"Roland Perry" perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:KV6jwZI01WlIFADr@perry.co.uk...

In message <6flbdrFc2chnU1@mid.individual.net>, at 10:17:46 on Sun, 3
Aug 2008, Brian Watson hotmail.com> remarked:

The Elfin Safety people won't allow it. And surprisingly a lot of modern
trains simply aren't equipped with sufficiently sophisticated selective
door opening.

As you say, it can happen on some "grandfather rights" rural routes. I
was on a 5-car train a week ago that stopped at two stations with only
room for 3-cars. The way they organised it was for the guard to make
several announcements and walk through the train, and then *only* open
the door at the very front of the train by the driver's cab.

And many London commuter trains are driver-only-operated so similar
logisitics would be difficult.

"Roland Perry" perry.co.uk> wrote

In slam door days there were three options:
1 - Guard goes through train and moves passengers who wish to alight at a
short platform, so that they are in a coach which will be adjacent to the
platform.
2 - Front of train stops at platform, then train draws up to get next
portion by the platform. I've been on a train which drew up twice to let one
passenger alight at Duncraig.
3 - Passengers climb down...

"Peter Masson" privacy.net> wrote in message
news:4cidncaAd9clEgjVRVnyvwA@bt.com...

4 - everybody just got onto the right carriage in the first place, as per
the notices and announcements at the point of embarkation - "front two
coaches for x" etc.

"Roland Perry" perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:FyHQpGRCtXlIFARH@perry.co.uk...

As I've mentioned before, TOCs such as SWT use SDO by whole unit, sometimes
only releasing the doors in 4 coaches of 12; or using single door only in
444s at 4 platform stations such as Beaulieu Rd, or Shawford.

Happens routinely on the mainline platforms at Clapham Junction too, so the
rural bit isn't a requirement either.

The Whistling Fellsman tour - 13 Mk2's (plus a generator coach) - set
down at Denton last night with no problems.

But then there were plenty of stewards to make sure passengers were
moved forward to the first 3 coaches in order to alight safely.

On Aug 3, 10:17 am, "Brian Watson" hotmail.com> wrote:

On Sun, 3 Aug 2008 10:17:46 +0100 someone who may be "Brian Watson"
hotmail.com> wrote this:-

Some years ago a lady got off a HST at Markinch. She had not checked
to see if there was a platform to put her feet on and as a result
she broke her ankle when she landed on the lineside. Such things
are/were not common, but are a reason to slowly eliminate the
possibility.

On lines equipped with conductor rails the result might be worse. In
some places, generally in built up areas, lines come together
quickly after the platform and someone could fall onto or near
another line. Some platforms are near bridges and there is the
possibility of people stepping off into a river or over a large
drop, or onto a bridge parapet which they then fall off. The
relatively well known case of the former was at Bath Spa, with a
soldier stepping out of a train and falling into the river.

In message <6fli54Fc14qpU1@mid.individual.net>, at 12:12:36 on Sun, 3
Aug 2008, Tim Ward brettward.co.uk> remarked:

That's usually because the trains split, rather than a short platform.
For some reason this is regarded as less passenger-unfriendly than only
opening half the doors, presumably because at the station where the
train splits there's the ability to change units if it turns out you are
the wrong one.

Perhaps one of the options for the Cambridge trains is to run fast to
Letchworth then split into 8 & 4 car units. One running fast to
Cambridge and the other becoming an all station stopper.

In message <6eadnU1Lbus2DgjVnZ2dnUVZ8tjinZ2d@bt.com>, at 12:09:45 on
Sun, 3 Aug 2008, Paul Scott btinternet.com> remarked:

Do those trains have a corridor connection between each set of 4
carriages?

One of the major design flaws in the networkers on the Cambridge line is
that they don't.

The 5-car train I mentioned earlier was made of three units (2+2+1) and
not only was there a corridor all the way through, the connecting doors
were open so you could see all the way through the train!