failing that, operate the brake valve in a power car luggage van and gently bring the train to a stop.

Whether the derailment theory has even been tested, or indeed if a traction rod has ever actually failed, I have no idea.

 

[Sleepy]

Answer given !

 

[PermitToTravel]

That's not a scary thought at all(!)

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Unless it's a broken traction rod on a Mk3,

Is a "traction rod" where the bogie is connected to the body of the coach?