Request ID: FOI-1118-2122 Date published: 28 September 2021
You asked
Please provide the following information:
1. How many platform mirrors as at 26/08/21 [mirrors used by staff to dispatch the train when operating at the front of the train] are currently non conforming ie not able to be used.
2. Mirrors have been taken out of service because of an update to safe dispatch of trains procedure to include the train dispatch corridor and to conform with industry best practice and guidance from the RSSB. Detail exactly this standard, is it compulsory? What are the reasons for it to be initiated now?
3. Does London Underground/ TfL rail use this standard? If it does not, why does the DLR?
4. Staff have been told that:
"the train dispatch corridor must be clear of passengers when closing doors, however during busy times passengers will stand in the dispatch corridor. In these circumstances an announcement must be made prior to closing the doors"
Detail what staff must do if passengers do not move from the dispatch corridor, do they close the doors or not? Detail what staff must do if passengers move into the dispatch corridor once all doors have closed, do they re enable the doors and make another announcement? if passengers do not move, do they close the doors or not?
5. At certain stations, eg Island Gardens platform 2 and Mudchute platform 2 [mirrors non conforming} staff cannot see the end set of doors from the 4th set of doors in the leading carriage. Staff have been told they must see all sets of doors. This means that staff must enter the middle carriage to see all sets of doors, but that would mean using the end door. Detail exactly what staff are meant to do at these stations.
6. Mirrors and monitors have been in poor condition for years. Detail why this is.
7. Give time scale for all mirrors and monitors to be conforming.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1118-2122
Thank you once again for your request asking for information about DLR platform mirrors.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.
We do not hold the DLR information as it is held by Keolis Amey Docklands (KAD) who operate the DLR. We take the safety of all our passengers seriously and KAD ensure that all necessary safety measures are installed in order to operate a safe service. The platform-train interface is a key risk area controlled by KAD as the Transport Undertaking under The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (ROGS regulations), however, TfL monitors all safety performance and incidents which occur on the railway and seeks assurance from KAD where required to demonstrate safe operations at all times.
Mirrors have been taken out of service because of an update to safe dispatch of trains procedure to include the train dispatch corridor and to conform with industry best practice and guidance from the RSSB. Detail exactly this standard, is it compulsory? What are the reasons for it to be initiated now?
Does London Underground/ TfL rail use this standard? If it does not, why does the DLR?
With regard to the above questions, the standard which London Underground has for one person operation (OPO) equipment generically is the Cat 1 Standard S1150 A2 Telecommunications.
Within that standard (please see relevant section below) a single mirror, or a mirror as part of a wider array of screens, is permissible under the London Underground standards – with the caveat that Platform based OPO CCTV/mirror systems are being replaced to in-cab CCTV systems. For the London Underground, the only lines which still use a mirror as part of their OPO equipment are the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines. All other lines (plus TfL Rail) use in-cab CCTV systems. The replacement Piccadilly stock will feature in-cab CCTV, as will the rolling stock for the Bakerloo line when it is replaced.
Whilst LU does work closely with Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), we do not follow all of their standards as they are primarily for the mainline and not an underground metro system.
3.2 Fixed Platform Based OPO Systems
3.2.1 Fixed platform-based OPO (train dispatch) systems that utilise a single mirror or a combination of a mirror and CCTV monitors or CCTV monitors only shall be designed, installed and maintained to provide a continuous view of the PTI. This view shall be achieved where appropriate via single mirror or a concatenation of views where the PTI is covered by only CCTV or CCTV in combination with a mirror.
Note: Platform-based OPO CCTV / Mirror systems are being gradually migrated to integrated In-Cab CCTV systems. However, in certain situations it may be appropriate to temporarily install an interim system that includes the use of mirrors to provide a single view of the PTI or a part of the view of the PTI. Also, until legacy OPO (train dispatch) systems that use mirrors are replaced by In-Cab solutions, they have to be maintained to acceptable levels of safety.
3.2.2 Whichever method is used to provide a continuous PTI view; the integrity of this view shall be maintained throughout the operational life of the OPO system. Verification of the PTI view shall be achieved by a combination of daily operational checks and routine maintenance (system) testing.
3.2.3 The OPO CCTV / Mirror systems shall be supported by compliant illumination levels, clearly identifiable and maintained stop marks /platform markings to aid subjective and objective testing of a) PTI Coverage b) Alignment of PTI view(s) c) PTI Overlaps d) Detection of blind spots e) Image/ target detection.
3.2.4 OPO CCTV/Mirror-based systems shall be designed, installed and maintained to deliver reliable system performance taking into account local site conditions/ features, environmental and other factors that could impair system performance.
Note: In external environments mirror based OPO systems should be protected against condensation via a thermostatically controlled internal heater. OPO mirrors should be mechanically secured against environmentally induced movement e.g. vibration, windage or accidental knocks.
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
