TRTS vs Off vs Right away

Just occurred to me - when I was on Virgin's Pendolino simulator, most of the stations had RA indicators. Is this true to life, and if so, what does the guard actually do at these stations, or is dispatch controlled entirely by platform staff?

• If the signal is not already OFF the platform staff will press the TRTS plunger.


• Once the signal is OFF and the doors free of obstruction they will raise the white dispatch baton and reinforce with a whistle.


• The guard will then close the train doors.


• Once the dispatcher is happy all the doors are closed, and free of obstructions he will raise the white dispatch baton and reinforce with a whistle.


• The guard if he is happy to depart will then give a green flag to the dispatcher, and then immediately close his "local door".


• Once the dispatcher sees the "local door" close he will then walk and key the RA indicator.

Trts is what we get in sims, an indication to the box from a button on the platform that station work is complete and the train will depart immediately the signal is cleared (theoretically anyway though it's not alway used like that, especially in terminus stations under ars where the standard is to press the button anything up to 2 minutes before the train is ready to depart)

Class 221s on the other hand are generally dispatched on the buzzer.

" said:

Class 221s on the other hand are generally dispatched on the buzzer.

Is that because the driver closes the doors I believe? Unsure if the panels by the doors have open/close buttons too or if it's just a local door switch and a buzzer?

Thinking of Class 390's too, does the driver open the doors and the guard shuts them, or am I thinking of some other unit?

" said:

" said:

Class 221s on the other hand are generally dispatched on the buzzer.

Is that because the driver closes the doors I believe? Unsure if the panels by the doors have open/close buttons too or if it's just a local door switch and a buzzer?

Thinking of Class 390's too, does the driver open the doors and the guard shuts them, or am I thinking of some other unit?

I think I'm right in saying that the guard can only control their local door on 22x- the driver opens them on arrival and the guard sends 1-2 on the buzzer to tell the driver to close them. Guard then checks that doors shut safely etc., closes local door and sends 2.

Guard definitely shuts on 390s, don't know about opening. I think quite a few TOCs have the driver opening the doors, to prevent delays while the guard finishes selling a ticket and walks to the back.

Not just ARS either - the same applies to a real signalman, who really needs to know (by the lack of TRTS) a couple of minutes in advance that a train's not going to be ready to depart right time.

" said:

Trts is what we get in sims, an indication to the box from a button on the platform that station work is complete and the train will depart immediately the signal is cleared (theoretically anyway though it's not alway used like that, especially in terminus stations under ars where the standard is to press the button anything up to 2 minutes before the train is ready to depart)

This is incorrect. TRTS is an indication to the signaller (through platform staff using a plunger) that it is appropriate for the signaller to set the route for the train if it hasn't already been, i.e. the driver and guard are present, and there's no reason why the train wouldn't be able to leave on time. It's not an indication that station work is complete. TRTS could be given around a minute or two prior to the booked departure time of the passenger train for the signaller to set the route, in preparation for the train to be dispatched at the correct time.

In Simsig, it did use to be the case up until recently that the signaller incorrectly received a TRTS notification at the time the train was ready to depart (as in the behaviour you describe), and not in advance of the train's booked departure time.

Just remember that trains cannot begin the dispatch procedure (closing doors, etc. ) until the signal clears, attempting to do so on a red is an operating incident and could see the driver/guard in some hot water! (Even at the miniature railway I work at, attempting to dispatch against a red can see you getting a good talking to!)

Jamie.

all is gravy.

One more question though, why it such bad form to give a right away with the signal still on? Surely the driver at the front of the train has the best view of the signal and wouldn't set off past a red aspect?

Thanks for all the replies - I've definitely learned a lot from the thread.

One more question though, why it such bad form to give a right away with the signal still on? Surely the driver at the front of the train has the best view of the signal and wouldn't set off past a red aspect?