Re: DOO In Sydney?

[Michael <mk@netstra.com.au>]

C. Dewick said on 29-Sep-1999 in <7srdg6$8p6$1@lios.apana.org.au>:

>But how do you counter the train and platform length issue? You either
>need a very large display screen in the driver's cab to show
>simultaneous multiple images for curved platforms which would require at
>least 3 or more cameras to give anything approaching reasonable coverage
>which would be legally acceptable in terms of public liability
>insurance, etc. 

Melbourne do this okay. The monitor unit, consists of four monitors, linked to 
four cameras. Each camera monitors a different part of the train. With the 
train length in Sydney, regardless of how curved the platform is, four cameras 
should be sufficient, linked to four monitors at the end of the platform (This 
covers an 8 car train).

>The alternative of having a smaller screen, sequencing through a series
>of camera images every few seconds is not acceptable at all.

Why do you need to sequence through a series of camera images every few 
seconds?

>It still comes right back to the issue of train, platform and population
>size. These are the key factors which Perth does not have to face at all
>(yet), and Melbourne has smaller, single deck trains so they don't get
>as many people on their trains anyway.

Melbourne = 18 doors per 6 car train.
Sydney = 16 doors per 8 car train.

This said, Melbourne have more doors to monitor, making it easier to monitor 
trains in Sydney.

>Handling an 8 car train at say Wollstonecraft station in the morning
>peak with video cameras linked to a display unit in the driver's cab is
>going to be *very* difficult to deal with... Too many issues all play
>together to make an adequate resolution to the issue hard to achieve.

Simple, you don't need the VDU(s) in the drivers cab. Put them on the platform.

>And having platform-mounted display units in secure cabinets is just not
>going to work at all since that would mean than every train, regardless
>of length, has to pull up at the departure end of the platform no matter
>what. Admittedly that would be more of a cultural change than anything
>else, but changing the *passenger's* cultural views on where trains pull
>up will be much harder to achieve!

It works in Melbourne and has done for a number of years so far. Melbourne also 
have mirrors halfway down the platforms for drivers of 3 car sets. This means 
the train can pull up wherever the mirrors OR VDU's are situated. This will 
work in Sydney as well, with a 4 car set.

>I don't believe there is going to be any workable way of having DOO with
>no guard-like person to assist drivers, at least during the daytime.
>Perhaps at night after 10 pm trains can run DOO, but what about special
>events, etc. like NYE when we run trains 24/7 with full peak-time
>loadings all night? Can't do that DOO! At least not with any degree of
>passenger and crew safety that's acceptable.

Safety = Turning the door beeping back on on a lot of Tangara's that have had 
it disabled. 
Safety = Interlocking the doors with the brakes, so if the doors remain open, 
the brakes will not release, and the driver will still get an audiable warning. 

Interlocking works well in Melbourne. Of the trains I catch, 75% of the time 
they are on time, in the case of this morning, I saw the down Broadmeadows 
through Glenroy, 3 minutes *early*. 

Having said that, Sydneyites say that Melbourne can't accept change, with 
automated ticketing. This certainly seems to be the case with Sydney and 
guards. I do admit that guards should not be abolished completely, just for the 
purpose of keeping people employed, however I also believe that a guard is 
useless just sitting there blowing a whistle at every station. Why not employ 
guards as roving ticket inspectors instead? Or undercover inspectors to ensure 
the train is running ontime (Which is partly the drivers responsibility) and 
not breaking any rules.

The way I see it, Sydney has a pathetic time keeping trains ontime, even with 
guards. Melbourne seem to do it reasonably well most of the time, without 
guards. People will learn (eventually) that when a door is interlocked with the 
braking system on the train, the train won't get very far while the door is 
open. This then gives the /driver/ the chance to make an announcement as 
mentioned in a previous thread like "This train will not move until the doors 
are closed, im paid to do this so it doesn't bother me if the train runs LATE".

Putting the above all into perspective and keeping the undercover inspectors 
reasonable (i.e. if a passenger is the cause of a train being held up, don't 
punish the driver) can improve your services in Sydney a lot.

Having said this, between the combination of late running trains, stupid 
people, lack of notification of where the train is going (and outdated manual 
methods) it seems that Sydney is really behind the times. 

I do have one positive comment though, I like your rollingstock better than 
Melbourne. Let's swap your V sets for our Hitachi's? :-)

Regards
Michael.