Route learning on rarely used lines

[androdas]

Just been watching the string of engineers trains going into the possession at Ashington on the Blyth and Tyne and it has got me thinking. How does route learning work for rarely used lines?

There is a lot of engineering going on around the Blyth and Tyne with the reopening works and there are various engineers trains used, but the only regular traffic is GBRF services to Lynemouth and they have been sporadic of late due in part to the constant works on the line. All the engineers trains seem to be freightliner so I assume there is little opportunity for route learning ride alongs and I always understood it a driver couldn't drive down a line they are not passed for and have regularly refreshed.

So my question is how would one become competent for such a scenario? I suppose this is relevant as well as the line is being resignalled so no driver will be competent once that is commissioned. In these cases do drivers have to study paper based signalling diagrams or such to become proficient?

Apologies if this seems a silly question or in the wrong section but I don't work in the industry I'm just an interested bystander.

 

[swt_passenger]

Just been watching the string of engineers trains going into the possession at Ashington on the Blyth and Tyne and it has got me thinking. How does route learning work for rarely used lines?

There is a lot of engineering going on around the Blyth and Tyne with the reopening works and there are various engineers trains used, but the only regular traffic is GBRF services to Lynemouth and they have been sporadic of late due in part to the constant works on the line. All the engineers trains seem to be freightliner so I assume there is little opportunity for route learning ride alongs and I always understood it a driver couldn't drive down a line they are not passed for and have regularly refreshed.

So my question is how would one become competent for such a scenario? I suppose this is relevant as well as the line is being resignalled so no driver will be competent once that is commissioned. In these cases do drivers have to study paper based signalling diagrams or such to become proficient?

Apologies if this seems a silly question or in the wrong section but I don't work in the industry I'm just an interested bystander.

The other FOCs (ie those not usually seen in an area) can often been seen operating route learning trains in advance of a works period. Might there be evidence of route learning specials in any of the online sources, such as realtimetrains?

 

[NSE]

Route Learning and Refreshing can be done via video guides plus you can ride in the cab with other TOCs/FOCs.

This is very much within reason and doesn’t mean this applies as a free for all in all situations. Just a few methods that are used.

 

[androdas]

Thanks both, Not much been down the line except engineers and the Lynemouth trains for the last year as far as I know not that im watching all day long! Suppose there must be something in place to prevent very rarely used routes losing all route knowledge.

 

[Sheffcaster202]

From a TOC point of view…

This is something that can generally affect us on diverted routes, we have a route review day periodically (frequency is dependent on the link you’re in) and you self manage your day to ensure you are refreshed on any routes/diversions/traction you sign to maintain your competency

The lesser used routes/diversions we have access to videos to watch these along with the maps/diagrams/route briefs through Teams and TAPS where appropriate

We have a record book to fill in and submit to the management team/control and we are good to go for the next period

Obviously this isn’t fool proof and there are times when you can lapse/fall out of competency, on these occasions you request review days on the relevant route/traction and this is factored in until you’re competent again

 

[Signal_Box]

I known drivers walk over a number of days very rarely used routes with suitable blockages obviously.

 

[6Gman]

In my day, arranging such things as weedkillers over routes that were effectively out of use Traction Inspectors would accompany such moves. They were presumably thought to have longer memories than mere mortals ...

 

[northwichcat]

For the Denton line there are some empty movements, so while there's only one return passenger working scheduled per week, they'll presumably be quite a few drivers driving along it every week. That might apply to some other rarely used routes as well.

 

[MP33]

The short Gas Factory Junction to Limehouse line has empty trains run to clean the overhead wires. I would assume that they are not driven by the same driver.

 

[dk1]

The short Gas Factory Junction to Limehouse line has empty trains run to clean the overhead wires. I would assume that they are not driven by the same driver.

I’ve never heard a train run to clean the overhead wires. Why?

 

[Western 52]

The Royal Welsh Show trains from Cardiff to Builth Road use the chord at Hendy, which has recently been singled and resignalled. No other traffic uses this section apart from the odd special and infrastructure trains, so how do TfW have crews that sign it?

 

[greatkingrat]

The Royal Welsh Show trains from Cardiff to Builth Road use the chord at Hendy, which has recently been singled and resignalled. No other traffic uses this section apart from the odd special and infrastructure trains, so how do TfW have crews that sign it?

For a very short section like that, they may have agreed that watching a route learning video would be sufficient.

 

[dk1]

The Royal Welsh Show trains from Cardiff to Builth Road use the chord at Hendy, which has recently been singled and resignalled. No other traffic uses this section apart from the odd special and infrastructure trains, so how do TfW have crews that sign it?

Yes very short resignalled sections like that at my TOC have to be agreed by the unions & usually entail drivers getting paid a Rest Day Worked (or two) to agree to watch an online video, receive any necessary literature & then sign.

 

[PeterY]

The short Gas Factory Junction to Limehouse line has empty trains run to clean the overhead wires. I would assume that they are not driven by the same driver.

Slightly off topic, I went past there on Thursday and you couldn't see the rails though the weeds.

 

[NSE]

I’ve never heard a train run to clean the overhead wires. Why?

Maybe not ‘to clean’, maybe think of it as to ‘keep clear’. Trains like this are run to keep the line ready in case it’s needed.

 

[dk1]

Maybe not ‘to clean’, maybe think of it as to ‘keep clear’. Trains like this are run to keep the line ready in case it’s needed.

That’s not what was stated.

 

[BoroAndy]

On a similar point, what happens when there is a station area remodelling, finishing etc probably running late on Sunday but full service required Monday morning? The big Paddington one must have included some sort of training plan, then morecrently on a small scale, Bridlington?

 

[dk1]

On a similar point, what happens when there is a station area remodelling, finishing etc probably running late on Sunday but full service required Monday morning? The big Paddington one must have included some sort of training plan, then morecrently on a small scale, Bridlington?

Again it would be fully briefed to drivers concerned and appropriate payments made. On certain occasions driver managers have also been around to accompany anyone who requests it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jul 2023 ==

Just to add to that too, it would also be accepted if a driver unfamiliar was to run at a reduced speed and slight delays ensued.

 

[DJ_K666]

In my day, arranging such things as weedkillers over routes that were effectively out of use Traction Inspectors would accompany such moves. They were presumably thought to have longer memories than mere mortals ...

I always had that suspicion about Inspectors generally. Especially the keeping of garlic nearby. Whether they can actually be house-trained remains to be seen

Seriously however, its probably easier to retrain a TI to act as a pilotman if several trains have to use a rarely used line.

That said I did ho out and have a ride on the Paddington to West Ruislip Parliamentary service one time. The guard on it knew most of the pax were there for the ride not the destination so checked everyone's oyster cards while still in Paddington station and said it was more of a route knowledge run than anything else. IIRC it was one train a day each way and used Platform 14, which more or less points into the Underground tunnel but ends at a buffet stop there.