What exactly is the procedure for dealing with an alarm set off on a
tube train?

This morning, at approx 10.15am, I boarded a Circle Line train
eastbound at Kings Cross. As the doors closed, someone pulled the alarm
(not sure where). The doors then opened and the (female) driver said
'We are aware that the alarm has been pulled. Would the person that did
so please make themselves known to a member of staff'.

This strikes me as rather odd. If it was someone taken ill, how would
this work? If it was someone being attacked, why let them run off the
train?

Jonathan

Jonathan Morris wrote:
What exactly is the procedure for dealing with an alarm set off on a
tube train?

This morning, at approx 10.15am, I boarded a Circle Line train
eastbound at Kings Cross. As the doors closed, someone pulled the
alarm (not sure where). The doors then opened and the (female)
driver said 'We are aware that the alarm has been pulled. Would the
person that did so please make themselves known to a member of
staff'.

This strikes me as rather odd. If it was someone taken ill, how
would this work?

Someone near the ill person would stand at an open door and shout/beckon
to the driver or station staff. If the doors hadn't been opened, the
driver would have had to struggle through the (possibly crowded) train
looking for the source of the alarm, which would have wasted valuable
time. AFAIK there is no means on C stock of the driver talking directly
to the person who pulled the alarm, as there is on more modern stock.

If it was someone being attacked, why let them run off the train?

So that they could escape from their attacker? Or perhaps you meant why
let the attacker run off the train? Bearing in mind that there is no
way for the driver to know whether the alarm was pulled for a medical
emergency or an attack in progress or some other reason, what would your
solution be?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Jonathan Morris ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

The incident today just struck me as odd, even if there's a logical
explanation that I hadn't thought of (as there often is in these
cases). I just thought you keep the doors shut and open one as and when
necessary. It's not as if someone falling ill would, or could, suddenly
run off and take themselves to hospital. So, the doors opening makes no
difference to them. It certainly could make a difference in another
situation.

If the problem is somebody trapped in a door - and in this case, I think
the OP said that the doors had just been closed, so it's fairly likely - or
if somebody's having a panic attack or similar on a very crowded train,
then opening the doors would help.

The train operator can do that to save time. Once a Passenger Alarm is
operated they will inform the line controller, who will call station
staff to attend. If the Train Operator can look out and see where
assistance is needed, they can pass that on to the controller to save
time. Unlike more modern stock, until the Operator is on the platform
they have no idea where or what they are going to confront.

Once the Train Operator shuts down the train to go back to investigate,
an orange door incidator light illuminates above the car concerned and
a Sonalarm will be heard.

If an alarm is activated between stations, the operator will, depress
the acknowledge pedal, make their PA, inform the controller who will
get station staff out at the next station.

The biggest pain in the arse is if the train stops half in, half out...

All in all, a good operator in my opinion

Adrian wrote:
Jonathan Morris ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

The incident today just struck me as odd, even if there's a logical
explanation that I hadn't thought of (as there often is in these
cases). I just thought you keep the doors shut and open one as and when
necessary. It's not as if someone falling ill would, or could, suddenly
run off and take themselves to hospital. So, the doors opening makes no
difference to them. It certainly could make a difference in another
situation.

If the problem is somebody trapped in a door - and in this case, I think
the OP said that the doors had just been closed, so it's fairly likely - or
if somebody's having a panic attack or similar on a very crowded train,
then opening the doors would help.

Jonathan Morris:
The doors then opened and the (female)
driver said 'We are aware that the alarm has been pulled. Would the
person that did so please make themselves known to a member of
staff'.
...
If it was someone being attacked, why let them run off the train?

Richard J.:
So that they could escape from their attacker? Or perhaps you meant why
let the attacker run off the train?

For what it's worth, on the Toronto subway system when the passenger
assistance alarm is operated, at the next station the doors open on all
the *other* cars, and a crew member comes to the car in question to find
out what's happened. Or so I understand; the only time I ever actually
used the alarm, we were already at a station with the doors open. (We
still have two-person crews here, so all points on the train are within
150 feet of a crew member. I expect they would usually walk through
the train unless it was very crowded.)

Bearing in mind that there is no way for the driver to know whether
the alarm was pulled for a medical emergency or an attack in progress
or some other reason, what would your solution be?

Keep the doors closed at first, but be ready to open them quickly. Of
course, this might be the wrong thing if the emergency was a firebomb.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Ah, determinism (likewise, forgetfulness) reigns."
| --Steve Summit

My text in this article is in the public domain.

"Jonathan Morris" wrote in message
oups.com...
What exactly is the procedure for dealing with an alarm set off on a
tube train?

This morning, at approx 10.15am, I boarded a Circle Line train
eastbound at Kings Cross. As the doors closed, someone pulled the alarm
(not sure where). The doors then opened and the (female) driver said
'We are aware that the alarm has been pulled. Would the person that did
so please make themselves known to a member of staff'.

This strikes me as rather odd. If it was someone taken ill, how would
this work? If it was someone being attacked, why let them run off the
train?

Jonathan

And if it were an "unattended" bag? Or, as it were 2 circle line trains
involved with the suicide bombers last year, would you want to be
trapped in the car with them?
If train is still in platform, the doors have to be opened in case it is
a security issue.

Jonathan Morris wrote:
Peaches wrote:
And if it were an "unattended" bag? Or, as it were 2 circle line
trains involved with the suicide bombers last year, would you want
to be trapped in the car with them?

What's more likely? Someone taken ill, someone being attacked (I've
witnessed it, and the figures show it's on the increase) or a bomb
left in a bag? Bear in mind, lots of bags and objects get left
behind but they aren't actually bombs.

Remember that the OP was talking about an alarm pulled just after the
doors were closed, with the train still in the platform. In those
circumstances, I would have thought that someone being attacked would be
far less likely than something caught in the doors or an unattended bag
being found. Hence it is sensible to open the doors.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Jonathan Morris wrote:
What exactly is the procedure for dealing with an alarm set off on a
tube train?

This morning, at approx 10.15am, I boarded a Circle Line train
eastbound at Kings Cross. As the doors closed, someone pulled the alarm
(not sure where). The doors then opened and the (female) driver said
'We are aware that the alarm has been pulled. Would the person that did
so please make themselves known to a member of staff'.

This strikes me as rather odd. If it was someone taken ill, how would
this work?

Presumably (unless it was a very empty train) if the person was
completely unable to "make themselves know to a member of staff" someone
else would do it. Even the famous reluctance of London commuters to
notice the presence of anyone else on the train would probably be
overridden if somebody had actually collapsed.

If it was someone being attacked, why let them run off the
train?

I presume you mean the let the attacker off the train. Presumably
because that is (marginally?) safer than trapping a violent and
dangerous person on the train until the next stop.


Jonathan



--
To contact me take a davidhowdon and add a @yahoo.co.uk to the end.

"Jonathan Morris" wrote in message
ups.com...
Peaches wrote:
And if it were an "unattended" bag? Or, as it were 2 circle line trains
involved with the suicide bombers last year, would you want to be
trapped in the car with them?

What's more likely? Someone taken ill, someone being attacked (I've
witnessed it, and the figures show it's on the increase) or a bomb left
in a bag? Bear in mind, lots of bags and objects get left behind but
they aren't actually bombs.

Let's not forget that on 7/7, the bags weren't unattended and I'm not
sure how you would know if something was going to happen before it
happened. Unless we just judge people by their looks and what they're
carrying.

If train is still in platform, the doors have to be opened in case it is
a security issue.

I don't think I agree with that approach, and it's the first time I've
seen it happen like this.(Well pay attention in future, thats the way it
is)
It seems like good news to anyone that does
assault a passenger on the tube though - in the name of 'security'.

That is the Rule for operators for C stock - being the stock on the circle,
and H+C lines, if "handle down", and still in platform, the doors must be
opened, if between stations, then the T/op must "over ride" via a foot pedal
and travel to next station (signals allowing) and then open the doors -
It is the obvious solution in the current climate!
What did the fem T/op look like? Was it Gill? If so, she is a star!