tsr
Established Member
This will also change the way trains are dispatched from certain stations. Platform staff will no longer give a tip, instead they will "observe" the platform while the driver does all the checks.
Really? I believe that's not a valid procedure according to the Rules applicable to dispatch of Southern stock. There's no such blurring of boundaries - either platform staff are involved in the dispatch procedure - including the formal requirements involving the Station Work and Train Safety Check indications - or not at all. Obviously general vigilance is encouraged even if you're not dispatching trains, but that's different.
(There are some locations, especially LO & LM stations, where station staff are rostered to be on the platforms but have no safety obligations regarding Southern stock. They may appear to be observing but that is simply because they have no other more pressing task, not because of a rule specifying they should be present at that point.)
According to the documentation I've received, drivers will now dispatch 377s using in-cab monitors only at Dorking Platform 3, Holmwood, Ockley and Warnham, and will be dispatched by platform staff at Horsham for routes via Dorking, as they currently do there for various ECS moves on all routes.
For the additional use of DOO from Brighton/Three Bridges to London terminals, I haven't seen any guidance regarding changes to the dispatch procedures at any station. All of them had already been assessed long ago for relevant procedures for dispatch of DOO(P) trains but it was simply only allowed in severe disruption.
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