This morning somewhere between Norwood Junction and New Cross came the announcement "Will the Conductor contact the guard" which can mean trouble is brewing. When we got to London Bridge ambulance staff boarded the train to tend to an individual. I hope the gentleman concerned was not ill and recovered.
However it was clear with discussions on the train home this evening that people do not understand the procedures. Some seem to think the communication cord should have been pulled and the train halted, but of course that would have been no help as no way to get help to the train in the middle of nowhere.
We were however surprised there was no call for medical staff to go to the carriage, instead passengers had to unsuccessfully look for someone in the carriage.
So what happens in a case like this. Someone obviously notified the driver, and I assume he notified the conductor who was probably in the wrong part of the train. But presumably one of them would have then called control and asked for an ambulance to meet the train, but who determines whether we should in this case carry on to London Bridge or stop at New Cross although other lines would have other choices. Is there some form of time theory or is it agreed with the ambulance service?
I also assume signallers cannot really do anything to get the train an open rum, but would they also be notified to try and limit any red lights it might face?
However it was clear with discussions on the train home this evening that people do not understand the procedures. Some seem to think the communication cord should have been pulled and the train halted, but of course that would have been no help as no way to get help to the train in the middle of nowhere.
We were however surprised there was no call for medical staff to go to the carriage, instead passengers had to unsuccessfully look for someone in the carriage.
So what happens in a case like this. Someone obviously notified the driver, and I assume he notified the conductor who was probably in the wrong part of the train. But presumably one of them would have then called control and asked for an ambulance to meet the train, but who determines whether we should in this case carry on to London Bridge or stop at New Cross although other lines would have other choices. Is there some form of time theory or is it agreed with the ambulance service?
I also assume signallers cannot really do anything to get the train an open rum, but would they also be notified to try and limit any red lights it might face?