I've Heard It All Now!

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/12/wrong-kind-of-sunlight-delays-southeastern-trains-london

[Gavmacp]

Yes I heard it on the news! Did make me smile though.

[mikey4444]

Low sun at this time of year can be a problem for car drivers....it certainly has been me, even here in Wales !

But my car has this clever new devise fitted, called a sun visor....why are these not being fitted to trains ?

[Buenchico]

As someone who has actually had to make platform announcements, explaining the delays to trains, I know that simply telling the truth (as seems to have happened here) sometimes doesn't work!

Of course train drivers' cabs have sun visors but, just like those in cars, they don't make the view ahead crystal clear. Train drivers are expected to look for signals on gantries over half a mile ahead and, in areas with lots of rail lines, to work out which (of perhaps a dozen different signals) is the one for the line which their train is on.

It's hard enough with a clear view but extremely difficult when squinting into the sun so, just as car drivers are expected to do when driving under similar conditions, they're required to slow down.

[jno]

it doesn't stop them running, but they have to go slower and take more care, and especially check that everyone's on or off at stations before proceeding. Much like car drivers, in fact. Low sun is awkward at this time of year.