Stations with mandatory assisted dispatch

[HamworthyGoods]

Vauxhall and Surbiton are not mandatory dispatch. Godalming is only on platform 1, and only for more than 8 coaches.

Godalming is mandatory on both platforms now for full length trains (more than 8s).

I stand corrected re Vauxhall and Surbiton.

One I wasn’t sure whether it still is or not is Salisbury?

 

[Tractor37]

Yeah it gets pretty complicated. For example LNER require a dispatcher at Shipley and Skipton, but Northern don't. You've got Sheffield where EMR have dispatchers, a few Northern services use dispatchers (as far as I'm aware) and some some don't. Then you have places like Leeds where all passenger services require dispatchers along with ECS trains during the day but overnight they self dispatch.

There isn’t any self despatch at Leeds station whatsoever, unless a dispatcher isn’t available; although all departures (including ECS) have a member of platform staff assigned. If there isn’t a member of staff available then the only way that train may depart ECS from Leeds is if the driver can view the platform from the drivers seat - so if a 170, 195, 331 or 333 then it’s a no go.

As for Sheffield no EMR staff dispatch any northern service. It’s guard dispatch only.

Interesting, do LNER also require one at Keighley?

Yes a member of Northern assists with the dispatch procedure at Keighley.

 

[LowLevel]

There isn’t any self despatch at Leeds station whatsoever, unless a dispatcher isn’t available; although all departures (including ECS) have a member of platform staff assigned. If there isn’t a member of staff available then the only way that train may depart ECS from Leeds is if the driver can view the platform from the drivers seat - so if a 170, 195, 331 or 333 then it’s a no go.

As for Sheffield no EMR staff dispatch any northern service. It’s guard dispatch only.

Yes a member of Northern assists with the dispatch procedure at Keighley.

Re - Sheffield that's incorrect. The West side Man Picc Northern services are dispatched by EMR platform staff. All East side services are guard self dispatch.

 

[physics34]

Norwood junction had 4 types of dispatch ovet different platforms up until the recent 455 withdrawl.

Platform 1 bat and RA
Platform 3 self dispatch via monitors
Platforms 4 and 5 bat and green flag/light
Platform 6 self dispatch via mirror or monitors.

 

[Tractor37]

Re - Sheffield that's incorrect. The West side Man Picc Northern services are dispatched by EMR platform staff. All East side services are guard self dispatch.

Interesting, thank you. I wonder what the reason is why our Man Pic trains are dispatched by EMR staff?

 

[Boski]

Norwood junction had 4 types of dispatch ovet different platforms up until the recent 455 withdrawl.

Platform 1 bat and RA
Platform 3 self dispatch via monitors
Platforms 4 and 5 bat and green flag/light
Platform 6 self dispatch via mirror or monitors.

Has it changed to all self dispatch now its only 377s?

 

[LowLevel]

Interesting, thank you. I wonder what the reason is why our Man Pic trains are dispatched by EMR staff?

They always have been back to the days of the 101s on the route - sighting from platform 2C isn't the best, both along the train and of any runners coming from platform 2 and I seem to recall that was something to do with it.

They used to dispatch TPE trains too but that was stopped a long time ago as a cost saving.

Logic of course doesn't always follow - for a long time the Northern 2 car 158s were dispatched at Chesterfield while 4 car EMT ones self dispatched, and at Leicester Cross Country 170s are dispatched while EMR ones self dispatch.

 

[physics34]

Has it changed to all self dispatch now its only 377s?

No still assisted despatch plt 1, 4 and 5

 

[westcoaster]

No still assisted despatch plt 1, 4 and 5

Unless it's a TL train then we self dispatch, no matter the platform.

 

[Mat17]

Interesting, thank you. I wonder what the reason is why our Man Pic trains are dispatched by EMR staff?

I assume it's due to the fact that these services were slamdoor until fairly late.

They always have been back to the days of the 101s on the route - sighting from platform 2C isn't the best, both along the train and of any runners coming from platform 2 and I seem to recall that was something to do with it.

Or late runners coming from the platform 5 side, who could also easily board a 101 from either side of the train.

Not sure if there was an official side in Regional Railways / FNW days. I have seen both sides of platform 2C used, both with slamdoor and pacer stock.

Obviously only the platform 2 side is used these days, the other side no longer allowed.

 

[L401CJF]

Chester*,Llandudno Jn and Holyhead are all mandatory dispatcher locations, however if none are available an email goes out advising to self dispatch.

I believe some locations, possibly Bangor(?) are self dispatch for TfW but have a dispatcher for Avanti services.

*Chester has platform dispatchers for all TOCs, except Merseyrail who self dispatch.

 

[317666]

I believe Cambridge is one of them.

 

[godfreycomplex]

From the (publicly available) Sectional Appendix
DOO trains are CD/RA at all of these locations (as well as Heathrow stations), except for Slough (bat and flag) and Didcot/Newbury (self dispatch)

 

[physics34]

Unless it's a TL train then we self dispatch, no matter the platform.

Ah yes forgot about that

 

[Elorith]

CLJ is 24/7 assisted dispatch for 377s (and 387s if they ever stop there) on the Southern side (platforms 12 through to 17).

Hand signals/RA indicators for DOO dispatch on 12, 13, 14, and 15. 16 only has conductor worked services. 17 has conductor worked towards Kensington Olympia; DOO (hand signals only/no CD or RA) towards Wandsworth Common.

Will soon be CD/RA on all platforms.

 

[Bikeman78]

Broxbourne and Harlow Town nearly always have dispatch staff but it is not mandatory. There are signs attached to lamp posts that say something like "staff not available to assist with dispatch at present." There are no DOO mirrors or monitors so drivers of class 317s have to look back out of the cab window.

The most bizarre I've seen was at Bishops Stortford on the down platform. No one there to dispatch so the driver got out, walked back to the middle cab and closed the doors from there. Checked that no one was trapped in the doors, then back to the front and off he went.

 

[dingdinger]

I believe the following stations require mandatory dispatch for full length trains on SWR:

Basingstoke
Bournemouth
Brockenhurst
Godalming
Portsmouth & Southsea (Plat 1 & 2 Only)
Portsmouth Harbour
Southampton Central
Surbiton
Vauxhall
Waterloo

Waterloo and the Portsmouth Stations are the only ones where it's mandatory I believe. Usually there are dispatchers at the other stations you mention but the guard can go without them if they are not there. Godalming requires dispatch for full length trains and if there is no dispatcher the guard must walk up and down the platform to complete the safety checks. Reading is also mandatory for passenger services.

 

[Boski]

Waterloo and the Portsmouth Stations are the only ones where it's mandatory I believe. Usually there are dispatchers at the other stations you mention but the guard can go without them if they are not there. Godalming requires dispatch for full length trains and if there is no dispatcher the guard must walk up and down the platform to complete the safety checks. Reading is also mandatory for passenger services.

Wonder how this will change with 701s

 

[Jack Hay]

Going back to NW England for a moment, Stockport is mandatory dispatch, I believe. It is an Avanti station and there is usually only one dispatcher to cover both P3 and P4. The dispatcher works for Avanti so this seems to mean that dispatch of Avanti trains from P3 gets priority and Northern trains on P4 can get delayed. Parallel departures northbound from P3 and P4 occur frequently in the timetable but the dispatching arrangement prevents it happening in practice.

 

[_toommm_]

Going back to NW England for a moment, Stockport is mandatory dispatch, I believe. It is an Avanti station and there is usually only one dispatcher to cover both P3 and P4. The dispatcher works for Avanti so this seems to mean that dispatch of Avanti trains from P3 gets priority and Northern trains on P4 can get delayed. Parallel departures northbound from P3 and P4 occur frequently in the timetable but the dispatching arrangement prevents it happening in practice.

Im guessing that means that P0/1/2 share a dispatcher? Although not much is booked to use P0 other than the Southport to Alderley Edge services from a quick browse on Monday 27/06/22.

 

[craigybagel]

Shrewsbury, all platforms apart from the bays are assisted dispatch.
Bays you can go Right Time without a dispatcher, if none available.

Only for WMR. TFW require dispatchers for almost all departures (there have been exceptions for very early departures in the past but I'm not sure if they still apply).

Going back to NW England for a moment, Stockport is mandatory dispatch, I believe. It is an Avanti station and there is usually only one dispatcher to cover both P3 and P4. The dispatcher works for Avanti so this seems to mean that dispatch of Avanti trains from P3 gets priority and Northern trains on P4 can get delayed. Parallel departures northbound from P3 and P4 occur frequently in the timetable but the dispatching arrangement prevents it happening in practice.

I've had plenty of parallel departures off 3 and 4 - I suspect if they have staff to spare they double up that Island?

Im guessing that means that P0/1/2 share a dispatcher? Although not much is booked to use P0 other than the Southport to Alderley Edge services from a quick browse on Monday 27/06/22.

Platform 0 has been closed since Covid, pretty sure it hasn't reopened yet?

 

[headshot119]

Platform 0 has been closed since Covid, pretty sure it hasn't reopened yet?

Regularly opened up during service disruption.

 

[Huntergreed]

Lockerbie has mandatory staff dispatch for Avanti services (using the buzzer - but the staff member must use the baton and observe the train is clear).

Leads to some of the staff moaning as they have to stay until the last Avanti leaves after 10PM when the station is absolutely deserted!

 

[craigybagel]

Regularly opened up during service disruption.

Interesting and good to know thanks.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Every time I use East Croydon it seems to require platform staff, but not sure if this is a mandatory requirement or just regular practice.

 

[Boski]

Travelled through clapham jct and euston today can anyone tell me what the difference is in requirements with drivers pressing the TRTS and self dispatching at Clapham but platform staff presses TRTS and gives CD/RA at Euston

 

[Geeves]

Manchester Oxford Rd, Salford Crescent and Bolton are mandatory despatch stations. Bolton in the past was an RA station but I believe only for Cross Country slam doors etc. I believe Oxford Rd has the RA ability but isn't used. Manchester airport was despatchers but is now self despatch. At Manchester Victoria ever train gets the RA including all empty stock moves.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Travelled through clapham jct and euston today can anyone tell me what the difference is in requirements with drivers pressing the TRTS and self dispatching at Clapham but platform staff presses TRTS and gives CD/RA at Euston

Euston station is mandatory RA dispatch on account of the proximity of pointwork, and conflicting routes to the station starting signals, and therefore the high risk of collision should a train start against a red signal.
Most compulsory RA dispatch locations have it primarily for this reason

 

[themiller]

Avanti station staff dispatch all passenger trains at Carlisle (Avanti, Northern, TPE, Scotrail). I haven’t noticed what happens with LNER and I’ve not been there for the departure of a sleeper (past my bedtime).

 

[superkev]

Are station despatches something unique to the UK?
Not sure the "passenger pushers" seen in Japan etc count as despatchers.
K