40670 Notice display case frame obscuring notices

August 2009 in Train Operations

Rules and procedures Method of working Equipment Central South East West Midlands East Midlands

A reporter is concerned that notices displayed in a notice case at Bletchley are sometimes obscured.  The notice case has a wooden frame along the doors of the case, which means that an area in the middle of the case is obscured when the doors are closed.

This case has been in place for about 18 months, and on a regular basis notices are placed behind the wooden frame, making it impossible to read. The driver feels that it is common sense that notices should not be placed in such a way, but it keeps happening.

All drivers and conductors who book on at Bletchley are required to read the notices from operation management in this case. The reporter is concerned that vital information, for example about safety of the line requirements or signal problems, is not being communicated to staff simply because it is placed in such a way that they cannot read it.

The reporter suggests that the area which is covered by the frame could be marked inside the case, so that it is clear to everyone that notices are not to be placed there.

Please comment.

Response from London Midland

The local manager has advised that the issue relating to the notice case has been resolved. This notice case is regularly checked/monitored by local managers and our internal auditor and a repeat of the issue raised by the reporter has not been noted.