Freight trains are a menace!...

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Liam.

Well, they don't at (just for example) Nailsea & Backwell ... ?  Through trains hammer through at up to line speed (100mph) with no advance anouncements at all - certainly nothing about standing well back!

Chris. 

[Electric train]

That's a fair point, IndustryInsider - it does seem rather odd to have the same distance in those examples.

Clearly there is a 'danger zone' at the outer edge of platforms - after all, that's why the safety railings don't go right up to the edge, and we have all this 'rubber mat / trip hazard' nonsense:

The safe distance is a DoT (HRMI) spec and not that of NR^» (Network Rail - home page) or TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).  The reason why the "cattle grid" arrangement shown in the photo and not take the fence to the platform edge is due to loading gauge constraints.   I suppose the only real answer is the type of platform screen and gates used on the Jubilee Line Extension but then these are only installed at indoor stations.

It can not be to bigger problem otherwise there would be a major poster and TV advertising campaign like the "don't run the risk" for level crossings

[IndustryInsider]

That's a fair point, IndustryInsider - it does seem rather odd to have the same distance in those examples.

The safe distance is a DoT (HRMI) spec and not that of NR^» (Network Rail - home page) or TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).

I never said it was NR or TOC's that specified the distances. I am however suggesting that those responsible for them (as you say, probably HMRI^▸ (Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate)) allow them to be more flexible and sensible in their application. Under 25mph at 2', under 50mph at 2'6", under 100mph at 3', and over 100mph at 4' for example. My suggestion of red hatching and yellow stencilling helps them stand out. The situation now is very hap-hazard, certain stations with fast through services have no lines at all, and some slow platform tracks have thick lines painted a huge distance from the platform edge.

Whilst it's not as big of a problem as level crossings - where of course the consequencies are potentially much more serious than some idiot being bowled over standing with his head off the edge of the platform - from the accounts on here and from my own experience over the years, it is a very common risk that passengers expose themselves to.

[Ollie]

In regard to the announcements, most stations I travel to have them, although I have known the announcement either to not play/or come on to late (as the train has left the area anyway)/or not play but cis screen displays stand clear message.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Ollie!

I rather suspect we're dealing with the relics of the old Wessex public address system at Nailsea & Backwell, then.  We have no announcements of any through trains, and only pre-recorded announcements of the stoppers.

And yes, we rather too often have no announcements and / or no screens at all - that's why I've been so peeved in the past that we haven't had a cheery chap in the ticket office, either!

In the good old days, when we had a regular Station Manager at Nailsea & Backwell (David Jones), Dave used to pop out of his hut, blow his whistle and gesture everyone back behind the yellow line when a through train was due - it worked, every time!

[G.Uard]

Perhaps this thread opener is tongue in cheek, but it does raise valid points.

I am convinced that there are those who believe that rail  staff are being 'jobsworths' when they ask passengers to 'stand clear', or 'mind the gap',  etc.  Last week, I was roundly abused by the mother of a child whom I had spoken to for riding her 'heely ball' trainers within inches of the platform edge at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)).

If the blast of an air horn keeps folk safely away from the passage of a heavy and fast moving train, the driver is doing nothing more than his job.

[Tim]

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hamburg_berlin_track_platform_barriers.jpg

for one approach to stopping passengers getting too close to the platform edge.  I am sure it works in Germany but would there be space in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and woudl people use it properly?

[bemmy]

It wouldn't surprise me if one day they decided to build barriers like those at every station in Britain, better to save the stupid from themselves rather than using the money to expand or improve the network. 

I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I travelled on the Jubilee line extension and saw those perspex barriers and doors to stop people falling off the platform. I mean, if it's necessary, they need to build them everywhere.... if it isn't, why bother doing it at just half a dozen stations? 

[Lee]

It wouldn't surprise me if one day they decided to build barriers like those at every station in Britain, better to save the stupid from themselves rather than using the money to expand or improve the network. 

I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I travelled on the Jubilee line extension and saw those perspex barriers and doors to stop people falling off the platform. I mean, if it's necessary, they need to build them everywhere.... if it isn't, why bother doing it at just half a dozen stations? 

The company responsible for the above is based in Melksham....
http://www.platformscreendoors.com/

[bemmy]

Ironically, the money could probably have been better used paying for a unit to provide Melksham with a proper train service! 

But as we all know, you're not allowed to argue with any argument promoting safety, unless it's to do with roads. I mean, why do we need so much protection from trains? don't they realise that 99.999999% of the time they are unable to leave the rails, unlike cars of course which could do anything at any time, especially if the driver is drunk or on the phone.