Route Learning - Trainee Conductor

[jamie_jj]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can assist - just started my training as a Trainee Conductor and naturally part of it is to learn the different routes that I will sign.

I realise this may be a daft question but what level of detail is a conductor expected to learn and retain. Each route I have been assigned 3 days too.

Thanks in advance

 

[Ducatist4]

One of the things that seems vey important to me is knowing exactly where the train is in relation to the next station stop. You don't want to get into selling a tickets to a party of ten people out in a day trip when you'll be stopping at a station withing then next few minutes.

 

[driver9000]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can assist - just started my training as a Trainee Conductor and naturally part of it is to learn the different routes that I will sign.

I realise this may be a daft question but what level of detail is a conductor expected to learn and retain. Each route I have been assigned 3 days too.

Thanks in advance

You will be given route learning documents by your manager which will detail what you are expected to know to sign the route.

 

[thelongestroad]

You'll find route learning and knowing the route two completely different things. Once you've signed a route for a while and built confidence as a whole on the route and as a Conductor, you will find yourself knowing where you are with a quick glance out the window, or even by the "feel" of the track such as on points etc.

 

[transportphoto]

As a general rule of thumb, basic expectations:

• All stations on the line of route, in order
• Specific dispatch arrangements and features for each station (e.g. OFF indicators, TRTS, assisted dispatch, short platforms, any station specific risks (e.g. wrong side door release risk), etc.)
• Controlling signallers
• Key junctions and where they lead to
• Type of electrification, and location of the Electrical Control Operator
• Maximum permitted line speed (relevant to PTS distances for position of safety)

Some TOCs require more knowledge than others - listen to your route briefs and get to know what the expectations are.

As highlighted above, route learning vs. knowing the route are two totally different things - you’ll become more comfortable over time

 

[WirralLine]

We need to know all tunnels and viaducts too.

 

[Undiscovered]

You'll also need to know where you can be terminated in times of disruption, as well as associated shunt moves.

It's also a good idea to have a bit of knowledge about the wider geography near stations, as, while detraining at Y station may seem a good idea from Control, in reality there actually nothing around for passengers- no shops, no means of transport etc. You'd essentially be abandoning them in the middle of nowhere.

 

[muz379]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can assist - just started my training as a Trainee Conductor and naturally part of it is to learn the different routes that I will sign.

I realise this may be a daft question but what level of detail is a conductor expected to learn and retain. Each route I have been assigned 3 days too.

Thanks in advance

If you have only just started your training course then chances are at some point you should be given a session on how to route learn . It should be fairly standard practice as well to be briefed on a route by an instructor/manager before you go out learning it so you know what to look for .

Post 5 pretty much covers most of it .

As well as controlling signaller i remember having to have knowledge of the type of signalling system in different areas . And location of any signalboxes on the route

In addition to maximum line speeds we also were expected to know line names and directions of travel .

And as well as major junctions we had to have a knowledge of any other major route features like large tunnels , viaducts . And anything else that could help us identify a location on the route in an out of course situation or that you might want to avoid an evacuation if you could help it .

We also needed to have knowledge of authorised walking routes if they were relevant to locations we signed , so say if we went to a carriage sidings to prep a train or something we had to have been briefed on and demonstrated an understanding of the specifics of that location and the authorised walking route associated .


When you do go out route learning it is always good to speak to experienced conductors working the route , because they might be able to give you information that is not on the brief that could also help you , so they might know station on the route where you often get held at a red for a passing train , stations that have particular issues with disruptive or large volumes of passengers . Generally the sort of stuff your toc might not require you to know but that might help you when you actually come to work the route .

I know at the toc I was at as well you were permitted to work the doors under instruction if you were route learning with an instructor or mentor . Which helps break up the boredom that can sometimes come with repeated trips over a route . If you can do this I would reccomend trying to at least do this for some of the routes you learn .