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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #45 on: February 28, 2009, 22:57:55 » |
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Seemed to be more or less fully operative today - very impressive and comprehensive and a vast improvement on the previous system. Looks identical to the CIS▸ at Slough. Will have to wait and see if it behaves itself during disruption: I suspect it may, like the old system, have trouble with originating trains that haven't emerged from the carriage sidings yet. Having said that, any information when things are going pear-shaped would be an improvement on the previous installation which seemed to fall over at the first sign of anything out of the ordinary.
I have only two petty criticisms: although the system uses the correct industry standard 0631 time format to refer to advertised and expected departure times of trains, the current time is missing the '0' and displayed as 6:31 (ultra-fussy I know, probably serves me right for being up that early on a Saturday). Secondly there is a very useful screen on the concourse that shows the next fast train to a wide range of destinations: this should be a great help in stopping the uninitiated hopping on a stopper to Paddington rather than waiting for a following fast train that will get them there much quicker. However, the wording at the top of the screen is "Next Fastest Train to...": my immediate reaction was "So what's the fastest then?". Maybe this screen title should be altered to "Next FAST▸ Train to..." like it used to be.
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Phil
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« Reply #46 on: March 01, 2009, 10:21:36 » |
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However, the wording at the top of the screen is "Next Fastest Train to...": my immediate reaction was "So what's the fastest then?". Maybe this screen title should be altered to "Next FAST▸ Train to..." like it used to be.
I agree with you on this. In fact, I'd even leave out the word "Next". The explanation I received when I queried it was that people might confuse "Fast" with "First" and think it was referring to a TOC▸ . I wasn't sure what to make of that. |
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eightf48544
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« Reply #47 on: March 01, 2009, 10:59:39 » |
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New platform screens also seemed to be working at Slough on Friday night.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #48 on: March 01, 2009, 23:37:47 » |
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However, the wording at the top of the screen is "Next Fastest Train to...": my immediate reaction was "So what's the fastest then?". Maybe this screen title should be altered to "Next FAST▸ Train to..." like it used to be.
I think the word 'Fastest' is used as sometimes late evening or early morning there is no 'fast' i.e. express service, so the fastest way of getting there is on a stopper, which is the fastest way of getting there, but isn't actually fast. Does that make sense? I think I've confused myself! |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #49 on: March 01, 2009, 23:48:45 » |
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Yes, that makes sense, the quickest way of getting there might be on a class 2 rather than a class 1! It's the combined wording "next fastest" that got my inner pedant twitching because it makes it sound like there's another one faster. I would have no argument with "Fastest train to...".
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G.Uard
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« Reply #50 on: March 02, 2009, 01:55:56 » |
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Years ago, there was a simple indicator in the subway at Reading. Next fast train to Paddington Platform 5 8 9, with an individual light bulb behind each number. Simple, effective and cheap. Worked by the station announcer I believe.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #51 on: March 02, 2009, 20:37:24 » |
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Ah, yes, in those good old days, when a single light bulb was allowed: now, we have to have whole CIS▸ screens installed - which still don't give that simple, but extremely useful, piece of information!   |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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John R
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« Reply #52 on: March 02, 2009, 20:47:14 » |
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Today it would have to be an energy effiicient bulb. By the time it was light enough for people to notice it the train would have gone.  |
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Btline
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« Reply #53 on: March 02, 2009, 23:19:46 » |
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Today it would have to be an energy effiicient bulb. By the time it was light enough for people to notice it the train would have gone. Don't get me started on eco bulbs which take half an hour to light fully!  |
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willc
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« Reply #54 on: March 02, 2009, 23:24:54 » |
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But whatever it says and how it says it, the system is only as good as the information it is fed, as others have said. And it wasn't being fed good info tonight. The 17.21 from London to Hereford was running at least 10 late, so knock-on delays of a similar margin are bound to ensue for anything following or crossing it but the 18.54 to Worcester was shown on the screens as on time, as was the 19.01 to London, which passes the 17.21 near Shipton. While the 18.54 indication changed to delayed around its booked departure time, the 19.01 was still showing as on time at 19.02 as the 18.54 finally left eight late. We passed the 19.01 just south of Wolvercote junction, so it would have been around 10 late at Oxford, which should have been obvious from the moment it left Ascott-under-Wychwood, so it really should have been updated well before it was due at Oxford. And the scrolling displays on platform 2 were adamant that the 17.51's Adelante had coach A leading - I suppose there was a 50 per cent chance of being right - it wasn't. Today it would have to be an energy effiicient bulb. By the time it was light enough for people to notice it the train would have gone. Don't get me started on eco bulbs which take half an hour to light fully! Don't get me started on out-of-date myths perpetuated by the Daily Mail... |
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« Last Edit: March 03, 2009, 08:51:42 by willc »
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #55 on: March 02, 2009, 23:42:02 » |
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... out-of-date myths perpetuated by the Daily Mail ...
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Btline
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« Reply #56 on: March 04, 2009, 21:45:25 » |
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... out-of-date myths perpetuated by the Daily Mail ...
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IanL
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« Reply #57 on: March 05, 2009, 09:26:40 » |
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Well, the new departure boards are starting to go wrong already. Last night waiting at 1720 on P3 for the 1731 stopping train to Worcester. Departure board shows the 1731 as the 1st train to depart, with the second the 1754 to Bicester.
At 1725 the train from Bicester arrives (this forms the 1731) and the 1st train to depart changes to the 1754, the 1731 vanishes and is not seen on the departure screens again. Guard makes lots of announcements clarifying the actual destination and departure time and apologises for the incorrect information on the departure boards.
NB this was during normal operations, no obvious disruption to services and was with a train that originated at Oxford so no excuse for not knowing where the train was located.
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thetrout
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« Reply #58 on: March 05, 2009, 19:31:31 » |
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What about having: Next High Speed Service To: Next Express Service To: Next Direct Service To: i'll probably think of some more variations later |
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Btline
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« Reply #59 on: March 05, 2009, 20:40:28 » |
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Next Turbo service to
Next cancelled service to
Next service to Melksham (to save some electricity!)
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