Stopping Point Accuracy.

[365 Networker]

How accurate are drivers expected to be when stopping at platforms? I've seen some drivers stop perfectly and others who either stop slightly too short or over-run slightly.
I've found a video which appears to show an over-run of a stopping point marker - the train is 8 cars long:-

How serious is this?

 

[380101]

How accurate are drivers expected to be when stopping at platforms? I've seen some drivers stop perfectly and others who either stop slightly too short or over-run slightly.
I've found a video which appears to show an over-run of a stopping point marker - the train is 8 cars long:-

How serious is this?

Not serious at all. As long as the train is fully accommodated on the platform ie; hasn't stopped short with coaches hanging off the back or overshot then nobody except an extremely officious manager will be bothered! Tends to be "managers" and staff in other grades in my TOC that would report a driver for not drawing up bang in line with the marker board!

 

[365 Networker]

Not serious at all. As long as the train is fully accommodated on the platform ie; hasn't stopped short with coaches hanging off the back or overshot then nobody except an extremely officious manager will be bothered! Tends to be "managers" and staff in other grades in my TOC that would report a driver for not drawing up bang in line with the marker board!

Ok, so as long as you are quite close to the marker it should be fine.

 

[Eccles1983]

Some of the stop boards are in the wrong position.

Unless it's blue then I generally use them as guidance dependant on location - blue S boards are specifically designed to allow Harrington humps or local door opening where I am.

 

[380101]

Ok, so as long as you are quite close to the marker it should be fine.

Aye, pretty much. Other TOCs may be different but in mine they're not going to "do you" for being a few feet either side of the stop marker.

 

[ComUtoR]

How accurate are drivers expected to be when stopping at platforms? I've seen some drivers stop perfectly and others who either stop slightly too short or over-run slightly

It depends. The official line is that stopping points are accurate to +/- 1m and that should allow for any infrastructure problems. It also depends on what you call perfect. Where I park my unit is different to where other Drivers park theirs. Both of us, would consider our stops to be 'perfect'

I've found a video which appears to show an over-run of a stopping point marker - the train is 8 cars long:-

The stop looks perfect to me, a little quick on the approach for me but otherwise no issue. What is the view from the cab, which coach is that taken from, what are the operational constraints at that platform, any local instructions ?

How serious is this?

On a scale of 1-10 ? About -5

 

[hexagon789]

How accurate are drivers expected to be when stopping at platforms? I've seen some drivers stop perfectly and others who either stop slightly too short or over-run slightly.
I've found a video which appears to show an over-run of a stopping point marker - the train is 8 cars long:-

How serious is this?

I'd imagine that while there are a number of issues, the most important is that the train is fully platformed where possible

 

[365 Networker]

which coach is that taken from

Video was taken from the first coach.

 

[Trainfan344]

As a regular rail passenger, it is always appreciated when the driver stops in the platform, that's quite accurate enough for me.

 

[hooverboy]

Aye, pretty much. Other TOCs may be different but in mine they're not going to "do you" for being a few feet either side of the stop marker.

I guess as long as you have good visual of the signal/starter then it's all good.

 

[Jimini]

I'm no expert (far from it, in fact), but worth noting that OPO monitors probably play a significant part in this in DOO land?

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

Yes, side on monitors are probably the most accurate you would have to stop, as you pretty much have to be bang on.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The real answer is "it depends". At some locations drivers will have to be very accurate- at Chester-le-Street, a 5-car Voyager won't be fully platformed if drivers are more than a couple of feet out- but elsewhere it won't really matter.

As for the OP video, to my non-driver eye that looks bang on the money?

 

[whoosh]

Stevenage has a long platform, so you can get away with a fast approach. There's plenty of platform beyond the 8 car marker, and for 365s it's CD/RA dispatch, so no monitors to line up with.
If that was filmed from behind the first set of doors in the front coach, it's barely passed the stop marker anyway.

 

[Trackman]

As for the OP video, to my non-driver eye that looks bang on the money?

I was thinking that.

 

[Rich McLean]

The Cotswold line for example with a 9 coach IET requires you to be bang on the stop markers. However a 2 coach DMU stopping at an 10 coach platform for example doesn't need to be bang on

 

[ComUtoR]

OPO monitors

What are OPO monitors please ?

 

[headshot119]

London Underground term for One Person Operation (DOO) monitors / mirrors

 

[Tomnick]

I don’t worry too much at all about it. I’d rather go past the board than stop short of it and risk having the back of the train off the platform. There’s no point crawling up to the mark aiming to stop exactly in line with it, always aware of the risk of brakes that take forever to release stopping me before I intended, when I can run into a long platform rather more ambitiously and not worry if I run on a bit too far. There’s a lot to be said for running into a platform with the brake in step 2 and leaving it there until you’re just about to stop, and you can’t do that if it’s absolu

There’s also a couple of stations where stopping with a 4-car train (23m vehicles) at the 4 car stop marker will leave the back off the platform, some others where the first marker is a 4/5-car stop marker (so you judge it for yourself with anything shorter), and some where the indicated stopping position is routinely ignored to get a better view of, er, proceedings...

 

[bramling]

There’s also a surprising amount of variance as a result of how the driver is positioned within the cab. If he’s right forwards in the seat then things look very different to if he’s right back and low down, for example.

It’s also hard to judge a marker on the secondman’s side in particular as the pillar at the corner of the cab front will obstruct the driver’s view of the marker - so it comes down to judgement. As long as the train is fully platformed then minor variation really isn’t an issue.

What is a no-no nowadays is stopping well short in the knowledge that this is more convenient for the passengers. Used to happen at Hitchin where the 6 and 8 car markers are co-located. Many drivers of 6-car 313s would stop knowingly short in order to position the bulk of the train more conveniently adjacent to the platform entrance. This practice was clamped down on some years ago as part of a general campaign on “stop short” incidents.

 

[Failed Unit]

I did notice why Brookmans park is SDO the other day. Most times passengers are trying to get on coach 6 but the doors won’t release.

the other day the last coach was hanging off the platform - SDO preventing people opening the doors.

the driver must have stopped within the tolerable distance but further back then some others do.

 

[Aictos]

Stevenage has a long platform, so you can get away with a fast approach. There's plenty of platform beyond the 8 car marker, and for 365s it's CD/RA dispatch, so no monitors to line up with.
If that was filmed from behind the first set of doors in the front coach, it's barely passed the stop marker anyway.

Stevenage platforms are all 12 car capable and have been for years.

Point is if you’re fully in platform does it matter where you stop?

Eg 12 car platform and all services stop at a specific marker even 4 cars.

 

[365 Networker]

I was thinking that.

It might just be the camera angle then.

 

[sw1ller]

There’s other factors to consider too. At yorton, there’s a stop car marker on the Down line. I’ve been asked to completely ignore it and stop with the front door of the 153 on the hump to let a passenger off who’s at my end of the train. If I stop at the bored, the back door is on the hump.

stop at the 4 car marker on the down at smethwick GB and the back doors of a 4 car 158 will be off the back end!

other stop car markers are placed as such that inconvenience passengers but are placed for safety reasons so the guard can see the length of the train. (Curved platforms). If you’re in a 4-6 car train, you comply with them but with a 2 car you can stop next to where all the passengers are waiting.

So to answer the question that’s already been answered, it’s not important in some places, and it is in others. Depends on the station/platform and unit type/length. And each driver will know where to park what unit and how important it is because of extensive training and route knowledge.

 

[Belperpete]

Train stopped with its AWS receiver over the magnet can cause problems. Stop board position should take that into account.

 

[The Planner]

Noticed a few new "precision" marker boards for 390s at some of the WCML stations recently.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

some of the stations along the North Wales coast have some very long platforms and the markers encourage drivers to stop in the correct place for leaving the station usually near the exit doors or close to the lift and stairs if on the opposite side.

There does seem to be some drivers who completely ignore them though. If it is only a 2 car train it can be particularly annoying when the driver flies up towards the end of the platform. I find Llandudno Junction platform 3 if travelling down seems to be one of the worst for this. I do wonder sometimes if they have forgotten the train has split earlier in the service as if it was a 4 car then the position would be probably spot on.

 

[trebor79]

Was sat right behind the cab on a Bakerloo Line train a few months ago. Stopped at a station, heard cursing from within the cab and we drew forward about a foot before stopping again and the doors opening. Presume some of those stops have to be pretty accurate!

 

[baz962]

The stop board on South Tottenham on the goblin down line , really needs precision. If I get a chance I will take a picture.

 

[507 001]

Was sat right behind the cab on a Bakerloo Line train a few months ago. Stopped at a station, heard cursing from within the cab and we drew forward about a foot before stopping again and the doors opening. Presume some of those stops have to be pretty accurate!

that would be to line up with a CSDO beacon I think. (Correct Side Door Opening).