Ding-ding, and away is a slang expression used by the UK media and railway enthusiasts to describe a type of operating incident in the British railway industry where the guard of a train standing at a platform gives a "ready to start" bell code to the driver,[1] when the platform starting signal is at danger, and the driver then moves the train past the signal without checking it.
Once the doors have closed and platform duties are complete, the guard informs the driver by sending the signal for "ready to start",[2] which is two rings (hence "ding-ding").
The British Railways Board refused to change the rules, saying that the driver alone should have the responsibility to comply with signals.
[3] 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.
"Ding-ding, and away" events continue to occur despite the rule change and the introduction of equipment such as the driver's reminder appliance.