S stock in cold weather

Driver: "This is Harrow on the Hill. This train will wait here for about 2-3 minutes." 45 seconds later... *beepbeepbeepbeep*
Idiot: "Haha that was a short few minutes!"
*waits for train to pull away*
*waits some more* etc

And also the guy who runs down to the platform then stands outside the doors of the train for about a minute, before another person walks straight past them and pushes the button and the doors open... the guy looks around, then shuffles on, red-faced. How I love the idiocy of the general public

From the outside of the train, the only indication that the door open buttons (apart from the few door sets that do not auto close) is the illumination of the lights surrounding the button. That illumination is static and may not be noticed, or its significance not realised.

Would it be possible to make the door buttons flash when they are enabled for passenger use? The eye/brain would pick up the flashing much more readily than noting that something is lit up with a steady light.

Combine that with a simple sticker next to the button "Press button to open door when button is flashing" would act as gentle education.

Push to open buttons are common on the NR network, even on the LO trains. I think it will just take some time for people to catch on.

Uxbridge is a common one we tend to notice on our CCTV. S-stock train, not due out for a few minutes. Last set of doors open. Loads of people making a mad dash from the barrier to this last set of doors. Obviously, after 45 seconds of this, the doors begin to close - which only makes the made dash more frantic. Then someone usually gets caught in the doors. Then they close.

This is then followed by someone running, then walking up to the train with the clear thought that "oh well, missed it." A few seconds pass, before they think "hang on, it hasn't moved. What happens if I press this..."

Having noticed this chap's good fortune, others start to run towards this 1 open door, and the mad dash begins again.

To be honest, in the interests of saving energy, perhaps we should only operate the doors closest to the barriers at locations such as Uxbridge.

We are simple creatures. Sometimes very, very simple ;D ;D

Door buttons are standard on the Overground, DLR, Croydon Trams, Chiltern Line, FGW from Paddington and the most of trains on the old southern region lines. The system works fine and the trains keep warm.
The vast majority of passengers are not "very simple people", they have brains and are quite capable of learning that pushing a button marked "open" will open the door, and one marked "close" will close the door.
This condescending attitude towards Met Line passengers really must stop, remember their fares are paying your salaries.

Could you refrain from using all those abbreviations! Although I personally know that LM = London Midland, WJ = Watford Junction and BSH = Bushey, there are loads of other readers who probably don't!

Are you talking about the S Stock? There are close buttons?

Also can I make a suggestion which seems to work well in some other places? When the doors are closing automatically after 45 seconds, don't have a hustle alarm. That way people can more easily differentiate between the two types of close.

I think you may be right, the close button was probably on an Overground train. I'll be out on both lines later so I'll check.
I would argue, however, that the same principle applies for all door buttons, people will soon learn.