Saturday 18 July 2015


Meanwhile away from the problems of Night Tube Tuesday’s rain played just as much merry hell with ATO as it did on Sunday, some trains are fine and behave perfectly in the wet but the two I had were absolutely useless.  Not that rain is needed, on Wednesday I came to a juddering halt halfway over the points leaving EAB with not a cloud in the sky and then again later in tunnel on the approach to GAH.  What is amusing is that in the last few months someone has put up posters telling us that we are to use ATO whenever possible and NOT drive in manual unless it is absolutely necessary.
 
As well as the usual ATO/ATP failures there’s been a noticeable increase in traction faults, where a two car “unit” loses power and you have no motors coming from it.  Having one or two units without motors is fine and even with just one unit working the train might struggle but it will still make it to the next station.  Unfortunately there have been occasions where I’ve lost all four units, the worst place for this is on the EB approach to SHB and I’ve been getting at least one traction fault a week at this particular spot.
 
A few years ago we were instructed not to reset while the train was moving as that can “isolate” the unit so if you have lost all four units you either let the train roll to a halt in ATO or stop it using the emergency brake.  On the approach to SHB you’re only doing 20kph and there isn’t enough momentum to take you into the platform (I know, I tried it once) so the best thing is to let it get to a reasonably slow speed, knock out the TBC, reset and carry on in Coded.
 
The other increasingly common fault has been the Data Transmission System, the computer that tells us what’s going on with the train.  In addition to flashing up faults DTS affects the destination display on the front of the train, SONIA, the chimes that warn when doors are opening or closing and the countdown clock in the cab that tells us when it’s time to go. Obviously if there’s a fault on DTS then DTS won’t tell you about it so If you see a train going the wrong way, say a WB train going to EPP, then more than likely there's a DTS fault and the TOp hasn’t noticed.

Finally sad news from the DLR, the seats are being converted from traverse to longitudinal and while I understand that this will increase capacity I will feel sorry for all the kids (and no doubt a few adults) who have enjoyed sitting at the front enjoying the driver's eye view, somehow craning your neck sideways just won't be the same.

8 comments:

  1. I'm suprised they can flip the front seats around on the DLR - don't these need to face forward to the PSA (or whatever they are called) can sit down and drive when required?

    ReplyDelete
  2. As an aside, what's the train drivers verdict on our new uniforms seeing as how we'll all be dressed the same in a couple of months. Management seem to like all the overcoat/tie options despite the fact that all the staff station side are wearing the polo neck option as it means we can ditch the tie so everyone looks exactly the same

    ReplyDelete
  3. As I understand it, the transverse front seats - apart from their function as an emergency driving position for the PSA - are considered a feature of DLR and will not be made longitudinal. I don't know about the second row!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The new uniform is hideous as was to be expected. The designer has previously worked for McDonalds yet if you enter their premises, you can immediately identify the manager, team leader and counter assistants. Not so with the new LU design. My boss is already saying that he wants us in the shirt/tie/jacket option on M-F days, and the polo shirt for weekends and nights; he was not happy when I reminded him that he doesn't have am option in this as the whole concept of the new uniform is mix and match, formal/casual, and this was TFLs decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed this is what's happened in our station, almost everyone is wearing the polo shirt and will wear the "Fleecington" when it gets cold. The overcoats, shirts, ties cardigans etc are all lying at home in a heap. The verdict seems to be "if I'm going to look like an idiot then I may as well be a comfortable idiot"

      You'll get a few people who will wear the overcoats etc just like you still have the occassional random who wears the Peaked Cap from years ago but otherwise it seem we're all going to look like clones of each other

      Delete
  5. So how is the person carrying out the "supervisor" role in the rule book distinguished? At the moment the white shirt (be it Supervisor, DSM or DRM) is a bit of a clue.....

    Also ref LUCC comment (Service Control here) I believe somewhere in our agreements we are allowed to wear a smart shirt and tie, as is the case in some control rooms (not mine). I'm going to start wearing my own suit and tie and see how long it takes my SCM to say something.......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With the exception of CSAs all the roles in the future are all "Supervisors" Ticket Office staff SSMFs, SS2 SS1 and Dsms will all be Supervisors for rulebook/procedure purposes. Essentially we'll all be a bunch of Faceless interchangable cogs in the LU Machine

      Delete
  6. Rode a train this morning with longitudinal seating in the centre, same number of seats (six each side) but they come slightly closer to the doors. Lots more grab handles too. Front seats are still traverse so you can ride at the front. One of the wheelchair spaces is removed, it still has fold down seats but the back wall is gone.

    I put a photo on twitter https://twitter.com/jon81uk/status/627020075279777792

    ReplyDelete