On 2 Feb, 23:51, "tim....." wrote:
Could the W&C be relatively easily and cheaply automated? I'm sure
drivers don't find it the most inspiring of routes.
Does anyone know why they have to have someone on the train?
What happens if it breaks down while its under the thames?

On 2 Feb, 23:51, "tim....." wrote:
"Arthur Figgis" wrote in message

et...

wrote:

Could the W&C be relatively easily and cheaply automated? I'm sure
drivers don't find it the most inspiring of routes.

I asked the W&C line manager (or some similar-ish title) about this at a
function at the Covent Garden museum. Apparently, as things stand there
would need to be a member of staff on board every service. It was felt
that this requirement for a member of staff wasn't going to go away any
time soon, and seeing as they have to be there, they may as well drive the
trains.

Does anyone know why they have to have someone on the train?

There certainly isn't anyone on the Copenhagen metro, nor (to return to the
UK) the stupid little Stansted airport shuttle.

The Copenhagen Metro has an escape platform the full length of the
underground bits, with relatively frequent between-station exits. I've
travelled on it full-length from Vanløse to the airport a few times,
and indulged the small boy in me by sitting at the front watching the
view.

I have been on the Stansted shuttle a couple of times, but the old man
in me can't remember if there was platform or not. The old man appears
more frequently these days, unfortunately. I'm pretty certain there is
an escape platform on the Gatwick shuttle between the terminals.

I suspect the W&C can't be engineered to allow for unassisted escape
routes for passengers, so therefore requires attended operation. I
could be wrong though, as my knowledge in this area could be negative.

Sid

On Feb 3, 8:26*am, wrote:
Does anyone know why they have to have someone on the train?

There certainly isn't anyone on the Copenhagen metro, nor (to return to the
UK) the stupid little Stansted airport shuttle.

The Copenhagen Metro has an escape platform the full length of the
underground bits, with relatively frequent between-station exits. I've
travelled on it full-length from Vanløse to the airport a few times,
and indulged the small boy in me by sitting at the front watching the
view.

I have been on the Stansted shuttle a couple of times, but the old man
in me can't remember if there was platform or not. The old man appears
more frequently these days, unfortunately. I'm pretty certain there is
an escape platform on the Gatwick shuttle between the terminals.

Yes, there's a full platform on both the Gatwick and Stansted
shuttles.

And yet... there's also easy escape throughout the DLR, and the trains
still require a Captain.

I suspect the W&C can't be engineered to allow for unassisted escape
routes for passengers, so therefore requires attended operation. I
could be wrong though, as my knowledge in this area could be negative.

It can't (for "without it being so expensive you might as well dig a
new Tube line" values of can't).

But I think there's a very strong view on reassurance/security/safety
grounds, whether or not it's legally required, of not having unmanned
vehicles on public transport services. Gatwick and Stansted are
slightly different, as they're (effectively for the Gatwick one and
literally for the Stansted one) gated communities with no revenue
protection and very limited antisocial behaviour.

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org

In message
, at
00:26:49 on Tue, 3 Feb 2009, remarked:
The Copenhagen Metro has an escape platform the full length of the
underground bits, with relatively frequent between-station exits. I've
travelled on it full-length from Vanløse to the airport a few times,
and indulged the small boy in me by sitting at the front watching the
view.

I have been on the Stansted shuttle a couple of times, but the old man
in me can't remember if there was platform or not.

There is, and frequent exits too.
--
Roland Perry