21 replies to this topic

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

I pulled into Chalfont station today on an Amersham Met train. The driver announced "change here for Chesham".

As the doors on our train closed, I looked and saw the Chesham train pulling out. Anyone getting off my train for Chesham would not have cuaght that train and would have had a half hour wait. Why on earth the Chesham train was not held for a minute or two I don't know, what great service and planning!

[alfa-man]

The Shuttle is 'supposed' to conect with the 10 & 40 past from Baker Street. The driver of the Shuttle has no information as to the wherabouts of the through train. If the driver of the Shuttle delays departure from Chalfont by more than five minutes he then risks not making the southbound connection, a catch 22 situation.

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

Timetables are there for a reason. But the Chesham driver would have seen the Amersham train come in and could have wait4d one minutes. There is enough time in the round trip to make up a minute.

The singal cabin at Amersham knows where all the trains are and could have held the Chesham train.

Keeping connections is important and keeping one can mean another is lost, but I know I would not have been happy to get to the Chesham platform and watch the train pull out!

[alfa-man]

Timetables are there for a reason. But the Chesham driver would have seen the Amersham train come in and could have wait4d one minutes. There is enough time in the round trip to make up a minute.

The singal cabin at Amersham knows where all the trains are and could have held the Chesham train.

Keeping connections is important and keeping one can mean another is lost, but I know I would not have been happy to get to the Chesham platform and watch the train pull out!

Not knowing all the facts on how late the shuttle was I cannot quote on the signalman holding the train, but I do know that the shuttle driver cannot from his seat see the Amersham train with the new mirror, moniter set up untill it is fully berthed in the platform and then he can physically see it. with the old double moniter the driver could see the northbound train entering the platform.

[Tallguy]

The shuttle driver knows he is supposed to connect with the Amerhsam bound trains. he could have used his radio to talk to the signalman.

If the train heading north is 1 minute late than the returning southbound service will also be a minute late, therefore the shuttle driver doesn't have to worry and the signalman could always hold the returning southbound train at C&L for a minute to ensure the connection.

[alfa-man]

The shuttle driver knows he is supposed to connect with the Amerhsam bound trains. he could have used his radio to talk to the signalman.

If the train heading north is 1 minute late than the returning southbound service will also be a minute late, therefore the shuttle driver doesn't have to worry and the signalman could always hold the returning southbound train at C&L for a minute to ensure the connection.

The driver follows signals, the only conections are for first and last trains. His radio only connects him to the control room at Baker Street who can only see where trains are as far as Wembley Park.

If the travelling public knew how bad communications are on the underground perhaps drivers wouldn't get so much stick.

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

but I do know that the shuttle driver cannot from his seat see the Amersham train with the new mirror, moniter set up untill it is fully berthed in the platform and then he can physically see it. with the old double moniter the driver could see the northbound train entering the platform.

Is it too much to ask for the driver to stand up and take a brief look out of his cab window? If he can't see the Amersham train, then sit down and use the monitor / mirror to ensure everyone is aboard, then depart.

LUL are supposed to offer a service and what I saw on Saturday, despite any technical reasons for it, was not a service. It caused inconvenience and will drive people away from the trains, but perhaps that is what they want for the Chesham service, to make it easier to close as few people use it.

[alfa-man]

Is it too much to ask for the driver to stand up and take a brief look out of his cab window? If he can't see the Amersham train, then sit down and use the monitor / mirror to ensure everyone is aboard, then depart.

LUL are supposed to offer a service and what I saw on Saturday, despite any technical reasons for it, was not a service. It caused inconvenience and will drive people away from the trains, but perhaps that is what they want for the Chesham service, to make it easier to close as few people use it.

It would make more sense if the signaler, who is the only person who knows where the northbound train is didnt clear the signal before the train arrived.

[Tallguy]

Interesting point Alfa-Man. So who can the Chesham Shuttle talk to from the platform phone? Baker St or the local signal box?

Seems stoopid that the Chesham shuttle driver can't talk to the local signal box who can tell him where the train is!!!

[alfa-man]

Interesting point Alfa-Man. So who can the Chesham Shuttle talk to from the platform phone? Baker St or the local signal box?

Seems stoopid that the Chesham shuttle driver can't talk to the local signal box who can tell him where the train is!!!

The signal post telephone off of the end of the platform connects with the Amersham Cabin, however as it is not on the platform the driver is fist supposed to radio the controller at Baker Street to tell hoim he is leaving the Train to speak to the signaller.

It would be easier all round if the signaller didnt pull the signal off for the Shuttle if the connection is to be made.

Broken quote tags fixed by pauleden

[Alan]

The Shuttle is 'supposed' to conect with the 10 & 40 past from Baker Street. The driver of the Shuttle has no information as to the wherabouts of the through train. If the driver of the Shuttle delays departure from Chalfont by more than five minutes he then risks not making the southbound connection, a catch 22 situation.

It's a singe trak so whats the problem?

[alfa-man]

[quote name='Alan' date='Mar 2 2006, 08:38 PM' post='499']
It's a singe trak so whats the problem?
[/quote


Being a single track is immaterial, a round trip should take 20 minutes so if the shuttle leaves Chalfont more than four minutes late he will miss the southbound connection at Chalfont on his return.

[Tallguy]

Err, I disagree. If the Amersham train arrives 5 minutes laste then it will be five minutes late on the return trip. The southbound returning train can always be held at C&L for a minute or 2 in order to make the connection with the returning Chesham shuttle if needed.

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

If the northbound Amersham service is running late, then when it gets to Amersham, instead of going into the sidings, it will be turned in the platforms to save time and to catch up on late running. Also, on many occasions now the northbound Amersham service does not form the next south bound service as the train before that will form the southbound service. Thus a later running north bound train will not mean the next southbound is late.

[alfa-man]

If the northbound Amersham service is running late, then when it gets to Amersham, instead of going into the sidings, it will be turned in the platforms to save time and to catch up on late running. Also, on many occasions now the northbound Amersham service does not form the next south bound service as the train before that will form the southbound service. Thus a later running north bound train will not mean the next southbound is late.

Thats correct Mathew, there is up to 25 minutes of turn round time at Amersham, so the Northbound train from Chalfont will be the third Southbound train.

[Tallguy]

If that is the case with frequent southbound trains I don't see the problem with The Chesham shuttle returning to C&L after a southbound train has just departed if another train is just a few minutes behind. It seems that the Northbound connection to Chesham is more important as that involves a 30 minute wait if the connection is not made whereas the southbound wait could be just a few minutes.

[alfa-man]

If that is the case with frequent southbound trains I don't see the problem with The Chesham shuttle returning to C&L after a southbound train has just departed if another train is just a few minutes behind. It seems that the Northbound connection to Chesham is more important as that involves a 30 minute wait if the connection is not made whereas the southbound wait could be just a few minutes.

The sensible option would be to make northbound connections in the evening peak as people are travelling home, and southbound connections in the morning when people are travelling into london.

Its not rocket science, just London Underground !!!

[Tallguy]

Great idea Alfa-Man - so who is going to talk to the line standards manager for the Met?

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

I doubt anything will change. They are planning to alter the Chesham service in the next year to remove the through trains and improve the shuttle service. This has not gone down too well with Chesham passengers. I expect some will travel to Amersham or abandon the service, making it less attractive for Lu to run

[alfa-man]

Great idea Alfa-Man - so who is going to talk to the line standards manager for the Met?

During the consultation period last year, over the future of the Chesham Shuttle I suggested that the evening peak eight car trains be removed, and replaced with a twenty minute (three trains per hour) Shuttle service. At present the late running of the eight car Chesham trains from the city means the shuttle can take up to threee hours to get itself back on time.

I wont hold my breath to see if any changes are made to the summer 2006 timetable.

[the duke]

Probably be best to remove the through service in the evening, the shuttle could probably be run non stop for the peak and provide a 20 minute service, where as the second through Chesham is invariably late which causes the shuttle to run late for approx the next 90 minutes, all for the sake of 50 - 60 people self indulged elitists

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

I would think this option would make for a more even service for every user on the line, not just Chesham bound people. However, if I was a user of the through Chesham service and was faced with its removal, I would be very annoyed.