Passenger Opens Door to Driver’s Cabin to Complain

clc · 29 Dec 2018

I was on a train today which had stopped between Exhibition Centre and Partick and I was taken aback to see a passenger open the door to the driver’s cabin and demand to know why the train had stopped. The driver told him to go away which he did.

Based on the passenger’s general behaviour prior to that I could tell he wasnt quite right mentally.
Is it common for drivers to not lock the cabin door?

RailUK Forums

diffident · 29 Dec 2018

Sounds rather concerning. I thought that access could be attained on older stock with a BR1 key, but don't know about more modern fayre. Even still, why would a passenger be knocking about with one??

alangla · 29 Dec 2018

Probably a 318 and the driver hadn’t secured the sliding door. There’s a break-glass panel on that door IIRC, but I expect OP would have mentioned if it had been broken. 320s & 334s have outward opening doors that self-close & need a key

Bletchleyite · 29 Dec 2018

alangla said:
Probably a 318 and the driver hadn’t secured the sliding door. There’s a break-glass panel on that door IIRC, but I expect OP would have mentioned if it had been broken. 320s & 334s have outward opening doors that self-close & need a key

For years Merseyrail units didn't have any way to lock the cab door. I think it was only the most recent refurb that added that by putting glass in the break-glass where previously there was none.

Thinking on, Class 139 doesn't even have a cab!

dilbertphil · 29 Dec 2018

Passengers trying to enter cabs for various reasons is not uncommon. Alot of the time they think it's a toilet or door to another carriage. Just today I had someone constantly knocking on my cab door wanting to know if they could use 1st class as the rest of the train was full, I politely told them I had more pressing things to be getting on with. I always make sure my door is locked, to be honest can't wait till we get locos and I'm nowhere near the passengers

clc · 29 Dec 2018

alangla said:
Probably a 318 and the driver hadn’t secured the sliding door. There’s a break-glass panel on that door IIRC, but I expect OP would have mentioned if it had been broken. 320s & 334s have outward opening doors that self-close & need a key

Yes it was a 318 and no glass was broken.

E_Reeves · 29 Dec 2018

I was on a GA 153 and the door just wouldn't lock. The driver and guard were there for ages trying to sort it and lock it, but in the end the driver just leaned his bag against it to keep it shut.

Would this've been an immediate repair when it got back to the depot or could it wait?

_toommm_ · 29 Dec 2018

E_Reeves said:
I was on a GA 153 and the door just wouldn't lock. The driver and guard were there for ages trying to sort it and lock it, but in the end the driver just leaned his bag against it to keep it shut.

Would this've been an immediate repair when it got back to the depot or could it wait?

One would hope it to be immediate as it could potentially be a security risk. Not only that, but it could be distracting to drivers if it popped open or a passenger opened it thinking it went to a bog/another carriage

big all · 29 Dec 2018

some years ago i was on a vep
the cab door opened and a man said how do you get the door open pointing at the vestibule door
said look out the window
he looked out and said "are you the driver "
i said no i thought you where ??
he left sharpish looking rather pale

47271 · 29 Dec 2018

I've heard a story about a visually impaired passenger somehow getting through to the front cab gangway of a 156 between Carlisle and Dumfries in the 1990s. The driver saw him walking forward on his right hand side and judged it wise to make a full brake application just in case the guy got any further. The guard moved at the speed of light to haul him back and direct him to the toilet, that's apparently what he was searching for.

Shaw S Hunter · 29 Dec 2018

E_Reeves said:
I was on a GA 153 and the door just wouldn't lock. The driver and guard were there for ages trying to sort it and lock it, but in the end the driver just leaned his bag against it to keep it shut.

Would this've been an immediate repair when it got back to the depot or could it wait?

I would expect an immediate call to maintenance to arrange fitter's attention asap. Chances are it was just a loose catch plate and a simple fix. Are GA crews not issued with a multi-bit screwdriver?

JaJaWa · 29 Dec 2018

I've been on a Thameslink Class 700 where someone knocked on the cab door and the driver opened it. Don't think that would happen on a plane...

big all · 30 Dec 2018

JaJaWa said:
I've been on a Thameslink Class 700 where someone knocked on the cab door and the driver opened it. Don't think that would happen on a plane...

situation very very different
evil intent get into a cockpit possible disaster
evil intent get into a cab not much happens as the train stops due to driver "sleeping" within a mineuit or so

Hadders · 30 Dec 2018

I was on a 365 one evening last summer and the driver left the door open so he could talk to his friends who were occupying the 1st class compartment!

Jensen · 30 Dec 2018

Anybody seen the Taking of Pelham 123? Intent could be there.

rg177 · 30 Dec 2018

Meanwhile I've had the brakes on a train apply so hard in Portugal that the door flung open. Seemed to be a door that swung both ways and often it was just left unlocked.

I was shocked and amused to find the driver playing Candy Crush Saga.

big all · 30 Dec 2018

Jensen said:
Anybody seen the Taking of Pelham 123? Intent could be there.

the point is hijacking a plane at height no systems exist to instantly effect the operation
within a train several layers off control can directly effect the misuse making the the hijacking at best a tradgidy rather than a disaster with a few injuries and possible loss off life as opposed to full loss off life
in other words they wont choose a route that gives them little publicity they need evil intent and more than maximum publicity otherwise they have failed so quite pointless

Jonny · 30 Dec 2018

Jensen said:
Anybody seen the Taking of Pelham 123? Intent could be there.

Based on the wikipedia description - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Taking_of_Pelham_123_(2009_film) - highly unlikely in Britain since you generally can't just uncouple the first coach with any real effect.

big all · 30 Dec 2018

Jonny said:
Based on the wikipedia description - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Taking_of_Pelham_123_(2009_film) - highly unlikely in Britain since you generally can't just uncouple the first coach with any real effect.

i personally resisted the need to answer fiction in a unreal situation
they more than often take poetic license to make the plot work rather than actual fact as to what will happen

theageofthetra · 30 Dec 2018

E_Reeves said:
I was on a GA 153 and the door just wouldn't lock. The driver and guard were there for ages trying to sort it and lock it, but in the end the driver just leaned his bag against it to keep it shut.

Would this've been an immediate repair when it got back to the depot or could it wait?

It should have been taken out of service.

jon0844 · 30 Dec 2018

If the train was going back with the openable cab now being empty, I agree it should have been taken out of service.

dk1 · 30 Dec 2018

Shaw S Hunter said:
I would expect an immediate call to maintenance to arrange fitter's attention asap. Chances are it was just a loose catch plate and a simple fix. Are GA crews not issued with a multi-bit screwdriver?

Not issued with screwdrivers although some (probably ex-scouts/military) seem to bring enough equipment for any eventuality. I just carry my neccesary keys & that's it as I was in neither :lol:

Bletchleyite · 30 Dec 2018

Jensen said:
Anybody seen the Taking of Pelham 123? Intent could be there.

As with most films it wasn't entirely realistic.

tom1649 · 30 Dec 2018

Class 101 cab doors were forever sliding open of their own accord. No one seemed particularly concerned though.

Bletchleyite · 30 Dec 2018

tom1649 said:
Class 101 cab doors were forever sliding open of their own accord. No one seemed particularly concerned though.

Some drivers (though increasingly few as time went on) just left them open and the blinds up, particularly on scenic routes.

jamesst · 30 Dec 2018

I've had it a few times where the doors opened as I've been driving along, normally because the dead bolt hasn't caught the door. The first I've known is when the cab suddenly gets much brighter!! It's funny how when I've gone to close the door at the next station there's generally always a spotter in the front seat in the coach peering in!!!

evoluzione · 30 Dec 2018

150/2’s are good for people opening your cab door if you’ve forgot to lock it behind.

We are not meant to lock the vestibule door because of it being an emergency exit, so they wonder through thinking it’s another carriage or toilet.

Acey · 30 Dec 2018

Many many tears ago I was taking an 8 car EPB from Charing Cross to Dartford via the Bexleyheath line when there was a gentle tap on the door behind,there was a young man looking very sheepish explaining that he felt a bit unwell and could he sit in the secondmans seat until Welling,different times then, so I said ok ,he was asking questions about the various controls etc and then he pointed at the handbrake wheel and said " I know that's not a steering wheel but what is it for ? "I explained that it was the handbrake ,to which he thought for minute and then said " yes but how do you do a hillstart with it ? " he was serious !!

Aictos · 30 Dec 2018

Hadders said:
I was on a 365 one evening last summer and the driver left the door open so he could talk to his friends who were occupying the 1st class compartment!

Not that rare, not meant to happen but it does.

ungreat · 30 Dec 2018

JaJaWa said:
I've been on a Thameslink Class 700 where someone knocked on the cab door and the driver opened it. Don't think that would happen on a plane...

Unless the 700 was at a stand not possible!

Passenger Opens Door to Driver’s Cabin to Complain

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