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carriage without lights
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ATW Alex 101
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I don't know if it's allowed or not. I have been on a train that dumped us off because the lights inside failed and they said that due to H&S they couldn't run the train
Hehe that's my thought-i'd be the most unpopular person with everyone waiting an hour! The passengers don't seem to mind sitting in the darkSo best keep quiet Simon or you may be in for a long night...
At banbury the guard will jump on board so they can see the situation. At least xc trains run to birmingham.Its rather funny that chiltern win best operator and I'm sitting on a train with one carriage without lights and the current carriage I'm in is leaking from all the rain...
I've been on a Chiltern loco hauled where the lights weren't working (when out with the forum, funnily enough)
It was light outdoors but tunnels were dark - all added to the fun though.
Had similar on a Metrolink M5000 where the sensor had evidently failed at one end (it was a return trip to Oldham Mumps and on the way everything was fine) - as when we entered the first tunnel, everything remained pitch black!
It was light outdoors but tunnels were dark - all added to the fun though.
Had similar on a Metrolink M5000 where the sensor had evidently failed at one end (it was a return trip to Oldham Mumps and on the way everything was fine) - as when we entered the first tunnel, everything remained pitch black!
185
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Technically no. By rights people should be moved, or if not possible a member of staff should sit in, with his bardic lamp when practical.
But the guard could do what me and a colleague did, and snap all the green and pink emergency snaplights and hang them from the ceiling. Made an impromptu 'camp disco'. It looked ace
MidnightFlyer
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You're all amateurs, I'm sure I once was on a rare track tour around South Wales with Mk1s, when the lighting decided to fail half way through the Severn Tunnel. It could well have been another tunnel but I'm sure I've gone a good few minutes in total darkness on a tour down there in the past. 
I believe that on both UK Sleepers now lighting has to remain on in the seating accommodation, that only changed a few years ago from them being off overnight. Must be fun trying to sleep in that, even with a mask!
I believe that on both UK Sleepers now lighting has to remain on in the seating accommodation, that only changed a few years ago from them being off overnight. Must be fun trying to sleep in that, even with a mask!
Tomonthetrain
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I've been on a Arriva 150 heading from Birmingham Airport to Wolverhampton lightless. Was quite interesting in New Street tunnels. Good job my phone has a torch so i could see my newspaper. (Daily Mail!!)
I've had this happen to me twice:
Once at around 9pm on a southbound XC service between Banbury and Oxford, but in that case there was a train fault which meant we were stationary. Luckily we were on the move again in around 5mins with light again
Another time was on the tube, when the lights in our carriage went out. I used my phone as a torch and some people copied. The train was eerily silent. 3 stops later the lights came on again, with no staff announcement.
Once at around 9pm on a southbound XC service between Banbury and Oxford, but in that case there was a train fault which meant we were stationary. Luckily we were on the move again in around 5mins with light again
Another time was on the tube, when the lights in our carriage went out. I used my phone as a torch and some people copied. The train was eerily silent. 3 stops later the lights came on again, with no staff announcement.
I have been on a few FCC & WAGN services without lights -mainly 313s. Great through Welwyn tunnels! Not happened recently though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A Wrexham & Shropshire service I was on had no lights in one coach so it was out of service & it was announced that the buffet would close at Banbury as after that point it would be dark so you would not be able to walk though the dark coach to reach the buffet.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A Wrexham & Shropshire service I was on had no lights in one coach so it was out of service & it was announced that the buffet would close at Banbury as after that point it would be dark so you would not be able to walk though the dark coach to reach the buffet.
Was on a 142 to BPS once where the front coach lights were out, except for those at the doors. Whilst not its usual brightness, the light available was still enough for it to be "safe" but the guard still insisted on everyone being in the rear coach, which seemed pointless.
To be honest, if there is just enough light to see obstructions (i.e. it is not TOTALLY dark) I dont see what the point in moving people out, or locking a coach out of use is.
To be honest, if there is just enough light to see obstructions (i.e. it is not TOTALLY dark) I dont see what the point in moving people out, or locking a coach out of use is.
I've been on an East Coast HST with no lights in our carriage. Eventually I went to ask the guard as there had been no announcement; she came down and was surprised. Someone had caught a light switch in the vestibule and everyone had been in darkness for over half an hour as a result!
I use to enjoy the old Mk 1 compartment coaches where you could turn-off the individual reading lights, pull down the corridor blinds and switch the overhead light to "dim" as I could then see out of the window during the night journey.
And I used to enjoy it even more with my girlfriend.....
And I used to enjoy it even more with my girlfriend.....
I have been on an XC HST from Bristol Parkway before that had the lights out in coach B (I think) and the gaurd advised that passengers could not be seated in the coach, however they were OK to walk through it. He then added that he thought it was ridiculous too however it was the orders passed down from control who cited health and safety.
I have very early memories of being on a Merseyrail train with not lights. In fact, it was the first time I recall going on a train. We were plunged into darkness inbetween the underground stations. Being a nervous kid anyway, it scared the hell out of me and I was petrified whenever I realised a journey would involve going on Merseyrail, even though it never happened again.
Eagle
Established Member
And the loud crunch as the train splits/joins or a loco attaches/detaches (this is always done at the end the seated coach is on).
The last sleeper I went on was between Crewe and Stirling. As I got off, even though it was only about 04.30, over half the seated coach was awake. Interestingly the lights were actually off at this point, being as it was midsummer and the sun was up.
On the topic of sleepers, myself and another forum member ended up getting a free upgrade on the Caledonian Sleeper a few years ago when the lights failed in our seated coach. I ended up in the berth right next to the 37! 
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Would this be 12615 by any chance?
deltic1989
Established Member
I'll bet you did
It happened to me once where I caught a late train from Nottingham to Lincoln. The traction was a 158 IIRC and the lights in the rear coach failed just passing Eastcroft TMD the problem was only realised however when the guard came out to open the doors at Lowdham (the first stop). The Guard was very polite about it and asked if we could move to the front coach for H&S reasons, in his words "So we didn't fall over each other", and the rear coach was locked out of use for the rest of the journey, which confused a drunk man trying to board at Newark Castle who walked into the door after it didn't open when he pressed the button
.Bit of an HST game for the scrotes down here in Winter to put the full/half bright switch to a half-way position or turn the lights of from the vestibule.
Class377/5
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Thameslink tunnels into St Pancras are good fun in the dark.
I've had the lights fail on an EMT and Northern 158 - on both occasions the emergency lighting remained on and as it was daytime we were allowed to remain in the affected coach. The only time I've had a no lights situation was on the 1967 Stock 'First & Last' tour in May 2011, when the train code tripped while transferring from the Piccadilly to Victoria lines - it was just for a few seconds, but it was very dark!
BestWestern
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I can never understand why the 'Car Lights' switches are still publicly accessible in the vestibules, you'd think they would be moved or locked out of reach.
As for failed lights on units, there should always be emergency lighting provided by the batteries, but how long this lasts is dictated by how healthy those batteries are. Very often they are all but knackered, and so the lighting may well not last very long. On some units, certainly some 158's and I would presume other newer traction also, there is a 'Remote Supply' provision which can be operated to switch the power feed for emergency interior lights, head/tail lamps, public address system and door control circuits etc to an adjacent car, assuming the adjacent car has power available. This is helpful when you have a engine isolated for example.
BestWestern
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In the meantime, there's always the glowsticks!
FGW have started fitting LED lights to the 150/1 fleet after a trial with 150125 last year. Be interesting to see if any other fleets get fitted, as FGW/Angel must see the work as beneficial.
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