Great Western Coffee Shop

As I got off the 1630 Padd to Taunton tonight at Nailsea I noticed that the leading door in the second coach was ajar. (I have a habit of checking.) Doors were locked by this stage and train was starting to move.

So I duly waved both hand above my head very obviously at the TM who was at the rear of Coach B, and pointed at said door. Don't think I could have been more obvious. He clearly saw me. I continued waving until he passed and then shouted that the door was ajar. Only then did he bring the train to a halt, by which time only the rear coach was still on the platform.

My question is - given such an obvious signal to the TM that there was a problem, shouldn't he have stopped the train immediately? And if not, why bother looking out until the train is completely clear of the platform? Train was already 10 down, so maybe he was hoping not to delay it any further.         

simple reason is you could have been anyone just messing around,he probably did not even realise what you were on about until you shouted the about the problem.as soon as he was aware it was a door "on catch" then he stopped the train to go and check it.

In fairness, lots of people wave there hands around etc. I am glad I am not the only 1 who has a habbit of 'checking the train' when I get of a HST!

Fair point, but it was a very slow measured waving, whilst looking at the TM and pointing at the door. I don't think there was anything about my demeanour or look (a 40+ man in a business suit with a briefcase) that would have suggested I might have been messing about. Mind you, I suppose I might have just left a ^180k violin on the train.  :D 

Surely if a door is on the catch, the guards can just tug it shut from inside, without stopping the train?

It is not as if the door will spring open.

If there is any potential problem where a train door can open during the journey at any speed the rulebook IIRC says that the train must be stopped immediately and the offending door closed.

Dont think so. If the CDL was to fail the door could open.

Shout at someone inside to pull the alarm, much better and it actually says to do that on the notices.
Once I saw a HST in Penzance p4 with the platform side door ajar. As that was the side which is not normally platformed it was obviously open a long time, pottentially dangerous.

Quote from 52 rule book:

1/ The most important signal ^ ALL STOP. This is given with both arms straight up, palms forward, and requires a full and immediate brake application under ALL circumstances. If the reason is not clear, the driver should make the train safe and then seek clarification. On a moving train it may not be possible to raise both arms, so an alternative is to raise and lower rapidly from the shoulder, an outstretched arm, palm facing down.

This should be given facing the driver or Guard (Train Manager).

As far as I know this is still the universal stop signal which should be obeyed irrespective of who gives it.  The train should be bought to an immediate stand, the driver can argue afterwards if they should have been stopped. Presumably you could be procecuted for making a false signal.

The railway should work on  fail safe principles so stopping a train is always a good first move even if nothing is found to be wrong and delay occurs.   



 

But you can't expect a member of the public to know this. All I could do from the platform was make the most obvious sign I could at the guard that there was a problem with the train.