Victoria Line doors opening before train has stopped.

[class303]

Thought i was imagining things that the doors start to open ever so slightly before the trains have come to a complete stop. However, a friend just told me the exact same thing so it can't have been my imagination.

has the software been updated recently to save time? it's barely noticeable & nowhere near early enough to pose a safety risk (imho).

 

[D365]

This does happen and I have experienced this on many underground systems, Victoria Line included. As you said, it doesn't pose much of a safety risk and it allows the doors to be open for an extra few seconds. Thameslink/Crossrail NXEMU will probably do the same.

 

[The Apprentice]

I was on the Northern Line the other day and the driver must have been in a rush to get home or something. He kept opening the doors before the train had stopped and definitely didn't keep them open as long as usual IMO, but he kept having to wait 1min at platforms for the signal to clear as he was so fast/close to the next train so he didn't really gain much.

 

[Vicpaul]

the speed sensing drops out between 4-6 mph effectively meaning the doors can be opened before the train comes to a stand

 

[spinba11]

So is that why the trains can start to move if the doors aren't fully closed? A few weeks ago the same was happening on the pic line but the train IMO was going too fast.

 

[pemma]

On the Paris Metro the doors can be opened fully once the train has slowed down to around 5mph and people alight before the train has come to a complete halt - probably not something our H&S regulations would allow.

 

[MCR247]

Also happens in germany

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I've seen this on the Jubilee as well once or twice. It's very useful and still remains (somehow) very safe.

 

[Vicpaul]

So is that why the trains can start to move if the doors aren't fully closed? A few weeks ago the same was happening on the pic line but the train IMO was going too fast.

They shouldn't be able to move off until doors are fully closed, however if the train doors are cut out they could open and close them whenever they want. H&t caught its gross misconduct

 

[DavyCrocket]

They shouldn't be able to move off until doors are fully closed, however if the train doors are cut out they could open and close them whenever they want. H&t caught its gross misconduct

The train can roll in off and release with the doors open. Cannot motor. So when doors are open the CTBC should be in a braking position.

 

[Singing Rails]

Seems to be most obvious on C/D stock IMO, I usually only notice it on them.

 

[tsr]

Once the train's speed drops below approximately 4mph, it will be a very short time before it stops, so opening the doors presumably poses very little risk - remember that even the slimmest of people will have to wait a second for the doors to open sufficiently for boarding/alighting.

You will indeed notice this most commonly on C/D Stock, but 09 Stock drivers sometimes do also release the doors before the train comes to a complete stand.

I have not encountered this behaviour on S8 Stock. I have not used S7 Stock enough to work out whether it is the same for that, but I imagine it would be.

As for the other lines, I personally feel it's rare, but it certainly does happen. Driving off with the doors open is another matter, and something I have only seen done extremely rarely. Indeed, the last time this happened, the train was being driven very violently and I was pretty surprised at the number of harsh brake applications, too. Unfortunately, I was in a great hurry and didn't have time to hunt down a member of station staff to make enquiries.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I noticed this on the Bakerloo today so I guess it's being rolled out fleet-wide across the entire Underground network.

 

[Dstock7080]

I noticed this on the Bakerloo today so I guess it's being rolled out fleet-wide across the entire Underground network.

Nothing has changed, train doors can only be opened below 4-6mph with the train within the CSDE loop (or similar). Instructions indicate that trains should be brought to a stand, with the deadman released, before the doors are opened.
As has been said, unless equipment is deliberately cut-out then a train is unable to motor without the doors being closed, it is possible for it to roll, however a backwards roll will activate the run-back protection device.

 

[NathanPrior]

I noticed this on the Bakerloo today so I guess it's being rolled out fleet-wide across the entire Underground network.

It's always been like that on the Bakerloo line for as long as I can remember and thats at least 8 years

 

[tunster]

It's always been like that on the Bakerloo line for as long as I can remember and thats at least 8 years

I've started using the Bakerloo line regularly and this is the case most of the time. However, most of the underground lines (central, bakerloo, northern especially) I've seen this. I guess it depends on the drivers and their attitude. Some are precise and don't open until a full stop. Some open early (as the OP said) and some actually are so slow they wait a full 5 seconds per stop! I've seen a few times on the new S8 trains on the metropolitan line when I used it regularly.

For the commuter, it helps with getting out quicker as the time it takes for it to go from the 5mph to a stand-still the doors are opened already.

 

[tom1649]

I used to find that the guards on crew operated 59ts often opened the doors early. Getting them to close properly and gaining the pilot light was sometimes another matter. I remember one guard hammering the control panel in frustration during several attempts at reopening and closing the doors before we were finally on our way again!