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-   -   Technology for its own sake? (https://www.londonbanter.co.uk/london-transport/2193-technology-its-own-sake.html)

Boltar September 23rd 04 12:59 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 
I read apparently that Southern had been having problems with its train doors
not opening on stations north of the Thames because these hadn't been
programmed into the database that uses GPS to know where it is! Is it just me
or is having some GPS controlled database system being used to open the
bloody doors just a teensy bit overkill?? Do they think the driver is
too stupid to know when he's at a station and might try to open them when he's
bowling along at 60?? Sure have some sort of interlock that prevents them
opening when the train is moving but for gods sake , was this implemented just
to keep some technicians in work? And what happens during an emergency?
What next , GPS controlled toilets that won't flush on certain parts of the
network with live networked updates of the turd count at every section?!

No wonder money in the rail industry is in short supply if they're wasting
funds on stupid systems such as this. Someone tell me its not true...

B2003

Pete_uk September 23rd 04 01:25 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 

"Boltar" wrote in message
om...
I read apparently that Southern had been having problems with its train

doors
not opening on stations north of the Thames because these hadn't been
programmed into the database that uses GPS to know where it is! Is it just

me
or is having some GPS controlled database system being used to open the
bloody doors just a teensy bit overkill?? Do they think the driver is
too stupid to know when he's at a station and might try to open them when

he's
bowling along at 60?? Sure have some sort of interlock that prevents them
opening when the train is moving but for gods sake , was this implemented

just
to keep some technicians in work? And what happens during an emergency?
What next , GPS controlled toilets that won't flush on certain parts of

the
network with live networked updates of the turd count at every section?!

No wonder money in the rail industry is in short supply if they're wasting
funds on stupid systems such as this. Someone tell me its not true...

B2003


When I read that I almost posted here asking what the point was. The worst
part is, a lot of the net technology cant be overridden by the guard if it
goes wrong. Crazy.



Jack Taylor September 23rd 04 01:32 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 

"Boltar" wrote in message
om...
I read apparently that Southern had been having problems with its train

doors
not opening on stations north of the Thames because these hadn't been
programmed into the database that uses GPS to know where it is! Is it just

me
or is having some GPS controlled database system being used to open the
bloody doors just a teensy bit overkill?? Do they think the driver is
too stupid to know when he's at a station and might try to open them when

he's
bowling along at 60?? Sure have some sort of interlock that prevents them
opening when the train is moving but for gods sake , was this implemented

just
to keep some technicians in work? And what happens during an emergency?
What next , GPS controlled toilets that won't flush on certain parts of

the
network with live networked updates of the turd count at every section?!

No wonder money in the rail industry is in short supply if they're wasting
funds on stupid systems such as this. Someone tell me its not true...


GPS is only there to cope with short platforms and to tell the train *which*
doors to open. For example, when stopping an eight-car train at a
seven-car-length platform the software will lock out the rearmost doors, to
prevent passengers from hurling themselves onto the track. Apparently it's
necessary in these litigious days when anyone stupid enough to attempt to
alight from a door that is not at a platform will try to sue the TOC, rather
than accept personal responsibility for doing something so dumb in the first
place.



Ian Johnston September 23rd 04 01:51 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 
On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 12:32:25 UTC, "Jack Taylor"
wrote:

: rather
: than accept personal responsibility for doing something so dumb in the first
: place.

Or having the stupidity to be blind or partially sighted, eh?

Ian

--


Colin McKenzie September 23rd 04 01:55 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 
Jack Taylor wrote:
"Boltar" wrote in message
om...

I read apparently that Southern had been having problems with its train

doors
not opening on stations north of the Thames because these hadn't been
programmed into the database that uses GPS to know where it is! Is it just

....
GPS is only there to cope with short platforms and to tell the train *which*
doors to open. For example, when stopping an eight-car train at a
seven-car-length platform the software will lock out the rearmost doors, to
prevent passengers from hurling themselves onto the track. ...


Which begs the question:
Is it accurate enough to know if the driver mischievously or
carelessly stops with the _rear_ 7 cars in the platform?!

Colin McKenzie


--
The great advantage of not trusting statistics is that
it leaves you free to believe the damned lies instead!


Jack Taylor September 23rd 04 02:05 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 

"Ian Johnston" wrote in message
news:cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-01opgFJcdpZb@localhost...

Or having the stupidity to be blind or partially sighted, eh?


Most visually impaired people are intelligent enough to make enquiries
before they join trains and join them at the appropriate place to disembark
IME. It's the able-bodied ones that are the problem. ;-)



Ian Johnston September 23rd 04 02:24 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 
On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 13:05:59 UTC, "Jack Taylor"
wrote:

:
: "Ian Johnston" wrote in message
: news:cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-01opgFJcdpZb@localhost...
:
: Or having the stupidity to be blind or partially sighted, eh?
:
: Most visually impaired people are intelligent enough to make enquiries
: before they join trains and join them at the appropriate place to disembark

Well, what's so wrong with arranging things so they don't have to?

Ian

Peter Masson September 23rd 04 02:35 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 

"Boltar" wrote in message
om...
I read apparently that Southern had been having problems with its train

doors
not opening on stations north of the Thames because these hadn't been
programmed into the database that uses GPS to know where it is! Is it just

me
or is having some GPS controlled database system being used to open the
bloody doors just a teensy bit overkill?? Do they think the driver is
too stupid to know when he's at a station and might try to open them when

he's
bowling along at 60?? Sure have some sort of interlock that prevents them
opening when the train is moving but for gods sake , was this implemented

just
to keep some technicians in work? And what happens during an emergency?


The problem is to ensure that only doors adjacent to the platform open at
stations with short platforms. There is a perceived risk with relying on the
driver's or guard's memory, though signs on short platforms on the
Salisbury - Exeter line seem to me to be an adequate aid to memory. There
does seem to be evidence that while passengers are likely to check that
there's a platform alongside before opening a slam door, they are liable to
press the button and step out into space from a sliding door train.
Peter



John Rowland September 23rd 04 02:40 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 
"Boltar" wrote in message
om...

What next , GPS controlled toilets that won't
flush on certain parts of the network


Actually, that's a truly great idea!

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes



Charles Middleton September 23rd 04 02:57 PM

Technology for its own sake?
 

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...

GPS is only there to cope with short platforms and to tell the train

*which*
doors to open. For example, when stopping an eight-car train at a
seven-car-length platform the software will lock out the rearmost doors,

to
prevent passengers from hurling themselves onto the track. Apparently it's
necessary in these litigious days when anyone stupid enough to attempt to
alight from a door that is not at a platform will try to sue the TOC,

rather
than accept personal responsibility for doing something so dumb in the

first
place.


What if it was dark? Some platforms are very poorly lit. Seems like a good
idea to me.

CM.




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