Inspector Sands, and a code 3 on platform 1.

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From The Independent

if you've ever wondered what the person on the London Underground tannoy was talking about when they referred to "Inspector Sands", be comforted by the fact that you are definitely not alone.

The numbered codes are for cleaning staff, and are used by station announcers to direct them to mess.

However, it is important to note that while "Inspector Sands" is the same for every single station, 1-6 are cleaning codes and are not necessarily used in the same order across the network

Here are the codes and what they mean:

Code 1: Blood

Code 2: Urine/Faeces

Code 3: Vomit

Code 4: Spillage

Code 5: Broken glass

Code 6: Litter

Code 7: Anything not fitting these categories (the mind boggles)

Inspector Sands: A fire alarm has been operated and staff have two minutes to come to the control room - if they don't check it automatically evacuates the station.

[Richard Fairhurst]

It's when you're on the mainline platforms and you hear an announcement for "a code F3 on platform 2" that you start to worry...

[Red Squirrel]

It's when you're on the mainline platforms and you hear an announcement for "a code F3 on platform 2" that you start to worry...

Would that mean that they've accidentally allowed [no names, no pack drill] through the gateline despite his being in possession of a valid ticket?

[JayMac]

After Inspector Sands had done his rounds last week at Paddington, someone left a microphone on. All over the station could be heard muffled conversations and the horrible scraping noise that comes from a flexible microphone being moved about. Very grating. Particularly in the normally serene surroundings of the Victorian 1st Class Lounge.

[Ollie]

After Inspector Sands had done his rounds last week at Paddington, someone left a microphone on. All over the station could be heard muffled conversations and the horrible scraping noise that comes from a flexible microphone being moved about. Very grating. Particularly in the normally serene surroundings of the Victorian 1st Class Lounge.

If you hear this it's *usually* safe to assume that the system is broken and they can't reset it. So they put the mic on which overrides the evacuation announcement.

[JayMac]

Aha. That explains why Inspector Sands was so hard to find. The test went on far longer than normal.

Couldn't the volume on the microphone have been turned down?

[Ollie]

Not sure on that one, I have a feeling it can't be changed on that one as it's the mic that's linked with system for evacuation purposes - but really not 100% on that.

[grahame]

Reminded of this thread on Wednesday at King's Cross ... "Platform 3, code 2".   Confusing of course, as that could be no. 1 or no. 2 as they're referred to in family ...

[ChrisB]

Sure that wasn't a cleaner's or security announcement? Code to advise them what the (type of) problem is?

[grahame]

Sure that wasn't a cleaner's or security announcement? Code to advise them what the (type of) problem is?

Was a call for "duty contract cleaner".   "Code 2" is Urine or Faeces in railway terms

[TonyK]

At Bristol Airport, a tannoy announcement for "someone from extension 286" used to be a call for Special Branch.