Run for the train at Wimbledon?

[AnkleBoots]

At Wimbledon and Hammersmith (Circle), how do you know whether to run for the train that is in the platform?

Is it the case that the train will disappear from the noticeboards 30 seconds before departure, for example?

 

[Lrd]

At Wimbledon and Hammersmith (Circle), how do you know whether to run for the train that is in the platform?

Is it the case that the train will disappear from the noticeboards 30 seconds before departure, for example?

The signal at the end of the platform turns green meaning an imminent departure (usually).

 

[bluegoblin7]

You should never run for a train, nor hurl yourself at closing doors. I've seen and dealt with far too many avoidable injuries.

I can't speak for Wimbledon, but at Hammersmith (Met) the boards wil generalll change once the station starter is cleared. Up until this point they will display the first departure, and there is usually ample time to get from the ticket barriers to the train. Once the starter is cleared the next departure will then be shown.

I say generally because it's a manual process performed by the signaller at Hammersmirh cabin. During busy periods, or times of disruption, it's possible that the change won't be effected quite as promptly as it's somewhere near the bottom of the 'keeping trains running' process.

 

[Dstock7080]

The signal at the end of the platform turns green meaning an imminent departure (usually).

being pedantic, at Wimbledon this could of course be yellow.

 

[Lrd]

being pedantic, at Wimbledon this could of course be yellow.

Wasn't aware of that.

I'm used to seeing green, red or white aspects

 

[TheNewNo2]

Customer actions, including injuries, are the number one cause of delays to the Underground. Please remember that you live in London, and the next train is probably less than five minutes behind, it's not like being outside the capital where you get 2tph. Walk, don't run.

 

[swt_passenger]

Don't they also reopen all the closed doors to start a 'normal' door operating cycle just before departure? That should draw attention to what's happening?

 

[AnkleBoots]

Customer actions, including injuries, are the number one cause of delays to the Underground. Please remember that you live in London, and the next train is probably less than five minutes behind, it's not like being outside the capital where you get 2tph. Walk, don't run.

I take your point although Wimbledon to Edgware Road is only 6tph for example

On the approach to the platforms there it would be useful to know if there is time to linger to pick up a paper, buy something from the shop; just as in Stratford where the Jubilee Line platforms show how many minutes are left.

 

[Lrd]

Don't they also reopen all the closed doors to start a 'normal' door operating cycle just before departure? That should draw attention to what's happening?

Not all drivers do this so I wouldn't rely it

 

[bluegoblin7]

Not all drivers do this so I wouldn't rely it

It is considered good practice on the S stock where auto-door-close inhibit has not been set, but yes, your general point is correct.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I take your point although Wimbledon to Edgware Road is only 6tph for example

On the approach to the platforms there it would be useful to know if there is time to linger to pick up a paper, buy something from the shop; just as in Stratford where the Jubilee Line platforms show how many minutes are left.

This is something that should come in with the new system, but not until then. Although in theory the platform numbers should be as timetabled, service disruptions can mean that this doesn't happen. As with Hammersmith, the TDs are set manually by the Wimbledon (NR) signaller, although at Wimbledon drivers must also operate the Train Ready To Start plunger at the head of their platform also. Thus it is harder to provide countdown information.

If you did miss a train by the time you got your paper etc. it wouldn't be too long before the next one (in the grand scheme, ten minutes isn't long), or you could always seek to connect to a Circle via the cross-platform interchange at Gloucester Road.

If you've got your hot coffee and rush to catch the train and slip, trip or get trapped in the doors it won't end well (again... I've seen far too many accidents. It really, really, really isn't worth it).

 

[bramling]

It is considered good practice on the S stock where auto-door-close inhibit has not been set, but yes, your general point is correct.

Certainly doesn't happen regularly at Aldgate - I'd say by far the majority of trains simply close and depart.

 

[philthetube]

Instructions at Aldgate are to get on with it, drivers are specifically told not to make P.A's either

 

[Hophead]

Whereas, at Richmond, the platform displays show the scheduled departure time (which is usually kept), though that doesn't stop a proportion of passengers hopping on ASAP and walking trough. Likewise, there are displays around the station indicating when and where the next District Line departure will be; not sure what the ticket hall has.

This passenger certainly finds it useful to know the actual scheduled departure time, so that I know just how fast I need to move to get a train.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Whereas, at Richmond, the platform displays show the scheduled departure time (which is usually kept), though that doesn't stop a proportion of passengers hopping on ASAP and walking trough. Likewise, there are displays around the station indicating when and where the next District Line departure will be; not sure what the ticket hall has.

This passenger certainly finds it useful to know the actual scheduled departure time, so that I know just how fast I need to move to get a train.

Yes I certainly appreciate that when changing from SWT at Richmond, so I can gauge whether to take a leisurely walk along the platform or jump on at the first carriage.

 

[RJ]

Instructions at Aldgate are to get on with it, drivers are specifically told not to make P.A's either

Aldgate is in a league of its own where it comes to information on the next train departing. It doesn't help that the display provides wrong information on the next departure towards Liverpool Street!

I use the station to go to Liverpool Street for PNB and grub when driving replacement buses on the Tower Hill to Barking route. Everything reverses there, but with erroneous displays and no announcements, it's difficult to determine which train is going first. Even observing the signals doesn't help inform as to which island to descend to. In the end I figured that the most reliable way of identifying the first train was to try and spot the train operator on the platform. Every minute counts when you get a half hour for a break and watching two trains go out ahead of you for want of information is annoying!

I can understand why PAs are discouraged - they know people can't tell which train is about to leave and it prevents a H&S issue arising from a mass exodus of people dashing across the platform if they realise theirs isn't the next one.

 

[londonboi]

At Wimbledon, they now have a dot matrix that informs customers of the next departure and what platform the next train is departing from. it shows the next 3 trains in the order they will depart and there platform number. There is also now an automatic announced that announces the next trains departure platform and its destination. Only recently been installed and seems to work pretty accurately from what i have saw and heard

 

[Domh245]

There was a system like that at Wimbledon before now, the only difference seeming to be that there are new boards and a typical LU "The next train to X, will depart from platform Y, in approximately 3 minutes" announcement. AFAIK they work off of the arrival sequence of the trains (first in = first out) and require manual intervention to fix out of sequence trains.