Stepping Back

[GordonT]

Two questions regarding the practice at certain termini and times of day where train operators on arrival are scheduled to take out the departure following the departure of the train they previously worked.
i)- Are there any locations where train operators are detailed to take out the second departing train after the one which they brought in?

ii) - Do horrible muddles ever occur in situations when some services are delayed/disrupted potentially causing confusion regarding which specific train is to be worked by which train operator?

 

[Dstock7080]

Loughton Central
Edgware Road District
Edgware Road C&H
Arnos Grove Piccadilly
only one train step-back.

Disruption does impact stepping-back but is usually resolved by the Step-Back Manager by allocating a driver and asking to make the available train into theirs.

 

[Daniel]

Expected Order

Arriving Train_____T/Ops Next Train
101_____________104
102_____________105
103_____________106
104_____________107
105_____________108
106_____________109
107_____________110



Actual Arriving Order and reforms
101______remain 101
104______make 102
102______make 103
107______make 104 (t/op arrived on 101)
103______make 105 (t/op arrived on 102)
105______make 107 (t/op for 106 has only just arrived, 107 t/op arrived on 104)
106______remain 106 (run out of turn)
108______remain 108 "back on book"
109


Hopefully that's followable, a simple reform there when the sequence of trains which arrive are out of turn. The aim of the game is to keep trains departing - the odd out of turn doesn't matter overall, it's about a reliable train frequency - (every 2 minutes from Morden, for example).

 

[GordonT]

Expected Order

Arriving Train T/Ops Next Train
101 104
102 105
103 106
104 107
105 108
106 109
107 110



Actual Arriving Order and reforms
101 - remain 101
104 - make 102
Hopefully that's followable, a simple reform there when the sequence of trains which arrive are out of turn. The aim of the game is to keep trains departing - the odd out of turn doesn't matter overall, it's about a reliable train frequency - (every 2 minutes from Morden, for example).

Thanks - I imagined that there would need to be a "belt and braces" strategy for keeping things moving during out of course running and your snapshot is a good example.

 

[notverydeep]

Two questions regarding the practice at certain termini and times of day where train operators on arrival are scheduled to take out the departure following the departure of the train they previously worked.
i)- Are there any locations where train operators are detailed to take out the second departing train after the one which they brought in?

The next train on the same platform is typical (which is usually the second train after at a two platform terminus, such as Brixton, Walthamstow and Elephant and Castle). At some locations, there is extra robustness built into the step backs with the T/Op taking the subsequent train at the same platform, that is the third train after, meaning they will step back four trains rather than two. This happens at both Stratford Jubilee and Morden Northern at least during peaks and peak shoulder periods...

As @Dstock7080 notes at some locations for example centre platform stepping back locations, such as at Arnos Grove Piccadilly and Loughton Central lines, the next train at the same platform is the next reverser, so only a single train step back in those cases.

 

[Russel]

Does this still happen on the Waterloo and City?

Also, how does the Train Operator know the previous Train Operator has left the other cab before departing?

 

[MaidaVale]

Does this still happen on the Waterloo and City?

Also, how does the Train Operator know the previous Train Operator has left the other cab before departing?

The W&C still steps-back for the majority of the day. T/Ops press a cab-clear plunger situated at the end of the platforms at Bank which illuminates a light at the headwall, and will often give a hand signal or gesture to their colleague at the front too. The T/Op will then head down to the other end of the platform and await the arrival of their train.


Step-backs also occur within the depot at Waterloo rather than changing operators on the platforms themselves (as they're a bit of a walk from the mess room). There is a cab-clear plunger within the depot too. Drivers will then head into the mess room after their one return trip for usually around 10-20 mins before it's time for their next rounder.

Disruption does impact stepping-back but is usually resolved by the Step-Back Manager

or by the Controller where step-back managers aren't present, such as at Arnos Grove. A common tactic if step-back trains are out of turn due to late running is to instruct one T/Op to reverse at Wood Green, making their own step-back train within the sidings, whereas the other does so at Arnos Grove.

 

[leonie13]

ii) - Do horrible muddles ever occur in situations when some services are delayed/disrupted potentially causing confusion regarding which specific train is to be worked by which train operator?

The Victoria Line has stepping back at both ends of the line - with the added complexity of some T/Ops starting / finishing their duty at the termini - means service recovery after an incident on the Victoria Line can be a massive headache challenge

 

[GordonT]

The Victoria Line has stepping back at both ends of the line - with the added complexity of some T/Ops starting / finishing their duty at the termini - means service recovery after an incident on the Victoria Line can be a massive headache challenge

Particularly with a 1-2ms service frequency at peak times.

 

[Tramfan]

Expected Order

Arriving Train_____T/Ops Next Train
101_____________104
102_____________105
103_____________106
104_____________107
105_____________108
106_____________109
107_____________110



Actual Arriving Order and reforms
101______remain 101
104______make 102
102______make 103
107______make 104 (t/op arrived on 101)
103______make 105 (t/op arrived on 102)
105______make 107 (t/op for 106 has only just arrived, 107 t/op arrived on 104)
106______remain 106 (run out of turn)
108______remain 108 "back on book"
109


Hopefully that's followable, a simple reform there when the sequence of trains which arrive are out of turn. The aim of the game is to keep trains departing - the odd out of turn doesn't matter overall, it's about a reliable train frequency - (every 2 minutes from Morden, for example).

How does that work in terms of fleet maintenance? So say 107 was due to stable after the peak for an exam, but the set is now on 104, which may be due to work throughout the evening and stable in a different location. Would this then require more reforming later on?

 

[rebmcr]

How does that work in terms of fleet maintenance? So say 107 was due to stable after the peak for an exam, but the set is now on 104, which may be due to work throughout the evening and stable in a different location. Would this then require more reforming later on?

That's when the line controller would have to make a manual decision.

 

[notverydeep]

That's when the line controller would have to make a manual decision.

To add to this, such reformations are a key feature of service recovery across all LU lines, whether or not stepping back is used at any of the termini. Most traffic days will see some trains getting off of their booked workings and thus some collaboration between fleet maintainers and service control will occur to get sets back for required exams etc...

 

[Daniel]

How does that work in terms of fleet maintenance? So say 107 was due to stable after the peak for an exam, but the set is now on 104, which may be due to work throughout the evening and stable in a different location. Would this then require more reforming later on?

Yes, exactly that. Most control rooms have a fleet engineer / maintainer based in them, to give remote fault diagnosis/resolution assistance to train operators. They'll normally monitor their 'required' units, in addition to giving a list of them to the signallers. Of course, service comes first, so even with the list reformations can push a train 'off path'. When this occurs the fleet engineer will highlight this to the controller, who will look for a reformation to get the unit back on to an appropriate path for the depot where the work or exam is due. It's not always possible, but teams work together to prioritise running a service, which in turn means withdrawing trains at points so they don't time out of exams whilst sitting in a siding at the end of the line where no work can be done...

 

[Tramfan]

Ah, makes sense thank you.