The Bristol Railway Archive

Can anyone tell me what the rules (or normal practice) for a HST set of say 7/8 cars stopping at a short platform? At Stonehouse only two cars are brought to a stand on the platform.

I have noticed generally that its the rear two cars (or the two that includes the guards compartment) that stops on platform. Is this what they should do? I noticed the other day a HST pulled in with the front two carriages stood on the platform, but the Guards compartment was at the rear of the train (i.e.: off platform).

What is the normal practice for this?

i thought stonehouse was long enough to accomodate a full HST?

My understanding is that the doors are locked and the guard has to go and release them. Hence why normally the coaches nearest the guard are those which are stopped next to the platform.

Why this would vary, I'm afraid I don't know.

Shazz wrote:i thought stonehouse was long enough to accomodate a full HST?

Stonehouse, glos? Can only take two mk3s

meh, been a while since i've been up there. Unless they're shortened it recently i swear it seemed long enough for a full hst

As long as over-length HSTs have been calling at a station for a set length of time, they have "grandfather rights": this applies at a whole load of stations including the Cotswold Line, West Wales (Swansea - Pembroke Dock), and I would guess several stations in Devon and Cornwall too. They tend to stop with the TGS platformed (presumably to expedite the loading of bikes etc) then as many of the other cars behind it as possible. I think this applies regardless of whether the TGS is at the London or Country end but I may be wrong: it may depend on the position of the relevant HST stop marker on the platform, which can in turn depend on things like sighting of a starter signal. On an unmodified HST, the conductor will release all of the doors on the relevant side of the train, so in theory there's nothing (apart from a warning sticker) to stop some numpty opening a door and stepping down a bit further than they expected.

FGW's HSTs are being modified to incorporate selective door opening (SDO): I think this gives the conductor the option to unlock all doors forward of the panel he's using, all doors in rear, all the doors on that side or just the local door. So, by choosing an appropriate panel in the train the conductor of a modified HST can ensure that only doors that are platformed are unlocked. This will enable HSTs to serve stations where they don't have "grandfather rights"

get_that_bus_out wrote:This will enable HSTs to serve stations where they don't have "grandfather rights"

I think Worle is on the cards.

Alex

Copied (badly) from FGW's new timetable, stations with "z" infront are short platforms! Personally i didnt think Stroud was. Maybe a set with 8 cars?

London Paddington d
Slough d
Gatwick Airport d
Reading d
Oxford d
Didcot Parkway d
Swindon d
z Kemble d
z Stroud d
z Stonehouse d
Gloucester a
Cheltenham Spa a
Worcester Shrub Hill a
Chippenham d
Bath Spa d
Bristol Parkway d
Bristol Temple Meads a
z Nailsea & Backwell a
z Yatton a
z Worle a
Weston-super-Mare a
z Highbridge & Burnham a
z Bridgwater a
Taunton a
Newport a
Hereford a
Cardiff Central a
Bridgend a
Port Talbot Parkway a
z Neath a
Swansea a
z Llanelli a
z Pembrey & Burry Port a
z Kidwelly a
z Ferryside a
Carmarthen a
z Whitland a
z Tenby a
z Pembroke a
z Pembroke Dock a
Haverfordwest a
Milford Haven a
Fishguard Harbour a
Rosslare Harbour a
Mondays to Fridays

There are now posters at FGW stations advising cyclists heading to or from stations with short platforms what to do. Cycle racks have been provided in power cars so that cyclists can store their bikes in the front one which will ensure that they can remove it at the destination: power cars will be opened up by platform staff when required. Doesn't sound like they intend to use them for general stowage of bikes though as passengers travelling to/from stations with full length platforms are advised to use coach A (the TGS) as normal.