Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 15:35 11 Jan 2025
 
* Germany says Russian 'shadow' ship stuck in Baltic Sea
- Gritters blocked in by '200 cars' in Peak District
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 14/01/25 - Rail Sale starts
24/01/25 - Westbury Station reopens
24/01/25 - LTP4 Wilts / Consultation end
24/01/25 - Bristol Rail Campaign AGM 2025

On this day
11th Jan (2012)
TVM - a fair weather facility? (link)

Train RunningCancelled
17:38 Weymouth to Frome
19:19 Frome to Weymouth
Short Run
14:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
15:14 Hereford to London Paddington
Delayed
15:05 London Paddington to Newbury
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
January 11, 2025, 15:42:21 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[69] Mick Lynch announces retirement as head of RMT
[53] Millions of train tickets to be discounted next week
[52] Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsew...
[49] one pound flat rate bus fares in Devon and Torbay area.
[46] Westminster Hall debate : Railway services to South West
[34] TravelWatch SouthWest - merged posts
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2 3 4
  Print  
Author Topic: Questions about these screens ...  (Read 14639 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43086



View Profile WWW Email
« on: November 12, 2016, 20:39:11 »



a) Can they be programmed to display "the next train does not stop here - please stand back"

b) Can they make announcements (over a limited area, of course)

c) I've noticed "communication error" messages up a bit too often for my liking - though my main experience is of the Melksham machine.  Also seen it at Saltash.  Do others display this error message rather than train times very often?
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 10168



View Profile
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2016, 20:44:15 »

I was heartened to see the screen at Melksham working just before nine this morning.

Sadly my joy was short lived - it had failed by lunchtime.  Huh
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19245



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2016, 20:55:56 »

The screen at Newquay was showing the "Communication error" message on both days I was there earlier this week. I reported it on day 1.
Logged

"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
LiskeardRich
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 3496

richardwarwicker@hotmail.co.uk
View Profile
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2016, 22:23:10 »

The speakers are quite loud. I assume an announcement could be made. They contain a phone line for the help point to connect. So dial the units telephone number and talk through it, assuming it auto answers.
Logged

All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19245



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2016, 22:37:26 »

Since coming across a list of Help Point numbers (which appear to be PSTN) I've been tempted to call one of them whilst nearby, to see what happens.

Fear that there might be some byelaw or other other law I'd be breaking has tempered my curiosity.
Logged

"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5632



View Profile
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2016, 22:56:06 »

Since coming across a list of Help Point numbers (which appear to be PSTN) I've been tempted to call one of them whilst nearby, to see what happens.

Fear that there might be some byelaw or other other law I'd be breaking has tempered my curiosity.

I would be tempted to try it !
Provided that you don't try anything obviously malicious or rude it would be very difficult to prove any wrongdoing.
 "it was a wrong number your honour"
I doubt that you can actually talk to it with any result, probably data only.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Richard Fairhurst
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1264


View Profile Email
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2016, 23:48:19 »

a) Can they be programmed to display "the next train does not stop here - please stand back"

They're just web browsers with a mobile connection - they can in theory display anything you like. There's a central site for them with several pre-baked layouts, but showing something different should (in theory!) just require altering the code running on the server, rather than anything actually on the unit itself.
Logged
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 10168



View Profile
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2016, 07:22:45 »

Perhaps they could alter the code so when in failure mode it shows the GWR (Great Western Railway) logo rather than First Great Western....
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43086



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2016, 07:59:09 »

a) Can they be programmed to display "the next train does not stop here - please stand back"

They're just web browsers with a mobile connection - they can in theory display anything you like. There's a central site for them with several pre-baked layouts, but showing something different should (in theory!) just require altering the code running on the server, rather than anything actually on the unit itself.

I've taken a look through all the standard formats ... and none of them includes trains passing without stopping, I'm afraid.  That data's not in the XML source either.   They CAN display an extra messages added by 'control' (?) such as telling people that buses and taxis are on the way;  that's not used as quickly and routinely as I would like, but it is there.  For every case of "next train DOES NOT STOP" that would potentially be a lot of effort and I suspect the best solution would be a yellow line ...  [[ should have noted - original question based on a case of someone straying rather near the platform edge ... getting a bit of a fright as an HST (High Speed Train) came though - "I thought all trains stopped here" ]]
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4505


View Profile
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2016, 08:53:00 »

The systems at larger stations have a "please stand back as the next train does not stop" message so there must be a code in that system. Is it a different system?

Logged
Richard Fairhurst
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1264


View Profile Email
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2016, 12:07:38 »

I've taken a look through all the standard formats ... and none of them includes trains passing without stopping, I'm afraid.  That data's not in the XML source either.

I believe that the HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) page sent to the screens, as currently specified, can be told to show a general warning in large text in the blue section at the top. Here's a local example right now: http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/rendercis.asp?file=3053C6.xml (this may change by the time anyone clicks on the link, of course!). So GWR (Great Western Railway) could configure this to say "Fast trains are passing through Melksham today without stopping - please stand back from the platform edge."

But really, what I was getting at was more that the answer to "can they be programmed" is surely yes, they can, if GWR pay ATOS Worldline some money to do so. Wink

(For those unaware what we're talking about, take a look at http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/ - a departure board on your very own monitor!)
Logged
John R
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4416


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2016, 12:36:49 »

Going back to the issue that caused the question, I would have thought the driver of a fast through train should sound his horn if there are passengers close to the platform edge, or are heading in that direction. More so if the driver knows that the route is somewhat unusual, so passengers are less likely to be expecting the fast service.
Logged
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 10168



View Profile
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2016, 12:42:38 »

He/she did!

It is a bit of an optical illusion but an HST (High Speed Train) approaching from the south does not appear to be going that fast when it gets close to the platform at Melksham.  In reality it is probably doing 40 to 60mph.
Logged
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2016, 12:49:28 »

Yellow line: I thought every platform which fast trains pass without stopping, even occasionally, had one. I would have taken the absence of a yellow line to mean that all trains stop or pass slowly.
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 10168



View Profile
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2016, 12:52:50 »

Melksham hasn't yet....

Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2 3 4
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page