Route knowledge retention.

[muz379]

Its quite simple really.

Put in a route request, if it doesnt get actioned then take the route off your card.

Its your card, and ultimately your safety and career on the line if it goes wrong.

This , I really dont think some people realise it is totally up to them what is on their route card . When you sign it you are saying that you are competent to operate over the route

If at any point you dont feel competent any more to operate a route then put a review in and then if you dont get the review in a timely manner take it off your route card .

 

[Bromley boy]

I'm curious. Doesn't control have a track diagram with the position of the train on it?

talked in by Control, just as a harbour master might do to a ship.

Two more statements that reveal how little you understand about the operational railway.

The biggest threat to the railway is the extraordinary cost of its current rules, regs and T& C.

So the cost of the rules at regs that have made it the safest railway in Europe are now the greatest threat to it? And true to form I see you’ve included the usual little dig at staff Ts and Cs.

Your attempts at trolling are becoming very boring indeed.

 

[The Lad]

Route knowledge includes knowing where each signal is even in the dark. If it isn't there(been nicked) or is out then it is a red. (or its most restrictive aspect)

 

[jingsmonty]

You should sign all sidings and platforms on your route - that doesnt mean you should of been in the sidings, just know how to get in and out and the method of working.

If it is a simple change, then a brief will be issued.

If it is a complete change including signals you should be given a day to be watch a video, be route conducted or a route train over it.

If its gone completely wrong then the signaller can talk you through the move - however this is only on routes you sign. He shouldnt try talk you through a part of line you dont sign as this will cause issues.

That's pretty much it - have had experience of both! If I was asked to do an unusual move on a route I'd signed, without having actually done the move, I would ask the signaller to talk me through it (in stages, if it's complex). Different to driving a route you're out of competence or haven't signed - defenite no no!

 

[theageofthetra]

As an outsider I am genuinely puzzled about rare route knowledge.
I appreciate that on a running line the crew should have route knowledge, but if you are diverted into an unusual platform or siding that you have never been to before (or rarely), moving very slowly and on clear signals where is the risk?
There must be situations where odd sidings that could be useful are so rarely needed that very few if any drivers have used them - do they become unusable by default?
On the other hand if a new platform, or even new line, is opened as happens occasionally then by definition no one has driven it before; if everyone refuses because they do not have route knowledge how can anything develop?
I may have asked something similar before in which case I apologise.

Absolutely correct. I suspect a lot of newer drivers are not aware of this.

This , I really dont think some people realise it is totally up to them what is on their route card . When you sign it you are saying that you are competent to operate over the route

If at any point you dont feel competent any more to operate a route then put a review in and then if you dont get the review in a timely manner take it off your route card .

 

[Atishyou]

Because driving a train requires a huge amount of route knowledge retention, and somewhere that you rarely go will be shuffled right to the bottom of the pack by your memory, very possibly to the extent that your memory of that route is not completely clear. It's no good only remembering something when it's too late...

As for who can say if somebody is competent, most operators should have a set time period after which competency over a route will lapse by default. Of course, crew are free to request a refresher at any time they feel it is needed, but at a certain point it should technically become mandatory.

I was asking the OP why the felt they wouldn't be competent to do it.

Do you drive?