Great Western Coffee Shop

I've noticed TMs explictly asking passengers to close doors on exit (in order to speed up departure).  Wouldn't it be nice if they added '...and please close the window' afterwards?  I'm tired of getting up and shutting them to keep the -30 wind out between stops  >:(

I'm not sure what type of train you're talking about here? I'm guessing HSTs if there is a train manager.. But surely if it's an HST you don't notice if they are open or not if you're in the main carriage which are protected by internal dorrs?  It did make me think though, having got an HST to Slough from Paddington earlier, and having had to lean out the window to open the door (I'm never quite tall enough to do this in a ladylike fashion), I certainly didn't turn round after I'd got off the train, whilst the door was open and lots of people were getting off behind me, to shut the window... sorry ;D ;D ;D

Agreed, Jo - HSTs.  The problem is, their automatic vestibule doors do seem to have a mind of their own - many of them opening and closing, apparently at random, or even just staying open, to let the recent Arctic air into the carriages!  ::)

I therefore make a point of closing the droplight, after I've leaned out to open the carriage door whenever alighting from an HST - but many other passengers don't, I've noticed.

Good point, mukaumedia!  ;)

You do notice the temperature change if you are sat near the vestibule ends on an HST. Every time someone walks through the carriage or at stations you can get an icy chill!!! If I'm in standard and walk to the buffet I make a point of closing windows.

FGW staff are encouraged to close windows. It makes a noticable difference to fuel consumption by reducing drag, as well as helping the air con.

I will remember that in future, although is it the job of the first person off the carriage (turning round to shut the window might cause a people pile up at Slough it's that busy), or is it the job of the last person off (which makes more sense to me), or in fact someone in between? Oh and wouldn't it be nice to have nice electric doors that didn't rely on opening from outside?  :) :)

I've been led to believe (and experienced on packed trains) in the past that air con is for inside the carriages only, but not the door area.. So while I agree it will reduce drag (and if I'm lucky enough to be allowed on an HST like I was today I always close the open windows), I'm not sure how much it would affect the aircon inside the carriages, even if the internal open doors do open from time to time... :)

It should be the instinctive responsibility of the last person to leave through that door - if the first, or indeed any subsequent, passenger hasn't done so!  ;D

And don't start on the subject of electric doors for HSTs!  ::) :o ;D


Indeed: I believe Andrew Griffiths was involved in formulating a 'green policy' for FGW, which included issues such as affixing stickers to carriage doors, encouraging passengers to close all such windows whenever possible.

It really does make a difference: did any of you leave your windows at home wide open over the past few days??  :o ::)

C.  ;)

Short answer - of course they could ask passengers to close both doors and windows. But would the passengers listen? Unlikely, given that you have to open the window to open the door* and it therefore requires a bit of effort to close the window and slam the door! ;)

*Much to the chagrin of certain posters on this site, it must be said.

As Chris has mentioned the vestibule sliding doors do have a mind of there own ...there is a pressure mat in the floor on either side which when stood on should open the door, problem is a few passengers cant grasp this simple concept, and will stay put on the mat watching the door open and close, or stand off of it waiting for it to open.
Problems occour with door runners and air control mechanics occasionally which mean the door needs to be isolated, apparently to fix these doors is quite a major strip down job, something that needs to be done at major exam not at daily service. Also the temperature of the coaches is pre set at either summer or winter levels there is no thermostat to adjust , all the T/M can do is switch it on or off.

In a lot of cases, it should be the job of the last person boarding a HST to close the door (properly) and raise the droplight. Only close the door on alighting if last off and no-one is waiting to get on. Of course if you are public spirited you can raise droplights and close doors as you walk up the platform to an exit. Particularly helpful when the TM has to do his own despatching. Just make sure no-one is still attemping to alight!!

If I'm walking up the train I will close any open windows in winter, the noise reduction is often White significant particularly in the south west where people dump their luggage on the pressure pads. Likewise when opening the door I will try and shut the window.

Makes the on train environment much more pleasent.

it makes a massive difference to the HVAC system.

if the windows are open during winter when internal doors are opened it then cools down the inside of carriage thus making the heaters work harder,use more juice and put more load on alternator and engine and in turn use more fuel.
same goes for the summer when air con is running letting hot air in carriage means A/C has to work harder to try and achieve the optimum temp.

As mentioned above, having the Drop light windows open does increase Fuel Consumption due to Drag, Hence the little "green" stickers on the inside of the doors asking you to make a small difference to the environment and close the windows!

But also, since FGW changed the design of the Vestibule sliding doors to include the pull out glass/perspex with pull tab in to corner, to aid emergency exit.  With these the ventilation louvres are much wider than the old diagonal strips and on entering a tunnel with said windows open, the air flow through the carriage is quite noticeable!

The problem you have with expecting people to close windows is that when you get on the train yout first instinct is to try and find a seat, not to close a window.

Didn't they used to be sprung so they shut by themselves?

Never had this problem with the leather strap !

Surely, the person opening the door (when alighting) can close the window as well as opening it? You have to withdraw your arm through the window after opening the door, and it doesn't take many seconds to raise the window before pushing the door further open to alight!

It's what I do....

I always try to pull the window up if I'm the one that has opened the door. But many are quite stiff, and are much harder to pull up than push down, especially if you've only one free hand.

So if I have people behind me waiting to get off, and I can't do it at the first attempt, then I'll leave the train and leave it open.

It's what I do, too. It's probably what quite a large percentage of members of this forum do. However, for the average punter it's clearly not the obvious thing to do, otherwise more of them would do it. I doubt the stickers about the environment are noticed by more than a tiny fraction of the passengers either - but that's not to say they aren't a good idea.

I guess it could be added to the TM's announcement scripts, but I think the majority of us want those reduced, not added to!

Some of the crews on Cotswold Line HSTs have been asking people to close doors and windows in recent weeks - only common sense with temperatures hovering about zero and power snow blowing everywhere - and I was thanked a couple of time for closing windows while walking down the platform after getting off at Moreton.

All they need to do now is point out passengers can shut the doors on Turbos before all the heat is lost during station stops.

But I don't think the issue of draughts from open windows on Mk3s is anything new. It was noticeable way back in the 70s when the HSTs were introduced that you would get a draught as they slowed for stations or entered tunnels if a window was open. And back them some of the guards on the ECML services did ask for people to shut windows once they had got doors open - I've had 30-plus years' practice by now...

That's the point I'm trying not to swing out, hanging onto the door, with my arm still out the window  ;D ;D ;D

I think that comment mighht just giove your height away!

I can easily drop the handle, let the door open just off the hook, then reach back in, close the window & push the door open further....

There is a knack to it, but you can open the window, lean out, and then flick the window up at the same time as opening the door without having to pause or break your stride.  You sort of flick it up as part of the same action as glancing over your shoulder to see if their is anyone behind you waiting to get off.