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Section 21: Stopping Markers

(Page 5 of 8)

A special stop marker was installed beside the Up Stour line at Monument Lane in Birmingham in March 2004, on the approach to signal NS301. Bearing the characters "VT 390 X" on a white background surrounded by a red border [21.97], the sign indicated where Class 390 'Pendolino' trains should stop when the signal was at 'danger', to ensure that their pantographs did not come to rest too close to the nearby booster transformer. The signal was replaced by one in a different position when the Birmingham New Street area was resignalled in December 2022.

[21.97] Class 390 Stop Marker. Area:Monument Lane, Birmingham Usage: Low Status: Historical

'Selective Door Operation' (SDO) is a system for limiting the amount of power-operated passenger doors that can be opened on a train when stopped at a station with a short platform. In connection with this, square white boards bearing a figure below the initials "SDO" [21.98] were provided in 2004 at stations where Midland Mainline Class 222 'Meridian' units call. The figure on the board informs drivers of Class 222 units as to the number of cars that may have their doors opened at the platform concerned, so that the Selective Door Operation can be carried out accordingly. SDO boards at stations managed by Southern have a blue background [21.99]. Class 465 'Networker' units also have a facility for Selective Door Operation. Depending on the circumstances at a particular platform, a sign may be installed which takes the form of a train class specific notice board (see [26.20]) bearing the initials "SDO" with a letter "F", "R" or "B" for 'front', 'rear' or 'both', as appropriate [21.100].

[21.98] Selective Door Operation Board. Area:Midland Mainline Usage: High Status: Current	[21.99] Selective Door Operation Board. Area:Southern (subsequently Govia Thameslink Railway) Usage: High Status: Current	[21.100] Selective Door Operation Board applicable to Class 465 trains (e.g. "F" for Front). Area:Various Usage: Low Status: Uncertain

Markers in connection with SDO are provided at certain stations between Salisbury and Exeter. Placed facing the track, they bear the words "selective door opening marker" together with a triangle pointing to the left or right as appropriate, inside which is stated the applicable direction, "Up" or "Down" [21.101].

[21.101] Selective Door Opening Marker (e.g. Down direction). Area:Salisbury - Exeter Usage: Low Status: Current

During part of 2004 and 2005, passenger services between Edinburgh Waverley and North Berwick were formed of Mark 3 coaches with a Class 90 electric locomotive at one end and a driving van trailer (DVT) at the other end. Stop markers applicable to these trains were provided at three locations in May 2004. Those at Edinburgh Waverley station (Platform 10), Musselburgh station (Down platform) and the entrance to Slateford sidings bore the legends "ScotRail 90/DVT stop", "ScotRail Class 90 stop" and "ScotRail DVT stop", respectively. Each marker had a purple band at the bottom with ScotRail branding on it [21.102].

[21.102] Class 90/DVT Stop Marker. Area:ScotRail Usage: Low Status: Historical

In December 2004, car stop markers with a letter "X" [21.103] were installed at each end of the short platform at Bearley station. These apply only to Chiltern Railways services formed of 3-car Class 165 and 168 units.

[21.103] "X Car Stop" Marker. Area:Bearley Usage: Low Status: Current

At stations where trains are required to stop adjacent to platform monitors provided in connection with Driver Only Operation (DOO), the associated stop markers may bear the words "car monitors" [21.104] instead of the usual words "car stop".

[21.104] "Car Monitors" Marker. Area:Various Usage: Medium Status: Current

The 'remote platform starting signal' identification signs provided at the new Gartcosh station in 2005 differed from previous designs in that they incorporated a downward pointing arrow [21.105]. Similar signs were installed at the reopened Laurencekirk station in 2009.

[21.105] 'Remote Platform Starting Signal' Identification Sign. Area:Scotland Route Usage: Medium Status: Obsolescent

The standard form of car stop marker may have letters or numbers added at the top or bottom to indicate which type of train it applies to [21.106], which train operating company's services it applies to [21.107], or a combination of both [21.108].

[21.106] Train Class Specific Car Stop Markers ( (a) - e.g. Class 222 trains; (b) - e.g. "HST" for High Speed Trains ). Area:Various Usage: Medium Status: Current	[21.107] Train Operator Specific Car Stop Markers ( (a) - e.g. "ATW" for Arriva Trains Wales; (b) - e.g. "CRCL" for Chiltern Railways Co. Ltd. ). Area:Various Usage: Medium Status: Current	[21.108] Train Operator and Class Specific Car Stop Markers ( (a) - e.g. "GC 180" for Grand Central Class 180 trains; (b) - e.g. "HT 222" for Hull Trains Class 222 trains ). Area:Various Usage: Medium Status: Current

The standard form of car stop marker may have additional text reminding drivers to check the aspect shown by the platform starting signal, where provided [21.109].

[21.109] Car Stop Marker with reminder to check signal. Area:Various Usage: Low Status: Uncertain

In May 2005, new stop markers were provided on Platform 4 at Brockenhurst station to facilitate occasional platform sharing. Two separate "S car stop" markers were installed, facing to Up direction trains. One with the legend "Plat 4A" was located at the north end of the platform, and one with the legend "Plat 4B" was located close to the middle of the platform [21.110].

[21.110] Car Stop Marker. Area:Brockenhurst Usage: Low Status: Current

A new service known as 'Heathrow Connect' began in June 2005. Special stop markers were provided for the Class 360 electric multiple units that operate these services [21.111].

[21.111] Car Stop Marker. Area:Heathrow Connect Usage: Medium Status: Obsolescent

When two 4-car Class 350 'Desiro' units are working together in multiple, 'Unit Deselect' (UDS) can be used at platforms that are too short to accommodate all the train doors. When Unit Deselect is used, only the doors on the front unit can be opened. At stations where this applies, "UDS" boards are provided [21.112]. The driver should bring the train to a stand at the "UDS" board to ensure that the leading cab door of the rear unit is on the platform. The conductor will operate Unit Deselect from the leading cab of the rear unit.

[21.112] Unit Deselect Board. Area:Central Trains Usage: Medium Status: Current

Some stations on the Great Northern lines, operated by First Capital Connect, have car blue stop markers with the words "car stop" surrounded by a white rectangle [21.113].

[21.113] Car Stop Marker. Area:First Capital Connect Usage: Medium Status: Uncertain

New car stop markers were provided for the TransPennine Express Class 185 'Desiro' diesel multiple units, which entered service from March 2006. These markers have a blue background, and the class number appears at the top in blue against a contrasting white band [21.114]. Similar train class specific car stop markers have subsequently been used for other classes of units.

[21.114] Train Class Specific Car Stop Marker. Area:Various Usage: High Status: Current