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Driver visibility trackside

Doorbit

Member
Joined
11 Oct 2020
Messages
7
Location
Paddington
Hi all

I need some train drivers opinions

how likely would you as drivers be to notice someone on track in orange working say if they were 90m in front of you're cab, would most drivers notice this and report it?

there is a discussion in the workplace on whether all drivers would notice this

thanks
 
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RailUK Forums

800301

Member
Joined
29 Dec 2022
Messages
521
Location
Essex
Hi all

I need some train drivers opinions

how likely would you as drivers be to notice someone on track in orange working say if they were 90m in front of you're cab, would most drivers notice this and report it?

there is a discussion in the workplace on whether all drivers would notice this

thanks

90 meters in front of your cab if the driver is paying full attention to what is in front of them, I would say yes they should be able to see someone of the orange army, however, It would take approximately 1.61 seconds for 90 meters to pass if you are travelling at a speed of 125 mph so if you sneezed, had a glance at the Train managment system, or took your attention away for anything you could easily miss someone
 

Doorbit

Member
Joined
11 Oct 2020
Messages
7
Location
Paddington
90 meters in front of your cab if the driver is paying full attention to what is in front of them, I would say yes they should be able to see someone of the orange army, however, It would take approximately 1.61 seconds for 90 meters to pass if you are travelling at a speed of 125 mph so if you sneezed, had a glance at the Train managment system, or took your attention away for anything you could easily miss someone
sorry I should have been clearer, if the train was not in motion awaiting a signal to clear is it likely the driver would notice someone in orange working?
 

_toommm_

Established Member
Joined
8 Jul 2017
Messages
6,292
Location
South West London
It would also depend on where they are stood. A multiple unit with an end gangway would have a lot worse visibility than one without generally.
 

gatters

Member
Joined
11 Sep 2019
Messages
32
Location
london
in most circumstances, yes they'd be noticed, but there are far too many variables. it's certainly far from uncommon to not see pway workers until you're passing them

would most drivers notice this and report it?
why would a driver report it?
 

driver9000

Established Member
Joined
13 Jan 2008
Messages
4,556
How visible the person is depends on where the person is standing and how much "furniture" is in the way but why would the Driver report it? Equally it's the responsibility of the person on the ground to be aware of the presence of the train.
 

LCC106

Established Member
Joined
16 Nov 2011
Messages
1,488
If the train is stationary and you are waiting for it to clear I wouldn’t expect a p-way worker to be standing in the middle of the track UNLESS maybe there is a line block, the signal is at danger to protect them. No, I wouldn’t report in these circumstances. If the signal cleared I would sound the horn and wait for them to move to a position of safety. Can you be more specific about the circumstances? I’d find it strange if the driver didn’t see someone in the track in front of them in this case.
 

peteb

Established Member
Joined
30 Mar 2011
Messages
1,687
Won't there be a log of scheduled works to the line which drivers are made aware of, so they'll be extra vigilant? Does the op refer perhaps to people sporting high viz PPE who could be trespassing (as regularly occurs on heritage railways)?
 
Last edited:
Joined
5 Dec 2025
Messages
245
Location
Central Scotland
Won't there be a log of scheduled works to the line which drivers are made aware of, so they'll be extra vigilant? Does the op refer perhaps to people sporting high viz PPE who could be trespassing (as regularly occurs on heritage railways)?
Yeah but there could be emergency works or for instance a MOM attending a incident so its not always accurate
 

dk1

Veteran Member
Joined
2 Oct 2009
Messages
19,789
Location
East Anglia
Drivers must see many, many track workers every day while out and about on the network.
Especially when its not raining. Was 27 years in the driving seat for me and don’t recall ever reporting anything.
 

driver9000

Established Member
Joined
13 Jan 2008
Messages
4,556
Won't there be a log of scheduled works to the line which drivers are made aware of, so they'll be extra vigilant? Does the op refer perhaps to people sporting high viz PPE who could be trespassing (as regularly occurs on heritage railways)?

The Weekly Operating Notice details planned engineering works but that doesn't include ad-hoc work being done. In reality you don't know where you'll pass track workers day to day as they can be anywhere. You get used to it and unless they're doing something dangerous or you nearly hit one of them there's no need to report anything. Given the OPs previous postings about having a Sentinel card suspended and investigated I'm now wondering if something has happened and they're trying to get a feel for what may happen from the Drivers point of view (Apologies if that is not the case).
 

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