To add to this, on ours once doors are released we get a screen come up with CCTV of all our carriages. It's only from one end, however we still must be aware that we need to make sure that the white line is unbroken along the length of the screen. (White line on edge of platform). Once doors are closed and we start pulling away, we must make sure we are looking at the CCTV screens until they automatically turn off (after approx 4mph). Above this speed, all ability to look at cctv is disabled.
Whilst stopped, we have access to look at internal CCTV, and also pull up external CCTV if needed (bigger pictures, can see more of platform etc if needed).
All of the cameras on our trains are continuously recorded at 4fps, whether moving or not. They're continuously recorded until the data has to be overwritten. Obviously not going to give info on how long that is. However, if someone presses a PASSCOM, they're put in to EMERGENCY mode and cameras will start recording at 12fps until PASSCOM is reset.
Wow! As a driver I wish we had this level of information published regarding the operation of our TOC's units.
We've only just had hard disks put in to record the external CCTV; up until recently it was live action CCTV with no recording. I have no idea whether the hard disks are enabled yet or are still dead weight. I certainly have no idea as to the frame rates or even resolution. I also do not know if the hard disk recording cuts off at the same time that I lose vision on my monitors. If the recording continues after the monitors cut off I would like to think that there would at least be a flag on the recording to indicate the last frame displayed to the driver, but I suspect that that is probably not the case. Certainly this would be relevant in any court case where the driver is arguing "I didn't see the victim because the monitors cut off when I took power". I am led to believe that the cameras are still active between stations because of a rumour I've heard that a driver passing in the back cab of a unit was treated to a view of the world going by because some software bug left the monitors in the back cab activated!
At our TOC we still don't have the ability to bring up the external CCTV on our monitors when stationary without releasing doors even though the monitors are touchscreens. This would be really useful when stopped by a red at a station where we are not booked to call. The rule book says the driver must not move the train unless it is safe to do so, but the tools available to us do not allow us to ascertain if it is safe to move. The TOC tells us in training that if interlock has not been broken it must be safe to move, but we all know if you stop in a station, the drunks and the idiots and the partially sighted and the mobile phone zombies and every other man and his dog will all approach your train and try to open doors. There have been occasions in the past where drivers have been jailed for manslaughter when they have flagrantly ignored other parts of the rulebook. I hope I am not the driver who becomes the court test case when some drunk has been rolled between platform and train because the driver pulled away without the ability to check behind. "Yes your honour, I mincemeated Mr Jones because the management at my TOC said it could never happen", does not sound like a great defense to me.
To the original poster of the question,
@JeffMersey , we've answered your question in many ways. But as always with traction questions, if there are two obvious ways of doing something, the manufacturers will have implemented it in at least 5 different ways. The one common thread I've found is that I've never yet found a driver who works with in-cab monitors who feels they are as good as someone with their head out the window.
