Post by ReclinerPost by Roland PerryPost by ReclinerPost by Roland PerryPost by ReclinerDoes anyone know if the online version is a true, up-to-date version of the
physical boards in the station?
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains/departures/london-kings-cross/
If so, we can test it out. I’m only seeing the platform number disappear
about a minute before departure.
It's a completely different type of display.
Anyway, at 07:31 the online system had removed the platform number of
the 07:30, despite it running somewhat late (departed 07:33.25), and the
07:33's platform number had been removed as well (departed 07:35.5)
Next is the 07:39, hold on tight... platform number removed at 07:38
We'd need some boots on the ground to see if the station's board removes
the platform numbers ahead of the timetabled departure, or the *actual*
departure.
Yes, that’s why I asked if anyone knew if it was an accurate, up-to-date
reflection of the physical boards.
In a sense it can't ever be, because the station boards are a
*completely* different format.
So what you should be asking is whether the platform number disappears
at the same moment in time. Is the 3-minute trial even live yet (genuine
question).
Post by ReclinerReading their announcement and
explanation, the change actually only seems to affect long distance
services (probably meaning LNER), and the main change is that the last
announcement on the PA system will be *four* minutes before departure. We
can’t test that with the online display.
We can check that with boots on the ground, which we need anyway, to
compare the departure boards.
1. The three minute blackout period only applies to long-distance
trains (ie, all but GN). The GN trains still follow
the one minute blackout rule.
2. The last PA announcement commences one minute earlier than the
blackout point (ie, four minutes before departure)
3. The app and the display boards are in synchrony, as I expected, but
the display behaviour is slightly different. With
the app/web display, a train continues to be shown when it gets into
the 1 or 3 minute blackout period, but the platform
number gets blanked out. But, in the station, those trains get scrolled
off the display altogether. The actions take
place about five seconds after the trigger point (ie, long distance
trains get scrolled off about 2:55 before
departure).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/54371140495/in/dateposted-friend/
lightbox/
It's a screenshot from the app superimposed on a photo taken on the
same phone, so the clock time is accurate and
synchronised. The station photo was taken about a minute before the
screenshot, yet the (later) screenshot still shows
one train that's just departed, and another that's less than three
minutes before departure. The Highland Chieftain was
shown in the station board photo at 11:56:33, but scrolled off just
after 11:57. It remained visible in the app, but
with the platform number removed.
4. There weren't any delays when I was there, but checking on the app,
it looks like it's the actual expected departure
time, not the scheduled time that triggers the blackout period.
Thanks for the comprehensive report. We await whether Network Rail (in
Success [failure isn't in the vocabulary].