Regular delays between Penzance and Exeter

[whole diary]

[super tm]

Yes and any door on the catch would be dealt with a swift boot from the outside or yank from the inside and no questions asked.  Times have changed.

[Oxman]

As it has not been mentioned yet, worth saying that Friday was a dreadful day for adhesion problems in Devon and Cornwall - the annual leaf fall problem was at its worst. Numerous reports of trains struggling up various hills, including some that could not make it up Rattery. And a freight that slipped to a halt approaching the single line section in Cornwall, with the route already locked over Largin viaduct.

Caused many more issues than passenger loadings, I suspect.

Have to agree about the dispatchers on platform 4 at Reading - on the whole, they do a remarkable job. However, the three that work platforms 5-8 must be the busiest by a country mile in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) land.

[chrisoates]

As it has not been mentioned yet, worth saying that Friday was a dreadful day for adhesion problems in Devon and Cornwall - the annual leaf fall problem was at its worst. Numerous reports of trains struggling up various hills, including some that could not make it up Rattery. And a freight that slipped to a halt approaching the single line section in Cornwall, with the route already locked over Largin viaduct.

Caused many more issues than passenger loadings, I suspect.

Have to agree about the dispatchers on platform 4 at Reading - on the whole, they do a remarkable job. However, the three that work platforms 5-8 must be the busiest by a country mile in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) land.

There's been a radical cut back lineside - very noticeable through the Glyn Valley but the draught from a passing HST^▸ (High Speed Train) can draw leaves in from far away - made some trips up and down through Devon & Cornwall last week and there was a lot of concertinering when alternate Power cars lost and regained grip.

I thought I'd seen a new solution whilst awaiting a connection at Bodmin Parkway - the track was covered in grey sand - was only a leaky freight from St Austell.
   

[chrisoates]

Doesn't Redruth need a dispatcher for every train due to the curve in the platform?

So should Saltash, St Germans, Hayle - straight or inward curving platforms result in the same delays if the TM^‡(resolve) has to walk the length of the train twice shutting doors.
Travelled once with a Lady TM who made a big fuss of helpful passengers who closed doors and after arriving on time felt her attitude contributed to it - maybe it did/didn't but it certainly sounded good.

I like vocal TMs - travelled down from Newton Abbot once with a TM who kept us informed in a rather nice documentary style about the Devon banks & tunnels.
 

[Zoe]

So should Saltash, St Germans, Hayle - straight or inward curving platforms result in the same delays if the TM^‡(resolve) has to walk the length of the train twice shutting doors.

If the platform is straight though the TM can see all of the train and so it can be dispatched safetly without platform staff.

[SDS]

Yes and any door on the catch would be dealt with a swift boot from the outside or yank from the inside and no questions asked.  Times have changed.

Still happens! If the trains only just started up and the door near you is on the catch, common reaction is to kick it closed. Official policy is to stop the train, get the signal put back (sometimes not possible cos of the overlap), check all the doors, cause a delay, tell signal box, stop new customers trying to get on, check doors again, give signal, fill in paperwork.

[inspector_blakey]

Ended up doing that myself after seeing an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) pulling out of an un-named station with an insecure door (CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking) engaged and yellow light extinguished but with the primary lock handle pointing vertically downwards). I did shout to alert the platform staff but they were too far away and didn't hear, so I gave the door a clout as it passed me to close it properly.

I suppose technically I shouldn't have done it but it was a bit of a reflex/instinctive action that I didn't really think about. In all honesty I was half expecting to get admonished or threatened with the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) for breaching health and safety protocol when a despatcher turned round and saw me do it, but in fact they thanked me, as did the train manager as their window passed me.

[SDS]

And I would have thanked you as well. Stopping a train after it has departed causes huge amounts of paperwork.
Plus you get Swindon moaning at you because of delay mins.

[johoare]

And I would have thanked you as well. Stopping a train after it has departed causes huge amounts of paperwork.
Plus you get Swindon moaning at you because of delay mins.

The whole of Swindon moaning at you? 

[Chris from Nailsea]

You get Kevin (and his team) moaning at you - that's bad enough!