Request stops when someone is waiting on the platform but doesn't have their hand out

[mm333]

I spent a few days in Devon last week and walked from Lympstone Village past Lympstone Commando to Exton.

Exton is a request stop with one platform. So if you're waiting, you could be waiting for a southbound train to Exmouth or a northbound train to Exeter. But - with the exception of the timetable at the entrance to the station - there was nothing on the platform to say it was a request stop.

I stuck my hand out and the service stopped. But if I'd used an online planner or similar, I might not have know that Exton was a request stop. Do drivers at request stops stop if there's someone on the platform? Or if I hadn't known that it was a request stop and therefore not stuck my hand out, would it have gone sailing past?

 

[ainsworth74]

As far as I'm aware drivers will stop if there is someone on the platform whether or not they signal.

 

[najaB]

Or if I hadn't known that it was a request stop and therefore not stuck my hand out, would it have gone sailing past?

I'm not a driver, but my understanding is that they will stop unless you make it clear that you don't want to catch the train.

 

[Johncleesefan]

I'm not a driver, but my understanding is that they will stop unless you make it clear that you don't want to catch the train.

Even If they motion they don't want the train I still stop. My rule is simple: Anyone whatsoever on the platform and I'm stopping therefore absolving myself of the guilt of leaving someone behind. If they don't want the train they shouldn't be on the platform.

 

[higthomas]

When I was on the train from Falmouth to Truro a couple of weeks ago we went through the request stop (I can't remember its name) and there was a young man shouting on the bench listening to music. He presumably didn't hear the train coming, so as the train slowed down he didn't make any move to let the driver know he wanted it, so we sped up and carried on, but looking back, he was standing up looking like he was expecting to catch the train. I'm not sure what happened, but I'd have been frustrated of I were him. I don't know the station, does if have signs about procedure?

 

[WCMLaddict]

Entwistle is the only request stop I have on my route card.
I would not stop unless the person gives me indication they want to catch the train. It's all in the name, passengers need to request the train to stop.
To be fair they always do. It doesn't always mean sticking hand out though.

 

[greaterwest]

When I was on the train from Falmouth to Truro a couple of weeks ago we went through the request stop (I can't remember its name) and there was a young man shouting on the bench listening to music. He presumably didn't hear the train coming, so as the train slowed down he didn't make any move to let the driver know he wanted it, so we sped up and carried on, but looking back, he was standing up looking like he was expecting to catch the train. I'm not sure what happened, but I'd have been frustrated of I were him. I don't know the station, does if have signs about procedure?

Sounds like he was at Perranwell.

It's his fault for not paying attention.

 

[AlterEgo]

Sounds like he was at Perranwell.

It's his fault for not paying attention.

He was on the platform, I mean what else does he need to be doing to catch the train?

Where on NRE's station page does it even say Perranwell is a request stop?(Clue: it doesn't.)

The passenger isn't always wrong by default...

 

[najaB]

He was on the platform, I mean what else does he need to be doing to catch the train?

I suppose it depends on how visible he was to the driver. If there was a shelter (I don't know the station) then the driver may not have seen him.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Where on NRE's station page does it even say Perranwell is a request stop?(Clue: it doesn't.)

True. But it is shown as a request stop in the timetable which is what really matters.

 

[AlterEgo]

True. But it is shown as a request stop in the timetable which is what really matters.

...to the railway.

Not the customer.

 

[najaB]

...to the railway.

Not the customer.

Going to disagree with you there. People are more likely to look at the timetable to see what time the train will be at, than the station information page on NRE.

 

[richw]

He was on the platform, I mean what else does he need to be doing to catch the train?

Where on NRE's station page does it even say Perranwell is a request stop?(Clue: it doesn't.)

The passenger isn't always wrong by default...

Perranwell shows as a request stop on the time tables. Signal to the driver if you wish to board. This is exactly what is shown on station boards as well.

 

[AlterEgo]

Going to disagree with you there. People are more likely to look at the timetable to see what time the train will be at, than the station information page on NRE.

Who looks at a timetable these days?

Except spotters, old ladies, and people who like paper.

People find their train times from apps from the TOC or NRE.

Paper or pdf timetables? Ain't nobody got no time for that.

 

[najaB]

Where on NRE's station page does it even say Perranwell is a request stop?(Clue: it doesn't.)

Just had a look at a couple of other request stops and their page doesn't say that they are request stops either. Any chance you could link to one that does so I can see how it is listed? Thanks.

 

[AlterEgo]

Perranwell shows as a request stop on the time tables. Signal to the driver if you wish to board. This is exactly what is shown on station boards as well.

It should be on every TOC app as well as the NRE app...see above.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just had a look at a couple of other request stops and their page doesn't say that they are request stops either. Any chance you could link to one that does so I can see how it is listed? Thanks.

My point is, it isn't listed on any NRE station page. It should be. It should be listed on the apps when you check train times, and when you buy your ticket too.

 

[PermitToTravel]

For comparison, here are TfL's instructions to bus drivers:

2. Why should I pick up passengers if they don’t put their hand out at the bus stop?
Some passengers may not know they need to put their hand out or they might be visually impaired, making it difficult for them to know which bus they should flag down. Whether it is day or night, if there is someone at the bus stop, you have to stop. If in doubt, stop. If you are sure nobody is waiting for your bus, or wants to get off, you can keep going.
See ‘The basics’ page 22.

As your bus reaches the stop…

1. Keep an eye out for intending passengers at all times. You must stop to pick up anyone waiting to board your bus:
   • No matter what kind of stop it is (red or white stop flag)
   • Whether they have put their hand out or not
   • Any time, day or night
   
   The reason for this is that people with visual or other hidden impairments or visitors to London may not know they have to put their hand out or may not be able to.
2. Look and listen out for passengers intending to get off. Ideally they will let you know they wish to get off by ringing the bell but be prepared to stop in case they do not.
   
   If in doubt, stop. If you are sure no one wants to get on or off you
   can keep going.

 

[najaB]

My point is, it isn't listed on any NRE station page. It should be. It should be listed on the apps when you check train times, and when you buy your ticket too.

When in a hole, stop digging.

It can't be listed on the station information page as some 'request stop' status is a property of the service not the station. There are a some stations that are request for some services and mandatory for others. And request stops almost universally don't have ticket collection facilities so most passengers will be buying onboard rather than online.

 

[richw]

It should be on every TOC app as well as the NRE app...see above.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


My point is, it isn't listed on any NRE station page. It should be. It should be listed on the apps when you check train times, and when you buy your ticket too.

There is signage at Perranwell, an A1 poster as you enter the station. Walk with their eyes closed or catching Pokemon I guess it's their own fault. Every train at Perranwell is request stop.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I think all request stops should be regular stops.
It can't effect the timetable much as stops may happen anyway.
It'll be simpler for all and will help increase usage at the stops.

 

[PermitToTravel]

There is signage at Perranwell, an A1 poster as you enter the station. Walk with their eyes closed or catching Pokemon I guess it's their own fault. Every train at Perranwell is request stop.

Does every person who might want to use that station definitely have perfect eyesight? Enough understanding of English to read that sign? If they do, no conditions (for example dyslexia) that would make them struggle to read the sign, or justifiable distractions (children or pets?)

Are there any reasons for someone to be sitting on that platform other than waiting for a train?

I'm sure in practice most drivers there use common sense.

 

[gnolife]

Are there any reasons for someone to be sitting on that platform other than waiting for a train?

I'm sure in practice most drivers there use common sense.

People who want to meet someone off an arriving servicr?

Also, for request stops with one platform,like Perranwell and Exton, the passenger could be waiting for the service in the opposite direction.

 

[PermitToTravel]

People who want to meet someone off an arriving servicr?

Still necessitates the train stopping

Also, for request stops with one platform,like Perranwell and Exton, the passenger could be waiting for the service in the opposite direction.

That would be a lot longer a wait than a typical person would make at a 1 platform station in the middle of nowhere. I would stop if driving the train.

 

[kingqueen]

If one has visual or hearing impairment it can be difficult to spot the train coming, similarly some are less able to stick a hand out or otherwise indicate request to board. I guess drivers have to take that into consideration as well when approaching a request stop where somebody is present on the platform but not indicating.

 

[AlterEgo]

When in a hole, stop digging.

It can't be listed on the station information page as some 'request stop' status is a property of the service not the station. There are a some stations that are request for some services and mandatory for others. And request stops almost universally don't have ticket collection facilities so most passengers will be buying onboard rather than online.

It's hardly in a hole to suggest that the fact the station is a request stop might be important enough to be listed on:

The station page on NRE
Apps where the customer buys their ticket
Websites where the customer buys their ticket

These are the places people go to for information about their journey. People don't read paper timetables. It isn't difficult to put a banner up on a page saying "this station is a request stop for some trains - please check your journey".

How many stations are only a request stop for some services, and not all?

When you buy your ticket you should be clearly told if your start station is a request stop. This isn't difficult.

Saying "well a request stop is a condition of the service not the station" is perfectly correct but it's just not a passenger-friendly approach. Think about the user.

It's not correct to assert that people will just always buy onboard at request stops. There are m-tickets and a large number of tickets even get sent out by post! (Post is the default collection option on some sites where you select tickets from a station with no collection facilities)

How difficult is it to agree to a yellow warning banner on NRE, on station pages that have request stops? How difficult is it to agree that maybe it would be a good idea to inform passengers when they buy their tickets that the station has request services?

We look at fewer and fewer signs these days, our eyeballs are increasingly tied to our phones (I am at West Byfleet now typing this, no idea how many signs are up in the ticket office or platform...).

The railway must adapt to the user and not the other way around. It's 2016.

 

[edwin_m]

Surely the most important thing would be to put a big sign by the entrance, that people can't miss when they arrive for a train however they may have found out about it? Although something would need to be done to inform the visually impaired as well.

 

[Starmill]

Some stations still have big signs saying it's a request stop when it's not any more. The one at Gowerton has I think finally been taken down, but I think the one at Huncoat is still there!

 

[richw]

Still necessitates the train stopping

That would be a lot longer a wait than a typical person would make at a 1 platform station in the middle of nowhere. I would stop if driving the train.

At Exton and Perranwell both are the next stop after passing loops, so not long between services in opposite directions.

 

[AlterEgo]

Surely the most important thing would be to put a big sign by the entrance, that people can't miss when they arrive for a train however they may have found out about it? Although something would need to be done to inform the visually impaired as well.

Most stations have these, yes.

I couldn't tell you what the biggest sign is at West Byfleet station though - which is my local. Like many people, I don't look at signs unless I feel like I'm in need of information (directions, for example).

You could obviate all of this by having all trains stop if there is a person present on the platform, though I certainly accept there are quite a few single-platform stations where the person might be wanting a train going the other way.

I just think what I proposed is an easy way for the railway to satisfy itself that it's informed people appropriately.

 

[PeterC]

There is no good reason to look up the station details once you have an itinerary from a journey planner. The only time I would look up the station details would be if I needed to park a car there.

The problem isn't with station information but with the journey planners. I just tested Traveline for a journey to Berney Arms and it doesn't say that anu of the required trains stop by request.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The NRE journey planner, which lets face it is what most people use these days, doesn't show request stops on the main results page. It only shows request stops if you click on the details of the train.

Please note: Perranwell station is a request stop
If travelling, please inform the conductor/driver if you wish to stop at this station. If you are waiting to catch the train, make yourself clearly visible to the driver as your train approaches.

Clearly visible =/= making a clearly visible signal to the driver to stop.