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Post by William Dargan on Jun 20, 2008 8:11:54 GMT
Sorry and all that but what does an "R" board stand for at the end of the country line at Sevenoaks? I had always assumed that was a speed restriction sign?? HOGW It's a reminder board - it's placed on the end of a platform where the warning board for a speed restriction has already been passed by the driver - just to remind him/her that after stopping, you've still got a speed restriction ahead of you.
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Post by genehuntisking on Jun 20, 2008 8:36:16 GMT
Sorry and all that but what does an "R" board stand for at the end of the country line at Sevenoaks? I had always assumed that was a speed restriction sign?? HOGW It is, but the "R" board is a reminder for trains that call at Sevenoaks, as the initial warning board should be somewhere round where the old signalbox was. The warning board will be showing "50" with a horizontal bar underneath with two white dots on, and there should also be an arrow pointing right to denote the restriction applies to the diversionary route. I believe the "R" board should also have an arrow underneath pointing right, although not 100% on that and stand to be corrected, not having seen it myself. All these boards are connected with the 50mph restriction through Sevenoaks Tunnel on the up line as there is a facility to run trains in the "wrong" direction on either line between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks known as SIMBIDS (short for SIMplified BIDirectional Signaling). Some of you may recall a disastrous morning at the start of April, when trains had to come up the down line due to electrical problems in Sevenoaks Tunnel on the up line, trains running over SIMBIDS from Tonbridge. Basically it is Single Line Working without the need to have a pilotman, and all done remotely from the signalbox. To digress slightly the need for reminder boards was introduced a while back as drivers were being distracted by station duties and forgetting about warnings one side of a station that applied to something after the station stop. One of the first instances was a large notice on the end of the platform at Wellingborough, asking drivers what the previous signal was showing. It was found that Wellingborough station was in the middle of a lengthy section, and drivers were acknowledging a single yellow then stopping at the station and after a few minutes opening up, then coming up against a red half a mile down the line. I hasten to add that this was not every driver by a long shot, but after it happened two or three times for the same reason something had to be done to prevent it. On a similar theme on the South Eastern area the more observant may notice between the banks of monitors at New Cross there is a mini banner repeater (round circle of white LEDs that either shows a black horizontal or diagonal bar). This was put in after a few near misses at New Cross. In the evening peak in particular, it was found that there were numerous occasions where a train would call at New Cross on the down slow platform, and while there a mainline train would be timed to overtake on the reversible and precede down the slow line. On a few occasions the drivers stopped, completed station duties and then shut the doors and went to move away against a red, and the mini repeater was put in so it was in the drivers line of vision while looking at the monitors, rather than a signal at right angles to the drivers line of vision (when doing station duties). Since the repeater was put in, there are now additional aids such as DRA and TPWS should the train move away, although I don't think there have been any close doers and go instances since it was put in. DRA is short for Drivers Reminder Appliance, and was designed to be operated when stood at red signals in a station. The driver pulls out a button which then lights up red if the signal on the end of the platform is red. This was designed to prevent "Ding ding and away" SPADs where guards would ring the bell and drivers automatically take power. The DRA prevents the unit taking power, the theory being the driver will see the DRA operated and then check the signal before moving away and won't move. Where there are platform staff to dispatch trains part of their dispatch is to check the signal is not red, before authorising the driver or guard to go, and guards too are supposed to check the signal before ringing the bell. But it is a belt and braces thing to put more and more into preventing Signals Passed At Danger. I should point out that all of the scenarios outlined above are rare, along the line of one in several thousand, however where the same problem occurs a handful of times means have been put in place to try and prevent recurrence. I'm afraid it makes me angry when all these things are overlooked, when you get the media driven "profit before safety" garbage that they chose to pedal at Britains Railways from time to time. Hope I haven't bored people too much, and congratulations if you've made it to the end! Gene Genie
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Post by vinne on Jun 20, 2008 8:47:14 GMT
The Reminder board or 'R' board is placed at the end of platforms,This is to remind a driver that he passed a warning board for a temporary speed restriction further back down the line.If I'm correct the speed restriction you refer to is only applicable in the down direction if simplified bi-directional signaling is in operation (simbids).i.e. down trains using the up line between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.Hope that makes sense.
vinne.
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Post by trainplanner on Jun 20, 2008 13:27:19 GMT
Good afternoon to all our good posters and commuters who use this message board and those who read but don't post. (Feel free to you don't have to register and southeastern won't find out who you are) I have, ladies and gents, good news for those who commute to cannon street in the morning, and suffer the 375/9 stock. It appears that south eastern have been testing a more comfortable seat (after negative feedback from passengers on existing seats) with considerably better padding. And after positive feedback from passengers and testers they are going to be retro fitting it across the 375/9 fleet.. Hurrah! The comments from yesterdays meet the manager session are also up on their website with quite indecent haste!: www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/main.php?page_id=795so feel free to go and have a look. Also of note is the following: "While we are confident that many of our passengers, including City workers, will benefit from HS1, we recognize that many will still wish to use Cannon Street as it is convenient for getting to work. We have raised this matter with the Department for Transport, and hope to provide an equally sufficient service into Cannon Street from December 2009" It is good that southeastern have formally recognized that the existing level of demand may not diminish much and are taking steps to deal with this with the DFT So now we wait and see what a sufficient service is! How are peoples commutes going? Regards TP
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Post by trainplanner on Jul 4, 2008 11:29:37 GMT
Ladies and Gents non commuters and commuters alike, good afternoon.
Do i judge that by the lack of postings on this board, that now the summer sun has returned that peoples commutes have generally improved to the point where they are experiencing no problems?
HAve south eastern managed to respond to everybodies comments and resolve all issues?
How are peoples commutes coming?
Regards
TP
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busman
Junior Member
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Post by busman on Jul 4, 2008 12:38:21 GMT
Ladies and Gents non commuters and commuters alike, good afternoon. Do i judge that by the lack of postings on this board, that now the summer sun has returned that peoples commutes have generally improved to the point where they are experiencing no problems? HAve south eastern managed to respond to everybodies comments and resolve all issues? How are peoples commutes coming? Regards TP # Apart from the cabling been stolen the other day at sole street its not be to bad. Has any one noticed how the builders are using the trains as a van to get items to sites in London, Paint, petrol disk grinders etc, and to day to top it all a length of steel air con ducting taking up about a 3rd of the rack. There must be a H&S issue with this,
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Post by lordbarne on Jul 4, 2008 12:50:30 GMT
The train service has almost been good of late, however it would be nice if the 'technical fault' with the on-platform monitors at Cannon Street was rectified. Would I be being cycnical to think that this will continue until such time as the rebuilding works are complete?
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Post by Ryan Webb on Jul 4, 2008 19:44:53 GMT
Was fun, fun, fun on the Sheerness Branch on Wednesday morning .... The Kingsferry Bridge (river bridge between Queenborough and Swale that crosses the River Swale) decided to play up, so the 0636 SSS-SIT was stopped at the signal before the bridge, and the 0657 SSS-SIT (that I was on) was held at Queenborough until the problem was fixed. After a bit of confusion, we were told by the conductor that we were to go back to Sheerness, and replacement transport found. Then after a quick chat to Sittingbourne box the driver said 'Nope, we're going to Sittingbourne'. Cue a flustered conductor trying to explain the problem in layman's terms to the general people of Sheppey, and, 20 minutes down, we were on our way. Apart from that incident, the line and stock have been trouble free, touch wood! PS Any news on the 466 refurbishment (Seen a few, don't look too bad - 466043 is missing a few seats!) or the return of the dreaded 508s to their old haunts?
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Neil
Junior Member
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Post by Neil on Jul 5, 2008 11:37:52 GMT
Yes. Mine has been okay too
I have to say that, since I moved to Ramsgate some nine months ago, I have had very few problems at all with the London - Ramsgte service
It's made long distance commuting more bearable
ETA
I knew I shouldn't have posted that
20 minutes late today due to freight train splitting at Fawkham Junction
Sometimes I think freight trains are more trouble than they are worth!!
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Neil
Junior Member
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Post by Neil on Jul 8, 2008 8:45:40 GMT
And to continue......
My train 17.12 CX Ramsgate was short formed yesterday (7 carriages) and pretty packed. This was due, in part, to one of my bugbears which is families who have been out and about in London travelling home on high usage services.
I know it's a bit intolerant!!!!!, but I honestly don't think it's that great for the kids or the commuters. The kids yesterday were moaning about lack of seats etc and it all got a bit fractious
Just an extra comment to my late running train yesterday. The SE site shows it 16 minutes late from Chatham but it was actually 20 minutes late at Victoria - doesn't make it sound quite so bad does it although I totally know that it wasn't SET's fault..
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Post by genehuntisking on Jul 8, 2008 10:46:02 GMT
And to continue...... My train 17.12 CX Ramsgate was short formed yesterday (7 carriages) and pretty packed. This was due, in part, to one of my bugbears which is families who have been out and about in London travelling home on high usage services. I know it's a bit intolerant!!!!!, but I honestly don't think it's that great for the kids or the commuters. The kids yesterday were moaning about lack of seats etc and it all got a bit fractious Just an extra comment to my late running train yesterday. The SE site shows it 16 minutes late from Chatham but it was actually 20 minutes late at Victoria - doesn't make it sound quite so bad does it although I totally know that it wasn't SET's fault.. 7 vice 8? At one point yesterday it looked like it was going to be 4 vice 8! It would seem there was a unit promised off maintenance, originally at 12.00, then 17.00, and ended up not being released at all. An extensive shuffle round provided a unit to make up 17.12 Charing Cross, but it was then found the depot had "played their joker" and were also running a 3 vice 4. It wasn't for the want of trying, while in the depot Louis Armstrongs "We have all the time in the world" gently burbled away in the background.... As for yesterday freight train failure early in the morning (it came apart) if you made London you look to have been fortunate. Midway through all the signalling at Slade Green crashed, and being the only diversionary route that Coastal drivers sign, some of the diverted trains had to give up at Dartford, with crews having no route knowledge via Sidcup or Bexleyheath. Many times the question has been asked why Ramsgate crews sign the most congested route from Dartford, when the Sidcup line is much quicker. I found out that when there was the cable theft at Cobhambury last week that those trains which ran via Sidcup (Faversham drivers sign all routes from Dartford), were only 4 and 7 minutes late over Hither Green, while the Ramsgate crews plodded their way up the congested North Kent line, and came out at St Johns between 15 and 20 minutes down. There's a moral there if only someone would take notice.... This of course before you get onto Dover and Victoria crews who don't sign any diversionary route via Dartford. This is usually dismissed as a minimal inconvenience, although as has been pointed out it only needs one crew at the front of the queue to stop all the rest. It doesn't matter what percentage do sign the diversion if the one at the front doesn't. Off now to howl at the moon, as more chance of getting a response. The Gene Genie
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Neil
Junior Member
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Post by Neil on Jul 8, 2008 13:59:51 GMT
Thanks gene I do realise that 7 instead of 8 isn't too bad at all!. Now if it wasn't for all those pesky kids it might not have been so crowded And I understand that there isn't much you can do if a freight train comes apart. I was more going on because of my (rash) statement that commuting has been okay for me That will teach me to keep my mouth shut Fwiw I think the SET staff do very well much of the time. The train crew and station staff are friendly and helpful and, generally, information is given when they have it
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Post by heofgreatwisdom on Jul 8, 2008 16:38:53 GMT
Neil. Wow !! That sort of comment should do your karma a power of good. Off the scale I should imagine.
HOGW
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Post by Richard Trevithick on Jul 8, 2008 23:19:20 GMT
Neil, You are right, off-peak / cheapo tickets should not be permitted on peak services. Unfortunately, look at what happened last year when FCC told this very bold decision - there was uproar amongst the off peak travellers (complaining that they'd paid half price for a ticket they weren't allowed to use when they wanted! ), and the media threw in a truckload of negative publicity to boot. Personally, I think FCC did the right thing and looked after their core business - the Goldcard holders. Unfortunately, a minority of low volume users kicked up a fuss. What's that saying about empty vessels bang the loudest??? Gene has hit the nail on the head. NOBODY at SET listens, they just assume they know best. Until this "I'm right even although I've only been in the job 5 mins (AND I have a degree)" culture changes, the railway will, rather sadly, stagnate as it is doing now. Right now, SET have a golden opportunity to make thousands of people happy, as well as substantially increasing it's profits, if only they'd listen! Kind regards, Richard
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Neil
Junior Member
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Post by Neil on Jul 9, 2008 8:36:52 GMT
Neil. Wow !! That sort of comment should do your karma a power of good. Off the scale I should imagine. HOGW Nothing like a good grovel. Especially if the staff read this forum I have found since I moved to Ramsgate that the staff are friendlier outside of London. To be honest, this is true in general of people outside of cities. I do realise the volume of queries they get at London termini is much much greater but the helpfulness of the staff at Ramsgate is noticeable. As an example they opened the men loos without quibble last weekend for my friend who had missed a train by a couple of minutes and had a 40 minute wait for the next one
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