SWT 159 First Class

[starrymarkb]

nope - driver must unlock AFIAA - NSE/SWT did it to stop the scrum for the first door on arrival at Waterloo - also to keep the area clear on busy trains if the driver does have to leave the train for a signal phone (rules now require newbuild stock to have a seperate crew door)

 

[devon_metro]

I doubt the door buttons are activated (more likely requires a J-key), but that is why the front doors & vestible are locked: safety standards imposed since the 158s/159s entered service say that the doors drivers use to exit the train to talk to signalmen etc can't be accessible to the public, in case some idiot follows the driver out and gets run over / electrocuted / etc.

And yet it is safe for all other TOCs who operate 153s/155s/158s/142s/143s/144s etc

 

[Mojo]

And yet it is safe for all other TOCs who operate 153s/155s/158s/142s/143s/144s etc

What l was thinking - even on some 150s you can access the vestibule behind the driver, although don't think the door buttons are operational (l've got out where there have been units joined together but never the very front vestibule). Do the 158s on hire to FGW from SWT have the front vestibules locked out?

 

[Stacey]

I couldn't say with regards to the hire-ins for FGW though I can say that in the space behind the driver (which is locked out for pax) the doors can be opened from the inside just like any other door...

At Waterloo the door behind the driver is opened so pax can get out...

Some drivers do get uppity when we park in 'their space' but if we don't park there and just turn round when we're hurtling along they don't tend to notice. Pushing back the trolley is very awkward so... anyway, it's not just me

 

[starrymarkb]

What l was thinking - even on some 150s you can access the vestibule behind the driver, although don't think the door buttons are operational (l've got out where there have been units joined together but never the very front vestibule). Do the 158s on hire to FGW from SWT have the front vestibules locked out?

The Vestible doors at the ends of a 150 formation are indeed locked out. They are usable when in the middle of a formation

 

[devon_metro]

What l was thinking - even on some 150s you can access the vestibule behind the driver, although don't think the door buttons are operational (l've got out where there have been units joined together but never the very front vestibule). Do the 158s on hire to FGW from SWT have the front vestibules locked out?

Front vestibule I think is locked open. It says on the fgw leaflet for drivers how to do it.

 

[Mojo]

l'd still be interested to hear why SWT are the only TOC (as far as l'm aware) that close off the vestibule behind the driver.

 

[thefab444]

This sometimes applied to Class 442s as well, back when they were in operation with SWT. Thankfully it is not possible with the newer stock.

 

[starrymarkb]

l'd still be interested to hear why SWT are the only TOC (as far as l'm aware) that close off the vestibule behind the driver.

Its an NSE thing. The front vestible has always been locked out on 159s since new

 

[LondonLarry]

l'd still be interested to hear why SWT are the only TOC (as far as l'm aware) that close off the vestibule behind the driver.

I'm sure Wessex Trains did the same thing on their 158s between Portsmouth & Cardiff...

 

[Mojo]

I'm sure Wessex Trains did the same thing on their 158s between Portsmouth & Cardiff...

They certaintly didn't used to in their later years, and FGW definately don't do that!

 

[support-uk-rail]

If travelling weekday, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, water, fruit juice, biscuits, crisps, cakes, muffins and nuts. You also get a copy of The Times.

Also, if you buy anything from the Travelling Chef, it is delivered to your seat on plates.

Biscuits and cakes arn't complimentary, and the 'free muffins' are nearly bitesize!

 

[TEW]

But they don't limit you to one or two free refreshments.

 

[devon_metro]

Biscuits and cakes arn't complimentary,

Er, think you will find they are!

 

[Helvellyn]

It was done with the 442s, and is still done on the 158/159 units. From what I've heard it was a union agreement brought in by NSE to ensure that the Driver had a dedicated access door should it be necessary to leave the train. On 158/159 units I believe the Driver has to remember to activate it as a crew door, thus locking the door from the vestibule to the saloon out of normal use.

Class 455 units used to have the crew doors available for passenger use. Internally and externally the normal door operation button positions are still there, just covered with a blank plate - even after refurbishment. The recess for the emergency cord is even still in place! I suspect that it was deactivated for use as a passenger door for the same reasons as above, i.e. so passengers couldn't use the vestibule behind the Driver. I also believe that when new, it was possible to walk between couples units, but now this is crew access only.

Back to topic - First Class on the SWT 158/159 units is certainly comfortable. More so than with the old style seats the 159 units had (a slightly wider version of the seat used on the FGW 165/166 units and FCC 365 units).

 

[Mojo]

I suspect that it was deactivated for use as a passenger door for the same reasons as above, i.e. so passengers couldn't use the vestibule behind the Driver.

I have seen local doors on 455s open whilst the train is moving, which leads me to assume that they are not connected to the interlock which may be another reason for not allowing them to be used. Unless this is just the local door and not all single leaf doors behind the cabs.

 

[SWT Driver]

The saloon vestibule doors on a 159 are deactivated when the driver puts the key on & master switch is moved away from off.

They can be overridden by inserting a key into the appropriate hole.

442's were a manual system, although again it wasn't active until a key was on & master switch was away from off.

I always kept it locked when I was driving them, I would only operate it once the train had arrived at the final destination or if it were a crew change via the crew door release valve, which caused no end of arguments especially on 1P00.

I don't really think that the 159's first class section is really warranted, after all, all that separates you from the standard lot, is a flimsy partition. You're still getting the roaring engine underneath you.