Uxbridge CIS

The light box was working, but again was giving incorrect information.

To be fair to the poor SAs, their guess is as good as yours, the signalman doesn't telephone ahead. If the light box is lying to you it's lying to them as well.

Uxbridge station is indeed controlled from Rayners Lane signal box. I suspect the light box and any other indicator boards are theoretically linked in to the signalling although it's probably not very reliable.

I'm so sorry, that wasn't what I meant at all. I just thought it was a little unkind to blame the station staff in situations where they have simply not been told or have been misled by what the lightbox says. The reasons for this could be delays requiring short-notice changes, faulty displays, or anything else. But I had no intention of pointing an accusatory finger at the people of Rayners Lane cabin. I actually wasn't aware that the signallers made a habit of informing station staff of changes, which I think is pretty good of them, considering how much else they have on. But all the same, all I meant to say at the time (and all I still wish to say) is exactly that: that in times of disruption it's obviously important to clear the sticks and get trains on their way and holding them to shepherd people to and fro would do more harm than good. Meanwhile, in all normal situations, one presumes that the staff in Rayners Lane cabin assume the displays are all set up and working well and the station staff at Uxbridge assume the same.

I only wanted to point out that (I think I'm right in saying) it would not be standard practice to ring Uxbridge and inform them of the next departure on every occasion, would it? You'd only do this if something had been changed and so if Rayners Lane cabin assumes the staff at Uxbridge have correct information from the displays and Uxbridge staff assume they have correct information from the displays, then it's hard to blame staff at Uxbridge (or staff in Rayners Lane cabin) for any mistakes. Similarly if the displays are dead, or staff simply haven't got the information to hand for whatever reason, they can't be expected to give it. But I didn't mean to imply by that that the fault is with Rayners Lane cabin and I'm sorry for not making that clearer. To be honest, I'm used to the Central line and everything being done from Wood Lane, so I just assumed the boards were linked in with the signalling (generally no need to contact staff, since it's all done remotely) and fully intended to suggest that the fault probably lied with the equipment, which is, as I understand it, due upgrading with resignalling, but I could obviously have been wrong there.

Absolutely. Like I say, my intention was never to criticise Rayners Lane cabin, merely to defend Uxbridge station staff. Anyway, thanks for the additional info and apologies for the slightly ill-thought-out post.

By the way, how many people would be on shift in Rayners Lane cabin at any one time? Cause obviously Rayners Lane cabin has to deal with Uxbridge sidings, Ruislip siding and (surprise, surprise) Rayners Lane (and presumably Rayners Lane junction).