jingsmonty
Member
To drive: yes, you're correct, there's no real difference between driving a refurbished set to a classic set. Most of the additional training will be for the Guards. But with the refurbished set, we will be responsible for checking the doors on a refurbished set during Prep/Safety checks, therefore Drivers will need training on how to actually operate the doors (which shouldn't be too time-consuming, as they are designed to mimic a 170 door panel). Drivers don't go near the slam doors (other than to check the doors are closed & no CDL lights are lit on the coaches before moving) - we don't check the actual operation of them, that's down to the Guards, but we WILL have to do this on the refurbished coaches.
Also, the refurbished sets are fitted with a Traction Interlock Isolation/over-ride (this is isolated when a refurbished power car is working with slam door 'classic' stock - otherwise the brakes can't be released, as was discovered by one of my colleagues one day...), which we will need a refresher on.
Hospitality staff will also need some sort of training re the hot food/buffet on the refurbished sets. I can't see Drivers who have already trained on HSTs having to do 'familiarisation' runs with refurbished stock, it's just that the 3rd refurbished set may just become the training train for Inverness, allowing any Drivers who have still to qualify on HSTs to have their training, along with a conversion course for the guards at the same time.
