Category A SPAD

[dooton]

Just been reading through some of the data i'm collecting from Network Rails Open Data, noticed that there has been a "Category A SPAD" at victoria which is listed as affecting FGW services.

Without going into details about this specific incident what is a category A SPAD, i'm assuming its the most serious? Hopefully the driver in this instance is not too shaken.

Cheers
Matt!

 

[Boodiggy]

Evening, usually a cat A is a driver error leading to a signal at danger being passed. Other spad's such as a cat B is where a signal is passed but the issue is with something on the infrastructure, such as a failed track circuit, loss of detection on points or a fault with a signal.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

At Victoria affecting FGW services? Doesn't add up, you mean Paddington?

 

[phil281]

Think I may have seen this today about 13:30. There was a 442 unit half through the last signal before the platforms on the UF.

 

[Wath Yard]

It must have been one hell of a SPAD if it happened at Victoria and is affecting FGW services!

 

[GB]

CAT A - Train passes signal at danger where preceding signals showing the correct restrictive aspects to allow train to come to a stop under normal conditions...can be due to driver error, rail head conditions, a fault with the train etc.

CAT B - Train passes signal at danger due to signal going back to red without warning. Can be caused by signaller error or signalling equipment failures.

CAT C - Train passes signal at danger that has been put back to red because of an emergency.

CAT D - Runaway train/vehicle passes signal at danger...can be classed as CAT A under some circumstances.

 

[phil281]

It must have been one hell of a SPAD if it happened at Victoria and is affecting FGW services!

The residual delays caused by the blockage of the UF might cause delays for the Gatwick - Reading trains, you'd be surprised how one incident far away can set off a domino like effect especially on a line with tight pathing like the BML

 

[transportphoto]

CAT C - Train passes signal at danger that has been put back to red because of an emergency.

Just for my personal curiosity... if a signal has been reset to danger because the emergency button on a GSM-R unit in the area has been activated, and the driver passes this due to lack of sufficient warning, would this be classed as a Cat C?

TP

 

[GB]

If the driver had insufficient warning then yes, that would fall into "category C"

 

[dooton]

Thanks for the replies gents, I am well aware that FGW are not operating out of Vic but thats how its come down to my database http://cl.ly/image/2x291Y1G1A0a

It must be as stated somewhat of a domino effect! It would be interesting to see how many SPADS occur and at what times of the year they occur most. I suppose that is something that I can do with this data at a later date.

 

[transportphoto]

I don't read that as a problem for FGW as it's got 'Southern:-' before the mention of the SPAD...

TP

 

[dooton]

I don't read that as a problem for FGW as it's got 'Southern:-' before the mention of the SPAD...

TP

So it has! My apologies need to put my glasses on!

 

[Wath Yard]

Thanks for the replies gents, I am well aware that FGW are not operating out of Vic but thats how its come down to my database http://cl.ly/image/2x291Y1G1A0a

That doesn't say it's affecting FGW. It says it's affecting Southern.

 

[tsr]

However, this incident did in fact affect FGW, with at least one Gatwick Airport - Reading service being delayed somewhere between 5-10 minutes due to congestion at Gatwick. Unfortunately, I can't remember which service this actually was.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Thanks for the replies gents, I am well aware that FGW are not operating out of Vic but thats how its come down to my database http://cl.ly/image/2x291Y1G1A0a

It must be as stated somewhat of a domino effect! It would be interesting to see how many SPADS occur and at what times of the year they occur most. I suppose that is something that I can do with this data at a later date.

However, this incident did in fact affect FGW, with at least one Gatwick Airport - Reading service being delayed somewhere between 5-10 minutes due to congestion at Gatwick. Unfortunately, I can't remember which service this actually was.

Of course that was to be expected. Of course the major disruption is for Southern services, which I believe is more of what we've been trying to say.

 

[tsr]

Of course that was to be expected. Of course the major disruption is for Southern services, which I believe is more of what we've been trying to say.

That is indeed where the major disruption was, as you correctly say. The knock-on effect on FGW is interesting, however.

 

[BestWestern]

Coincidentally, I believe there was a SPAD affecting an FGW service this morning. I'm unsure of exactly where, but reports were that a distant was displaying green, but as the main signal came into view it was at danger. An automatic signal somewhere apparently, reason initially unknown.

 

[tsr]

Coincidentally, I believe there was a SPAD affecting an FGW service this morning. I'm unsure of exactly where, but reports were that a distant was displaying green, but as the main signal came into view it was at danger. An automatic signal somewhere apparently, reason initially unknown.

There was a signalling problem reported on NRE at Sholing (near Southampton) this morning. Was it that, perchance?

 

[BestWestern]

There was a signalling problem reported on NRE at Sholing (near Southampton) this morning. Was it that, perchance?

Might well have been, that would fit the bill regarding the two aspect set-up.