Connect on the Met

[Deleted]

Now that the District Line's Connect radio appears to be mostly working, does anyone know when the Met will follow suit?

[Colin]

Easy there TOK - we only have 15 trains using Connect on the District, and even those are not being used in the way that is intended!

We are supposed to get hand held's issued from today - though being on nights, I don't know if this has occured yet?

The signallers are not part of the system yet, and the DMT's, Line Controller, depot's, etc do not appear to have full functionality yet or are not all fully trained.

It'll be around three weeks yet, until we have the full system up & running - then the C stocks will be next for conversion.

[Deleted]

I believe the Hammersmith & City was next and if it is then the Circle will probably go simultaneously or very soon after the H&C. There is only a small stretch and one station on the Circle that is not on the District or H&C.

If I had to guess I'd say the Met would follow H&C and Circle because they share so much route.

The only really reliable source would be someone responsible for the implementation as the schedules have changed a lot over the years.

[Colin]

As I said, C stocks will follow the D stocks - this part of the implementation is not reliant on a given line, just the stock. As the H&C / Circle both use the Met line controller between Aldgate & Hammersmith (via Kings Cross), it is logical that the A stocks will follow the C stocks.

[Deleted]

so in theory (as always with connect) it will a matter of weeks (if all goes well) till the whole SSR will use it.

I bet the excitment is amazing!

OR another problem could rise up. What will the D stocks do when they are done and the Cs aren't done, how will you contact the circle controller?

[Deleted]

colin said:

As I said, C stocks will follow the D stocks - this part of the implementation is not reliant on a given line, just the stock.

OK (your post wasn't there when I wrote mine, I should have refreshed).

But do you mean it'll only be three weeks for Connect is fully functional on the District? That's quite fast...

[Colin]

rob said:

OR another problem could rise up. What will the D stocks do when they are done and the Cs aren't done, how will you contact the circle controller?

The set up at present allows both systems to work in tandem - which is why we don't have the full range of Connect functions yet.

maurits said:

But do you mean it'll only be three weeks for Connect is fully functional on the District? That's quite fast...

Pretty much, yes.

Don't forget, the infrastructure (lineside cables, etc) has been in place for years ages. The initial 15 trains are used to ensure everything is still good since it was installed years ages ago - once that is complete (should be this wednesday), the rest of the fleet will be progressively 'Connected'.

Another thing that helps with the speed of introduction is that all trains now have the Connect equipment fitted in the cabs - it's merely a case of disconnecting the old radio system and firing up the connect unit (well, as good as).

[Deleted]

colin said:

Don't forget, the infrastructure (lineside cables, etc) has been in place for years ages. The initial 15 trains are used to ensure everything is still good since it was installed years ages ago - once that is complete (should be this wednesday), the rest of the fleet will be progressively 'Connected'.

This lineside equipment, is it in place for the whole SSR network already? Even the Met?

[Deleted]

isn't it just tunnel cables and there is a line of those along every bit of track apart from the Wimbledon branch where there are anntena

[c5]

There is no current (exact) date for Connect on the Met.
It will be on the Circle and Hammersmith in the next few weeks.
All trains will be "connected" at the same time.
This may of course be delayed by any hiccups encountered during the District's "Enhanced Operational Trial).

A problem at the moment is releasing lots of staff to be trained.....

[Deleted]

colin said:

We are supposed to get hand held's issued from today - though being on nights, I don't know if this has occured yet?

Yep got mine today, been spending most of the day swapping Connect numbers with other drivers.

[Deleted]

BUMP.

Is there any more information available on when the A stock fleet will be fully Connected? ATM I believe the only units with Connect are the double-ended units.

[c5]

Connect starts on the Met on 11 December 2006.

The CHIC that means legacy calls can be taken by the Connect equipment will be taken out. So there will be a connect handset for the Met and C&H and a legacy handset for the Picc line

[Deleted]

Well, that shouldn't be a major problem - I take it then that there will be three separate terminals for the Line Controllers at Baker Street: one for the Met, one for the C&H and one for the District, as well as the legacy radio for the Piccadilly.

[c5]

No. The one terminal will talk to the Circle, H&C, Met, District and eventually the Picc once they are switched on.

And then the Picc will move from being answered on the Connect handset back to the legacy handset

[Deleted]

signal cabins are getting more and more units installed with amersham ricky and rayners having the base units and dispatcher units in place but not fully hooked up yet, at training i was told that rolling stock would be prepped during december and cabin radios going live about abt january or febuary

[Deleted]

somerhimpson said:

signal cabins are getting more and more units installed with amersham ricky and rayners having the base units and dispatcher units in place but not fully hooked up yet, at training i was told that rolling stock would be prepped during december and cabin radios going live about abt january or febuary

Its all going to go live tomorrow! The terminals at RKY and AME are fully functional, and each cabin now has their login in details.

I have to say, i am quite looking forward to it, at times of service disruption, i think it will be a very useful tool for us in the cabins. If you think; at the moment when everything grinds to a hault, you have everyone calling you on the signal phones, and you then have to repate the same message everytime you talk to someone different. With connect, you will be able to make one general broadcast, and thats your job done. Likewise if you have a train waiting to cross over at the junction, you can keep them updated with a 1 to 1 call.

I wonder if we will be able to use it to put trains away in the south sidings ?

[Deleted]

yep turned up and seen the dispatcher screen up and running, can't see why at the moment as there isn't anyone really for us to speak to, i agree about being able to manage mass communication and not having to answer call after call. Re the south sidings, i once spoke to our dms mr c and said this had been forseen with the advent of connect but i suppose we'll have to ask our guv'nors for more clarification

[Deleted]

somerhimpson said:

said this had been forseen with the advent of connect but i suppose we'll have to ask our guv'nors for more clarification

It would make sense, as surely talking straight into their cab is more secure than speaking through the speaker system that the south sidings has??

[connected]

Its a bit late - but there are some user guides and training aids on the Connect intranet site. The location is intranet.lul.co.uk/cpo/pfi/connect/training and support.asp.

If anybody has a look please let me know if they are of any use.