Great Western Coffee Shop

Killing time at London Waterloo the other evening I was mildly amused to hear several platform alteration announcements for arriving services:

"This is a platform alteration, the xx:xx from anytown will now arrive on Platform x. This is a platform alteration. This train terminates here."

I should jolly well hope these trains were terminating. Make a bit of a mess of the concourse if they weren't!   ::) ;) ;D

A friend who used to work for Railtrack at Swindon had an amusing story about the auto-announcements there. Not sure how up to date this is, but apparently a while back the PIS used train headcodes to work out what was stopping, so anything with the appropriate 1X** or 2X** headcode would be announced as a service calling at the station. However when an empty unit ran into the bay platform to work a Cheltenham/Gloucester train it would be a class 5 headcode, which the system would then announce as "please stand well away from the edge of platform 2, the approaching train is not scheduled to stop at this station".

He said to me "A few times in the summer when we had the windows open we'd have a look outside to await the impending carnage, but nothing ever happened"...

Another amusing one I've heard at Temple Meads: "Bristol Temple Meads, this is Bristol Temple Meads.  The train now standing at platform 11 is the xx:xx to somewhere.  This is the service from Bristol Temple Meads."  Seems to occur when the train has just moved from platform 12 to 11!

You could say the same for Swansea and Carmarthen (both of which are dead ends) but trains some train services are not regarding as terminating there, they of course reverse and continue west/east as appropriate.

Announcing a train approaching a bay platform and not scheduled to stop though, now that would be rather funny.

Since they re-did the announcments at BHM, Phil and Celia seem to spend more time announcing trains FROM London Euston on the concourse than doing departures!

"Platform x for the xx:xx Virgin Pendolino service from London Euston. This train will terminate here."

and then (on the platform BEFORE the train has come to a halt and the doors opened)

"All change please, all change, this train terminates here".

I wish we had old Phil back...

Happens all the time with arrivval of terminating trains from the East at Cardiff Central when changed from Platform 3 to 4 or vice versa.l.

They have the same problem at St Pancras for South Eastern High Speed services. Before the train is stationary and the doors open, you hear:
"Platform x for the xx:xx South Eastern high speed service from XYZ. This train will terminate here"
"All change please, all change, this train terminates here"

Here's a scary thought... In Spain, they unlock the train doors BEFORE the train comes to a complete stop. Yes it's going very slow when the central locking device is released, but it will still be moving!

I experienced this when the train was coming into Atocha Station and I had my hand on the "Open Door" button ready to press once the train had stopped. Unfortunately the person behind me knocked their suitcase over which knocked into me and subsequently knocked my hand into the button. I was flabbergasted when the door actually opened and zee train hadn't stopped moving :o :o :o

I've also seen the train manager signal a departure, train starts moving for 10 seconds or so and then they close the door!

I think if railway staff did that in this country they could find themselves with a P45 pretty quickly! :o :-X

In the Southern regions / EPB unit days, before central door locking, people used to get off too before the train had come to a complete stop.  In fact I think I've been on commuter trains into Charing Cross which were completely empty before the train came to a complete stop.

The only good thing about that was anyone on the platform with any sense did not stand near the swinging doors as the train pulled in and you could actually get off without having to work your way through a scrum of people impatient to get on!

Wasn't there a British Rail advert in the 70s/80s where people are seen alighting before the train has stopped?

Elf and safety dont you know

I wonder how many - REALLY  as opposed to insurance claims - people have been injured getting off at short platforms if they aren't (a) drunk (b) stupid in which cases they deserve to be taight a lesson or (c) mentally impaired in which case they should have a minder

When I travelled to Waterloo every day in the 70s people always reached the barrier before the train had stopped. Most of the slam doors were open as the train came along the platform with people waiting to jump out. Luckily I never witnessed an accident but I am sure there must have been a few sprained ankles at Least!!

But most wouldnt claim as they CHOSE to do it

I;'d rather have the opportunity and choose not to than be forced not to just in case

Used to happen all the time in the days of slam-door units in the UK - the guard's doors on mark I and mark II stock are hinged to open inwards which meant the guard could keep the door open whilst departing from a station to give them a clear view up and down the length of the train, meaning they could keep a sharp lookout for any door-opening stupidity that might occur. You'd often see a guard wait until their train had cleared the platform before closing the door.

Occurs all the time with LM on the 150 units (well before the 172s). Makes dispatch quicker as the guard can signal off to the driver as soon as the doors close, without having to get in and shut their door. Many keep the door open until the train has left the platform.

Drivers often leave the front guard doors open in hot weather to keep the cab cool.