Turnarounds in the working timetable

[py_megapixel]

Sometimes, for a service turning around from a specific station, the inbound service arrives at a platform which has already been advertised for the outbound service, and the turnaround happens with the doors left unlocked and the train accessible to passengers, with the doors only being locked for departure of the outbound service. An example of this would be Merseyrail services at Chester.

However, sometimes all passengers alight, then the doors are locked, and then reopened later for the outbound passengers to board. An example of this is Virgin Trains at Euston.

My question is, does the timetable have a way to distinguish between a turnaround where passengers have access to the train for the full duration, and one where the train is "out of service" for a time?

 

[Muzer]

No, this information isn't in the working timetable. As far as I'm aware this will basically be down to a number of points:

• The turnaround time itself (including accounting for any delay)
• The needs of the crew (usually a train won't be left unlocked for an extended period without a member of traincrew nearby)
• The need for servicing the train — eg if the train needs to be cleaned they'll usually discourage passengers from boarding (though to help with cleaning the train won't usually be locked in such cases). Similarly if reservation labels need adding they won't usually want to let passengers on until this has been done.
• Whether the train needs to shunt for departure (some of these moves are not displayed in the working timetable and might not be obvious from a casual glance that a shunt happens — for instance at some stations they might even shunt out of one platform into a siding and then back into the same platform, to avoid blocking it up in case it's needed). At Cardiff Central the Portsmouth services often shunt via the yard or a siding for departure, but stable down the far country end of the platform until the crew are ready to let people board, at which point they will be moved up to the London end.

I don't know which, if any, documents would contain this information.

 

[bramling]

No, this information isn't in the working timetable. As far as I'm aware this will basically be down to a number of points:

• The turnaround time itself (including accounting for any delay)
• The needs of the crew (usually a train won't be left unlocked for an extended period without a member of traincrew nearby)
• The need for servicing the train — eg if the train needs to be cleaned they'll usually discourage passengers from boarding (though to help with cleaning the train won't usually be locked in such cases). Similarly if reservation labels need adding they won't usually want to let passengers on until this has been done.
• Whether the train needs to shunt for departure (some of these moves are not displayed in the working timetable and might not be obvious from a casual glance that a shunt happens — for instance at some stations they might even shunt out of one platform into a siding and then back into the same platform, to avoid blocking it up in case it's needed). At Cardiff Central the Portsmouth services often shunt via the yard or a siding for departure, but stable down the far country end of the platform until the crew are ready to let people board, at which point they will be moved up to the London end.

I don't know which, if any, documents would contain this information.

There are also "cultural" differences around the country. At King's Cross it's standard practice to leave units open and unattended, including for very long periods. Meanwhile in certain northern areas it's standard practice to close up even if the unit is unattended for a few minutes.

Perhaps part of the reason for the difference is it's easier to close up a 2-car DMU than a 12-car EMU!

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

In purely planning terms at the TOC I’m most familiar with, if the inbound guard is shown ‘relieved’ on arrival then the doors remain open during the turnaround. If the inbound guard secures the set and walks away without relief then the doors are closed until the next guard (sometimes the same person after a break) comes to the set and opens it up a few minutes before departure.