Why the T-key for West Croydon terminators?

[Fincra5]

For a while, there was a Thameslink service that would terminate at Bromley and then run empty to Bellingham Sidings, so the platform staff would need to assist in de-training any stragglers. The driver would close the doors with a member of staff on board at the back, walk through the train towards the front, and then another member of staff would use the external egress handle to let the staff off at the front. The drivers didn't always like them doing this, as if the egress had been used too many times that day, the computer would apparently throw an exception code and shut down, requiring a power down and reboot, which could take quite a long time.

I think at some point they realised they can open the local door from the inside with a door key, and this doesn't cause the computer to throw a tantrum.

You can use the GOP to open a local door (at doors where' a GOP is located). But you also have to close it from the GOP and then leave via the cab....

 

[ComUtoR]

It may suit some crews, but the fact that there's yet another modification pending is a reflection on the apparent lack of design foresight applied to these units.

There isn't anything wrong with the design. It's just another example of the railways fear of change.

Rather than change policy and adapt to the newer units they are trying to crowbar out of date procedures into new train designs.

At a time where there is a desire to save money, why mod something that doesn't really need changing ?

 

[physics34]

One thing I've always found odd is how kids and vandals haven't found out their purpose and started locking out coaches for a laugh. Perhaps "security through obscurity" works!

(On quite a lot of stock e.g. 350s they are just pushbuttons like the door open button, but unmarked, so technically anybody could press one)

Kids have done this to my 455 at streatham. Annoying but of course all i had to do in the cab is just rerelease the doors lol

 

[Royston Vasey]

first class de-classified at one end (meaning you can be 11 cars away from it if not aware!) - all rather a mess.

No you can't. First Class is always at the front. Stand at the front end of the platform and First Class will be exactly where you're standing. Stand at the back end of the platform and you're in Standard.

You're probably more likely to have people with First Class tickets blissfully unaware that they're in a Standard Class area.

 

[Aictos]

The other reason for staff to terminate a service and I'm going use Thameslink as a example here:

Firstly they board via the rear cab on the Class 700 and should make a announcement stating the doors are about to be closed although the driver can also make this announcement then the station staff request the driver to close the doors using the cab to cab comms.

Once the doors have been closed, they then walk though the entire train.

Their job at this point is to make sure that 1. ensure no passengers are still onboard and if so they use the local door release on the GOP to allow the passenger off the train, 2. To carry out a security check by carrying out the HOT
procedure and also 3. To check for any lost property.

Once they have completed this, they then confirm to the driver that the train is secure and there's no problems.

Upon this, the driver then departs to its next location.

The terminating procedure is different per each type of train for example, ex BR Mk3 EMUs eg Classes 313, 317, 365 etc all had a rubber button at the end of one coach that when pressed then locked off the doors in that coach, Class 377s etc use a T key to carry this out so the procedure is different depending on the train involved.

*For those wondering what the HOT procedure is, it's short for Is it Hidden? Is it Obvious? Is it Typical? This procedure has to be carried out if the train is being taken out of service with no exceptions.