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:
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:
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



--
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