Train guard wouldn't let me on!

Outpost

karlcoot wrote: »

Well apparently not for me! :rotfl:

Just out of curiosity do you apply this logic to other aspects of your life? For example if you had a job interview at 10:00 in the morning would you turn up for it at 10.00 or endeavour to get there a little early?

johann_van_der_splat

Tinks74 wrote: »

Don't know about Swansea but Manchester Victoria has notices saying the train doors will be closed about 30 seconds (I think) before the scheduled departure time in order that the train leaves the station on time.

Southern Railway do this as well, and have done for some years. It was never an issue in the days of slam door trains, of course.

asbokid

karlcoot wrote: »

I was rather annoyed, especially as this was the last train back to London that evening from Swansea.

Correction: It was the last direct train that evening from Swansea to London...

There are later services from Swansea to London changing at Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads, using ATW and FGW trains.

I agree that it is a totally pants service. The overcrowding on FGW London services got so bad that there was a debate in Parliament.

Many times leaving London on the 18.15 or 19.15, I have had to stand all the way to Swindon.

One time the air-conditioning failed and it got so hot, I had to sit in the gangway for fear of fainting.

It always irks me that the First Class carriages are numerous yet almost empty on that service.

First Great Western 18.15 service from London Paddington to Swansea/Abertawe

misscutiepie1984

I work for First great western and it is policy thats doors close upto 40 seconds before the train departs. This is also stated on the first great western website and there are posters up at the stations stating this.

From First Great Western website(Many of our trains have power operated doors. These are closed up to 40 seconds before departure. Never attempt to board the train when the warning signal is sounding and the doors are about to close. Do not prevent the doors from closing.)

Outpost

asbokid wrote: »

I'd imagine that these passengers were at the station a few minutes before departure.

birkee

You probably need to query the rail operator, on what the guards instructions say. Possibly, he would lose his job, if once the doors are locked, he opened them again.

As an illustration of this. If you are a bus driver holding a PSV licence, you are only allowed to pick up and put down passengers at designated bus stops. If you jussssst miss your stop by a few yards, tough! It's his job and PSV licence at risk.
(I think they are not allowed to reverse the bus either, but whether this is without an authorised assistant or not, I'm not sure.)

harz99

karlcoot wrote: »

I got to my train on Saturday, the clock had just turned to 19:28 (about 2 seconds into the 28th minute). The train was scheduled as 19:28 from Swansea to London Paddington. The train guard who was peering out of his window said "doors are locked, I can't open them, speak to him over there" whilst pointing to one of the chargemen.

As I went over to the chargeman, the train started moving. The chargeman explained that it was all up to the guard and there was nothing he could do. As you can imagine, I was rather annoyed, especially as this was the last train back to London that evening from Swansea.

I should have arrived earlier and been ready before the departure time, but surely as it wasn't 19:29 yet I should have been allowed on the train?

I'm thinking of writing a letter of complaint to First Great Western hoping (perhaps naively) that this will get the guard a ticking off and ensure it doesn't happen to others in the future.

It would be great to get other people's thoughts on this, especially from those who may have more knowledge on the subject than I do.

The train driver is in charge of releasing the doorlocking system to the guard; once the guard has performed all the station duties he/she closes the doors automatically, gives the driver the bell/buzzer signal to go, driver sets the locking system and then proceeds to make his/her departure which is at the start of the scheduled minute.

Since almost all trains in use in the UK now have automatic locking systems for their passenger doors, and certainly all inter city services have them, it has not been the case for a long time now that a late passenger can board once doors are closed - get there in good time or miss the train.

The guard may well have directed you to the chargeman to get you away from the train so that you would not put yourself in danger by attempting entry of a departing train.

You have no grounds for complaint.

easy

So the guard was aware that the train was about to move off? And you are cross because he didn't unlock the doors, so you could half step on the train and be injured (or indeed killed) as it moved away ?

My guess is that he had already signalled to the driver that all doors were secured.

It's annoying, but sh*t happens in life. Put it down to experience. When ever I now make arrangements for flights/trains/meetings, I put them in my diary (and try to lodge them in my mind) ten minutes earlier than the actual time, to try and avoid this type of thing.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the sensible replies. Yes I should have arrived earlier as I usually do but hey ho as already said, sh*t happens.

harz99

misscutiepie1984 wrote: »

I work for First great western and it is policy thats doors close upto 40 seconds before the train departs. This is also stated on the first great western website and there are posters up at the stations stating this.

From First Great Western website(Many of our trains have power operated doors. These are closed up to 40 seconds before departure. Never attempt to board the train when the warning signal is sounding and the doors are about to close. Do not prevent the doors from closing.)

From the description the OP gave of the guard peering out of his window and talking to him I am assuming this would be a diesel HST train, in which case, yes almost certain the full 40 seconds would be used to get all the slam doors shut, interlocked and the train moving on time.