Ding-ding, and away
Encyclopedia
Ding-ding, and away is a slang expression used by the UK Media and railway enthusiasts to describe an incident in the British railway industry
where a train driver is incorrectly given a bell code or green flag telling him to start the train despite the platform starting signal being at danger, and he moves the train past the signal without checking it. This constitutes a signal passed at danger
(SPAD).
trains, the guard uses a Bell/Buzzer Code to communicate with the driver . Once the doors have closed and platform duties are complete, the guard informs the driver by sending the signal for "ready to start", which is two rings (hence "ding-ding"). There was a debate whether guards should only give the "ready to start" or station staff the "right away" signal if the platform starting signal was clear. The British Railways Board
refused to change the rules, saying that the driver alone should have the responsibility to comply with signals. Initially the Railway Inspectorate agreed, for example in the report on the early example at Woolwich Arsenal
in 1948.http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1490&PHPSESSID=6a3f8d82df26a7e7b93812055ff97a3f However, accidents in the 1970s culminating in seven people being killed at Paisley Gilmour Street
in 1979 caused the rules to be changed in 1980, with the effect that giving the signal to "close doors", "ready to start" or "right away" whilst the starting signal is at danger now constitutes an operating incident.
Unfortunately "Ding-ding, and away" events continue to occur despite the rule change and the introduction of equipment such as the driver's reminder appliance
. On trains which work under driver-only operation (DOO) drivers oversee the whole despatch process themselves and so may be distracted by activity on the platform which causes them to close the doors and move away without checking the signal, as in the Newton rail crash. With driver-only operation now more common, the term "Starting against signal, [where the] signal [is] passed at danger" (SASSPAD) is now used.
Rail transport in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and previously consisted of Great Britain and the whole of Ireland. Rail transport systems developed independently on the two islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and most of the railway construction in the Republic of Ireland was...
where a train driver is incorrectly given a bell code or green flag telling him to start the train despite the platform starting signal being at danger, and he moves the train past the signal without checking it. This constitutes a signal passed at danger
Signal passed at danger
A Signal passed at danger , in British railway terminology, occurs when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so. It is a term primarily used within the British Railway Industry, although it can be applied worldwide.-Categories of SPAD:...
(SPAD).
Overview
On multiple unitMultiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
trains, the guard uses a Bell/Buzzer Code to communicate with the driver . Once the doors have closed and platform duties are complete, the guard informs the driver by sending the signal for "ready to start", which is two rings (hence "ding-ding"). There was a debate whether guards should only give the "ready to start" or station staff the "right away" signal if the platform starting signal was clear. The British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
refused to change the rules, saying that the driver alone should have the responsibility to comply with signals. Initially the Railway Inspectorate agreed, for example in the report on the early example at Woolwich Arsenal
Woolwich Arsenal railway station
Woolwich Arsenal station is a National Rail and Docklands Light Railway interchange station located in Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich. It acts as a local station on the North Kent Line between London and Gillingham, served by Southeastern, and is the southern terminus of the Woolwich...
in 1948.http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1490&PHPSESSID=6a3f8d82df26a7e7b93812055ff97a3f However, accidents in the 1970s culminating in seven people being killed at Paisley Gilmour Street
Paisley Gilmour Street rail crash
The Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident occurred on 16 April 1979 at 19:50. The 19:40 Inverclyde Line service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay, operated by two Class 303 trains, crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line under clear signals at Wallneuk Junction immediately to the...
in 1979 caused the rules to be changed in 1980, with the effect that giving the signal to "close doors", "ready to start" or "right away" whilst the starting signal is at danger now constitutes an operating incident.
Unfortunately "Ding-ding, and away" events continue to occur despite the rule change and the introduction of equipment such as the driver's reminder appliance
Driver reminder appliance
The Driver's Reminder Appliance is a manual switch in the driving cab of a passenger train. When operated it glows bright red and prevents the driver from being able to take power...
. On trains which work under driver-only operation (DOO) drivers oversee the whole despatch process themselves and so may be distracted by activity on the platform which causes them to close the doors and move away without checking the signal, as in the Newton rail crash. With driver-only operation now more common, the term "Starting against signal, [where the] signal [is] passed at danger" (SASSPAD) is now used.