Signing Routes after upgrades

[wellhouse]

When the lines through Huddersfield reopen after this month's closure, the remaining platforms will have been renumbered, and there will likely be significant changes to the track layout and signalling as other platforms are temporarily closed.

Presumably the Sectional Appendix will have been updated in line with the revised layout, but how does route learning work for traincrew in these circumstances? There will be no opportunity for them (or Instructors) to experience the new layout under supervision before services resume.

 

[swt_passenger]

I expect they’ll use CGI videos and simulators. If it can be done for London Bridge, especially the Bermondsey flyover changes, I think Huddersfield will be relatively straightforward.

 

[dodecahedron67]

It's a brief for us for Huddersfield. No sims/GCI needed

 

[Annetts key]

There should be a Yellow Peril (special notice) that has line diagrams, route lists and other details. All staff that need to know these details should be issued with copies, or have access to a copy.

 

[pompeyfan]

I’ve been told that SWR drivers have been given 2 and a half days worth of overtime to watch the CGI rendition of the resignalled Portsmouth Direct as well as learn the new / altered shunt moves and various other upgrades and improvements. That seems very generous and trusting in my opinion.

 

[mr_moo]

Depends on the complexity and extent of the changes.

Here's a view from the infrastructure side, having worked closely with operators preparing some of the info for this.

I was part of publishing the information for Cambridge South. Last Christmas we moved the tracks around, moved some signals, and changed some of what the drivers would see, but overall it was fairly minor. We sent the operators published detailed information re what was changing, including the formal yellow peril but also much more behind that, and produced some diagrammatic presentation material on how some of the routes would be changing and how some of the signals would look different (Some filaments became LED for example). Overall that turned into breifing material for the operators to pass to their drivers. I understand that many drivers were given the info and asked to go through it when time allowed, and we then given some sort of check and sign-off. That's pretty much it.

Really small things, like we moved a signal about 22m one weekend, would just be simple notiifcations that the drivers would be asked to acknowledge.

This coming Christmas, when the additional tracks are brought into use and the whole signalling systsem is changed, new signals are brought in, new routes are comissioned, and a wide area is coevered, is a much bigger deal. That's extensive breiefing materials, computer simulations, diagrams and sketches and detailed breifing info etc. the yellow peril is just one part of a much woder pack of info.
I can't speak for all operators but I know at least one of them planned to put all their drivers through a classroom based re-breifing and test which would take several hours, in order to be assured they understood what was coming.

It's often useful that they get this info in advance because as they drive through the area they understand better what that out of use signal is for, what that extra crossver is for, why that area is cleared and ready for Christmas etc etc - it all helps for them to learn in advance and get used to it.

 

[PennineSuperb]

There is a Good Practice Guide which is widely used for infrastructure changes. It is called ‘RS800 - Managing Drivers on Routes Undergoing Significant Change’. If you are interested, it’s available on the RSSB website, and its main purpose is to provide a standardised way of briefing train crew on changes to railway infrastructure.

 

[Bigfoot]

I’ve been told that SWR drivers have been given 2 and a half days worth of overtime to watch the CGI rendition of the resignalled Portsmouth Direct as well as learn the new / altered shunt moves and various other upgrades and improvements. That seems very generous and trusting in my opinion.

2 days (don't believe everything you are told) - by signing for the brief you are saying you are confident in the route, if you're not confident you don't sign. Plus drivers have been passing the new infrastructure for months/years. It all sinks in to the mind as you drive the route. Majority of new signalling makes sense and improves things. There's a little more thought put into it compared to years gone by.

 

[MadMac]

The enquiry into the 1991 Newton collision included criticism from an ASLEF rep of the rather rudimentary route learning provided following the substantial revisions to the layout.