train dispatch from stations varies by trian operator around the country. Kings Cross is topical and interesting - I was there on Thursday last week and was interested to see train dispatch from that major station. On the signal post was a 'route indicator' and subsiduary display which had multiple functionality. There was a display to indicate the driver to 'close doors.' This was shown in the display on the signal post as 'CD.' The train was dispatched finally by the 'RA' (right away) indicator showing which I assumed was the authority for the driver to finally pull away. I would imagine that the two dings on the bell from the train manager/guard would also have occurred.
Elsewhere, under Driver Only Operations (DOO), the driver has to physically check that everything is okay prior to departure - hence some of the big mirrors and CCTV screens that you see as modern platform furniture.
But yes, out in the sticks, 'ding ding and away' (as my friends at London Midland call it) is the way a driver generally knows that he can leave the station safely.
The caveat in all this as my mate at First Great Western tells me (he drives HSTs out of Paddington) - the guard/train manager must never give you the right away (buzzer/bell or whatever) if the signal is still at danger. Only 'ding ding' when a proceed aspect is shown. There is a SPAD risk if you 'ding ding' at a red
What I'm on about is it's nice to see more RSC products with DSD, where as before I was more reliant on JT and other third party products to have it, though it's a shame the 150 doesn't (yet..) even though it has a lot of other features.
