Why does Woking have far more platform alterations than compared to Guildford

[zwk500]

Cloud-based CIS control doesn’t really have anything to do with it. It is still reliant currently on tracking train data from whatever infrastructure is on the ground to record it.

Theoretically a more flexible system could make use of more data sources, including GPS data from the trains themselves and routing data from the interlocking not just the TD Berth data. Separate to Cloud-based, any new CIS could also be built in a way to specify look-aheads for alterations in the berths.

At Woking this would be of minimal use as often the trains will be waiting at the signal and could be routed into either platform at the last minute but the general thrust was newer CIS should equal more capable system and therefore *potentially* better information to the customer.

 

[Deepgreen]

I remember once on the approach to Guildford on a down train, the driver suddenly went on the PA (broadcast to the entire train), and told the guard that we are arriving at Platform 8. The guard was on the ball, and a couple of seconds later, the guard made a PA that only the doors on the front x coaches would open, and asked the passengers in the rear to move forward.

Quite recently I was on a train arriving at Gatwick from Dorking and the guard announced that the doors would open on the right hand side. I had noticed that RTT had the train arriving at p2 (doors on the right), which is very unusual, as p1 is the normal platform, and I expected us to use p1 (doors on the left). Sure enough we went into p1! I wonder if the guard was using RTT for his information, or the base data that feeds RTT. One or both were wrong. I don't see the point of stating which side the doors will open anyway, as it will be obvious - getting it wrong just looks bad.

 

[greaterwest]

At Woking this would be of minimal use as often the trains will be waiting at the signal and could be routed into either platform at the last minute but the general thrust was newer CIS should equal more capable system and therefore *potentially* better information to the customer.

It's a good job the station staff at Woking are in constant communication with the signaller and have CIS access thus almost all platform changes at Woking tend to be updated on the CIS and announced in good time.

This is important at a location like Woking where there is so much operational flexibility.

 

[DelW]

It's a good job the station staff at Woking are in constant communication with the signaller and have CIS access thus almost all platform changes at Woking tend to be updated on the CIS and announced in good time.

This is important at a location like Woking where there is so much operational flexibility.

Woking at 12:30 today, was switching a succession of trains between p4 and p5 accompanied by a continuous barrage of high volume PA announcements repeating the message over and over again.

Possibly a consequence of the lift to the island platforms (2 3 & 4) being broken.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Possibly a consequence of the lift to the island platforms (2 3 & 4) being broken.

A very valid point, when passengers with mobility issues need assistance etc. In NR's defence it's not always in relation to point failures etc!

 

[louis97]

I had noticed that RTT had the train arriving at p2 (doors on the right), which is very unusual, as p1 is the normal platform, and I expected us to use p1 (doors on the left). Sure enough we went into p1!

RTT will only show the booked platform until it knows otherwise, so it won't identify the current pattern that they seem to be using platform 1 instead of their booked platform a significant proportion of the time currently.

 

[Deepgreen]

RTT will only show the booked platform until it knows otherwise, so it won't identify the current pattern that they seem to be using platform 1 instead of their booked platform a significant proportion of the time currently.

I have only ever known North Downs trains to use p1 at Gatwick of late, so the RTT data was presumably wrong (I have seen RTT displaying p2 when the reality was p1 too many times for it to be coincidence). My point was that, with the risk of being wrong, simply don't venture to announce which side the doors will open - it's going to self-evident at the station!

 

[louis97]

I have only ever known North Downs trains to use p1 at Gatwick of late, so the RTT data was presumably wrong (I have seen RTT displaying p2 when the reality was p1 too many times for it to be coincidence). My point was that, with the risk of being wrong, simply don't venture to announce which side the doors will open - it's going to self-evident at the station!

Most are booked platform 2, which RTT will show until it knows otherwise. Have you got any examples of RTT showing platform 2 post arriving platform 1? We can certainly look into why that happened, so it doesn't happen again.