Test trains & Connect

[Deleted]

As no one has mentioned it already, I thought you might like to know that there have been a few trains that have made the trip to and from T5 during the last fortnight. I also saw a few pictures of the T5 platform area, it's looking good.

As for Connect, our date has been pushed back from 3rd June because of wiring issues. It seems that because the Picc is the first line to be converted that has an OPO alarm, compatibility problems have come to light, although it is thought that these can be resolved within weeks, rather than months.

[Colin]

Once it's all been done, be sure to check which MCB they've used ;D ;D

As our stock instructors on the District have found, we now have to be careful when defect handling on the C stocks as Connect managed to create a 'bastard feed' on one of the circuits

[hobbayne]

Is this up and running on the Picc yet? ISTR it was due to go live at the beginning of June!!

[Deleted]

No, still as dead as a dodo. I was speaking to one of the guys from the depot the other day about it and he said it may go live in 3 weeks. They have been finding a lot of problems with the wiring and the Connect team are currently working their way through them.

[Deleted]

We've been using it on some stations though I was at one over the weekend where there were areas without any reception at all, despite the fact that the old radios had no problem...

[Deleted]

The biggest annoyance on the District is that the controllers ignore many calls, at times you have to call several times before getting a reply. Hopefully you get better responses on the Picc.

[Deleted]

although totally eclipsed by the Metronet saga, there is a TfL press release about T5.

[Colin]

An even worse annoyance, I think, is the total lack of general announcements via the radio.

In the past, drivers could have an educated guess at what was occurring on or about the railway by listening to the controllers side of conversations. Now that they can call trains individually, we haven't got a clue what's going on.

And there was me thinking Connect was supposed to improve communications..............

[District Dave]

colin said:

An even worse annoyance, I think, is the total lack of general announcements via the radio.

In the past, drivers could have an educated guess at what was occurring on or about the railway by listening to the controllers side of conversations. Now that they can call trains individually, we haven't got a clue what's going on.

And there was me thinking Connect was supposed to improve communications..............

I have now raised the general gist of your comments with just about 'everyone' in authority I meet, or who might possibly have some input on these issues.

Group calls are easy - derrrrrrr - tell us what's happening and then deal with 'specifics'. This NOT rocket science.

Even worse there are several new controllers who have recently been drivers - they forget so quickly.........

[Deleted]

There was a memo on the door at Ash house today (Arnos Grove booking on point) which stated that Connect will now be going live in September.

[Deleted]

The issue I believe is with the PA tap-in rather than the OPO alarm itself. So even if there was a problem the controller would be aware.

The issue with group calls not being made is because controllers are not used to making them. Previously Train Ops could get 'the gist' of what was going on. Because the inital call was made on a 1-2-1 basis it remains a secret to the rest of the line. There has now been an internal circular saying that mayday's have to be answered on a group call. This ensures that the person initiating the mayday doesn't have to press any buttons to answer the call, and everyone in the immediate area knows exactly what is going on.

HTH

[Deleted]

Had my connect training the other day, was told that our live date is now the 3rd September. Was given my hand held radio at the same time

[towerman]

Don't like where they've put the Connect aerial,under the driver's windscreen,if someone jumps or falls in front of a train,it'll go straight through 'em.

[Deleted]

towerman said:

Don't like where they've put the Connect aerial,under the driver's windscreen,if someone jumps or falls in front of a train,it'll go straight through 'em.

Will the connect system still work if the aerial has been torn off by one under? If there's no platform staff and you can't call through to the LC then what happen?

[Deleted]

They'll still have the handhelds though.

[c5]

rob said:

They'll still have the handhelds though.

These are not compulsory.

There are other methods of contacting the service controller as well.

[citysig]

towerman said:

Don't like where they've put the Connect aerial,under the driver's windscreen,if someone jumps or falls in front of a train,it'll go straight through 'em.

Without making any light/joke about such an incident, it has to be said that they put some blooming great metal wheels under that heavy train that could go straight through something/someone in their path. We can't go planning to help make sure a suicide attempt fails.

This has probably been outlined before in other posts / areas but...

Dave, Colin, much as it pains me to stick up for my DR colleagues, if they are having as much grief with the system as the Met is, it is little wonder you are not being answered. Almost a year into this and we still cannot (easily) see a train calling us within the Aldgate area. And yet, numerous calls from outside our area (including the Vic line) still fill our call stack.

Once the Picc line "joins in" we will surely have the joy of, in theory, 3 Train 2xx calling us from Kings Cross.

[Deleted]

Our live date has now been pushed back from 3rd September, because of a delay in final testing. No new date has been announced as yet.