TRTS vs Off vs Right away

Very interesting thread, thanks.

I see the acronym DOO used here several times. Does this stand for Driver-Only Operation (aka One-man operation (OMO), one person operation (OPO), single person train operation (SPTO) or one-person train operation (OPTO)? (Wikipedia) (Makes mental note to add to Wiki Glossary).

With all the discussion regarding variations across different railway operators in the UK, my next question is, does SimSig handle TRTS and RW (Right-Away) identically in all sims?

With all the discussion regarding variations across different railway operators in the UK, my next question is, does SimSig handle TRTS and RW (Right-Away) identically in all sims?

Is there a consensus as to how SimSig players should respond to TRTS? The safe answer seems to be not to set a route until receiving a TRTS. Luckily, RA signals do not concern us players - they're between station staff and the driver. I know this topic has been raised before, but I just thought I'd recheck.

Is there a consensus as to how SimSig players should respond to TRTS? The safe answer seems to be not to set a route until receiving a TRTS. Luckily, RA signals do not concern us players - they're between station staff and the driver. I know this topic has been raised before, but I just thought I'd recheck.

TRTS in the Loader is given up to one minute early. While the ultimate aim is to be able to have it firing earlier dependent on data, it would have needed a big code reorganisation since things start changing at that one minute mark, events firing, train (quite literally) getting ready, etc.

It would be interesting to have a minimum time set in a trains type for it to buzz up, or have a clear signal before departing (Slam door stock obliviously needing more time to ensure that all doors are closed rather newer stock where a single button press closes doors centrally automatically)

" said:

TRTS in the Loader is given up to one minute early. While the ultimate aim is to be able to have it firing earlier dependent on data, it would have needed a big code reorganisation since things start changing at that one minute mark, events firing, train (quite literally) getting ready, etc.

It would be interesting to have a minimum time set in a trains type for it to buzz up, or have a clear signal before departing (Slam door stock obliviously needing more time to ensure that all doors are closed rather newer stock where a single button press closes doors centrally automatically)

James

" said:

It would be interesting to have a minimum time set in a trains type for it to buzz up, or have a clear signal before departing (Slam door stock obliviously needing more time to ensure that all doors are closed rather newer stock where a single button press closes doors centrally automatically)

If it's a quiet station stop, you'd be surprised how quickly a slam door train can get moving again!

Though it has to said the local habit of getting off before the train had come fully to a stand (read still doing 20mph or so in some cases) also helped with prompt despatch

" said:

" said:

TRTS in the Loader is given up to one minute early. While the ultimate aim is to be able to have it firing earlier dependent on data, it would have needed a big code reorganisation since things start changing at that one minute mark, events firing, train (quite literally) getting ready, etc.

It would be interesting to have a minimum time set in a trains type for it to buzz up, or have a clear signal before departing (Slam door stock obliviously needing more time to ensure that all doors are closed rather newer stock where a single button press closes doors centrally automatically)

James

It's a bit more difficult than that though, as it can depend on the dispatch staff just as much as the train type and its direction. There are some locations where TRTS is pressed as soon as the train is in the platform, even before it's stopped! Then there's Exeter St Davids in the up direction (which probably falls into that category to a degree) where ideally TRTS would be pressed a good couple of minutes early in order to get the barriers down, yet in the down direction half a minute before is probably fine.

As an aside, areas with ARS tend to have it programmed so it won't set route until X minutes before departure from main stations. Anything from 5 minutes for stations where it is unlikely to have an adverse effect if a route is set early, to a minute or less for major London termini.

Then there's Exeter St Davids in the up direction

" said:

Then there's Exeter St Davids in the up direction

Assume you mean the "Not Down" direction. Both ends can be described as "Up" (towards Paddington or Waterloo!)

" said:

Then there's Exeter St Davids in the up direction

Assume you mean the "Not Down" direction. Both ends can be described as "Up" (towards Paddington or Waterloo!)

" said:

" said:

Then there's Exeter St Davids in the up direction

Assume you mean the "Not Down" direction. Both ends can be described as "Up" (towards Paddington or Waterloo!)

Where do trains travelling "not down" go thats different from up trains? Is this one of the tautologies you've mentioned before?

Peter

I'd argue that the Up/Down Waterloo lines end at the points west of Platforms 1/3, and that once over those points and in the station itself, you are then using the Paddington-Penzance system of Up/Down until you leave the mains at Cowley Bridge Junction. This is supported by P1 being the Down Relief and P3 the Up Relief, although both are bidirectional.

It's also rather pedantic to argue over quite when a train becomes Up or Down - everybody knows which end of Exeter you mean when you say "Up End" and "Down End"!

" said:

Then there's Exeter St Davids in the up direction

Assume you mean the "Not Down" direction. Both ends can be described as "Up" (towards Paddington or Waterloo!)

Should this be split off from where the topic changed?

Quote:

Though it has to said the local habit of getting off before the train had come fully to a stand (read still doing 20mph or so in some cases) also helped with prompt despatch

Dispatching the train or the passenger? :laugh:

It went from Up to Downhill very quickly ... :whistle:

" said:

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?

A lot of stations served by Virgin have "RA" indicators (So yes it is true to real life) Class 390s are generally dispatched by the "RA" indicators instead of the drive guard buzzer, Class 221s on the other hand are generally dispatched on the buzzer, I will use Crewe as an example for a class 390 dispatch.

• 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.

As an aside Birmingham New Street there is a local instruction that all trains will be dispatched by RA indicator, and I believe there is a similar instruction at Manchester Piccadilly.

Berwyn on the Llangollen sim has an RA indicator for use on the down. Generally all loco hauled trains will go off of the RA indicator, DMUs will go on the buzzer.