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Post by gals on Jul 21, 2018 20:35:35 GMT
Got the DLR today for the first time in a month or so and they've added new 'Mind the Gap' messages at the some stations - in a completely different voice to the other next-station announcements - including Island Gardens and a few others. I thought the DLR was meant to be step-free? Have the regulations changed that forced them to add these in?
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Jul 21, 2018 22:28:17 GMT
The DLR is completely step free but apparently not completely gap free - steps being vertical and gaps horizontal. I haven't worked out why some stations have the message and others don't as it doesn't seem obviously related to platform curvature (the usual reason for gaps) - e.g. Island Gardens can only be very slightly curved if it is at all.
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Post by gals on Jul 21, 2018 22:36:51 GMT
That's fair enough regarding the gap.
The messages are new though, right? I definitely haven't heard them before.
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Post by Chris M on Jul 21, 2018 22:41:45 GMT
Yes, I first heard them within the past fortnight.
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Post by superteacher on Jul 21, 2018 23:19:14 GMT
It’s all getting a bit silly now. If passengers hear the warning too often, they won’t take heed when there really is a gap worth minding.
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Post by willtbn on Jul 22, 2018 11:04:10 GMT
The DLR is completely step free but apparently not completely gap free - steps being vertical and gaps horizontal. I haven't worked out why some stations have the message and others don't as it doesn't seem obviously related to platform curvature (the usual reason for gaps) - e.g. Island Gardens can only be very slightly curved if it is at all. Well the TfL step-free tube guide now indicates that some DLR stations have a B rated gap, unlike before. I'm not sure what drove the change, because obviously the stock hasn't changed since the last issue. What confused me more, however, is that the affected stations are still shown as step free to train on the standard map, whereas stations such as Heathrow Terminal 5 who have a B-rated gap and negligible step are not, and remain shown as step free to platform. Stations including Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Bank and Island Gardens have changed, but the first three have straight platforms. I'm sure the gaps are not more than 85mm (threshold for a B rating). What has driven this change, and why has it changed now? Were the gaps measured differently or classified differently before? Should a station with a B-rated gap be shown as step free to train, and if so, why aren't all B gaps with negligible step (green) shown as step-free to train? Here's the step free guide. |
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Post by Chris M on Jul 22, 2018 12:27:24 GMT
The step free information on the main map is worse than useless as it's misleading in places.
As for Canary Wharf DLR, the very south ends of the outside platforms are cut back slightly to avoid the vehicle's end throw so if the measurement was taken there I can imagine it being a B grade gap. However trains don't stop on this part of the platform and even if they did it would affect a maximum of two sets of doors per train (A two car train has 8 per side).
I'll take some photos next time I'm there.
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Jul 22, 2018 19:51:10 GMT
I'll take some photos next time I'm there. Note to quiz players: expect Canary Wharf to appear in the near to mid future. |
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Post by brigham on Jul 23, 2018 9:09:01 GMT
It’s all getting a bit silly now. If passengers hear the warning too often, they won’t take heed when there really is a gap worth minding. 'Mind the Wolf'. |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Jul 23, 2018 10:03:25 GMT
It’s all getting a bit silly now. If passengers hear the warning too often, they won’t take heed when there really is a gap worth minding. 'Mind the Wolf'. I may have mentioned this before, but some years ago I 'complained' to LU that there was always a 'temporary' sign at Shepherd's Bush H&C (as was), saying to beware of the slippery floor, and pointing out that if, after it rained, someone fell on the floor because it was slippery, they would have no defence that they had warned people, because the warning would be considered void. I've no idea if it was my mentioning it, but the sign had been there for several years, and disappeared soon after. In fact, the floor at this station isn't particularly slippery, even when it is wet. |
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Post by t697 on Jul 23, 2018 20:07:16 GMT
As an example of possibly excessive Mind the Gap, the announcement is made on S stock at every platform both directions Barons Court to Richmond and Ealing Broadway except for Turnham Green, also West Ken and Earl's Court eastbound only. This can be for as few as one doorway with a gap over the defined threshold to 'consider' an announcement.
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Post by rincew1nd on Jul 23, 2018 21:18:34 GMT
I noticed tonight whilst alighting from a cl508 at Hall Road on the MerseyRail network that there was no gap at all.
There was a step, but the train overhung the platform edge; if you were to measure the gap you would need to report a negative figure.
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Post by willtbn on Jul 23, 2018 21:47:21 GMT
I noticed tonight whilst alighting from a cl508 at Hall Road on the MerseyRail network that there was no gap at all. There was a step, but the train overhung the platform edge; if you were to measure the gap you would need to report a negative figure. I'm pretty sure there are negative gaps on the Victoria Line too, given that the platform humps have to be set back from the edge of the platform due to the over-sweep of the door sills. Maybe TfL could have some fun and put some 'Find the Gap' announcements on the Victoria Line to compensate for the gap's non-existence... 🤔 |
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Post by davethewomble on Jul 24, 2018 12:09:20 GMT
I noticed tonight whilst alighting from a cl508 at Hall Road on the MerseyRail network that there was no gap at all. There was a step, but the train overhung the platform edge; if you were to measure the gap you would need to report a negative figure. IIRC the Merseyrail 507/8s have significantly larger 'doorsteps' protruding below the passenger doors than anything that I've seen operating in the London area. As rincew1nd notes, the net effect is that the train effectively overhangs the platform. Interestingly, looking at the pictures on the Wikipedia Page on Class 508, the 'doorsteps' are noticeably larger when in service with Merseyrail than with other operators. |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Jul 24, 2018 13:01:22 GMT
Interestingly, looking at the pictures on the Wikipedia Page on Class 508, the 'doorsteps' are noticeably larger when in service with Merseyrail than with other operators. That is odd, yes. I've compared them with the other PEP classes 313,314, 315 and 507, as well as the class 508 vehicles on the Southern (either as complete units or incorporated into 455s), and with their predecessors on Merseyrail, classes 502 and 503. It would appear that only classes 503, 507 and 508 sport these "anklecutter" steps (although class 700s and 707s also have footboards which stick out quite far). Their absence from PEP type cars when away from Merseyside (even those which subsequently went there, and in some cases came back again!), and their presence on the LMS-era Wirral units (class 503) but not the otherwise similar Southport sets (class 502) suggests there is something about the Wirral Line (which includes the Mersey Tunnel) which makes them necessary. |
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Post by rincew1nd on Jul 24, 2018 17:47:20 GMT
Given the above I kept my eyes peeled when out an about today. It seemed (generally) that the Northern Line trains over-hung the platform edge, whereas the Wirral Line ones didn't. If it hadn't been for the step then there would be a considerable gap on the Wirral Line. As the stock is now just a common pool, the logical conclusion is that the Mersey Railway was built to a different loading gauge to the Lancashire & Yorkshire.
I also noticed that the step by the cab doors was shorter so thus didn't really overhang. I also remembered that Voyagers also have similar ankle-slashing steps.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2018 23:59:48 GMT
From my experience all platform humps are set back slightly. The step free guide has some errors on it (West ham for example).
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Post by mattb on Sept 10, 2018 23:34:10 GMT
Something that I’ve not seen mentioned here yet (surprisingly!) is that fact that these new announcements only feature on the B07 units, and not on the B90s/B2ks/B92s. And i must agree with one point that has already been raised here - the gap at every DLR station is neglegable, and personally I feel that the announcements are going down the route of “verbal diarrhoea” as they are too unnecessary...
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Post by AndrewPSSP on Sept 18, 2018 9:46:20 GMT
..these new announcements only feature on the B07 units, and not on the B90s/B2ks/B92s... Went on a few B90s etc. the other day and the announcements were on all of them. Although I think the system might be bugged on some trains as during one journey from Bank to Greenwich the train was announcing it at all the Stations along the way... |
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