When you need RA

[Stigy]

Would you care to inform us of the correct method of working then, bearing in mind the above is exactly what happens in my area?

Remember - every operating area has different working methods/agreements.

It’s more than likely local instructions at play, as you say. For stations with no RA indicator, where I am I’d just crack on as long as the signal is clear.

 

[Krokodil]

If you're at a staffed station, with dispatch staff, then a dispatcher will press the RA and that essentially confirms that the platform is clear and that you have permission to depart once you have a proceed aspect given.

Most staffed stations don't even have RA indicators, and at those which do it depends upon operator and stock anyway. At Crewe when we operated slam door loco-hauled trains we'd do so on an RA (as do Virgin's/Avanti's Pendos), but not with our units.

Interesting, I have not heard of locations where the RA indicator is controlled from the signal box, everywhere I'm familiar with it is a panel or pillar on the platform. I'm just trying to envisage where, and why, such a location would be set up like this.

It's initiated by the platform staff, but interlocked with the starting signal so cannot illuminate unless the signal is off.

 

[Jimini]

Most staffed stations don't even have RA indicators, and at those which do it depends upon operator and stock anyway. At Crewe when we operated slam door loco-hauled trains we'd do so on an RA (as do Virgin's/Avanti's Pendos), but not with our units.

I'm sure there are loads of other examples, but isn't staffed Tottenham Hale similar in this respect? GA trains get the RA treatment; Stansted Express don't as they use in cab cameras to self-dispatch? Or have I completely misremembered that (it's been a while!)?

 

[_toommm_]

Most staffed stations don't even have RA indicators, and at those which do it depends upon operator and stock anyway. At Crewe when we operated slam door loco-hauled trains we'd do so on an RA (as do Virgin's/Avanti's Pendos), but not with our units.

Doesn't Manchester Piccadilly do RA (but no CD) as all the trains are guarded?

 

[Krokodil]

Doesn't Manchester Piccadilly do RA (but no CD) as all the trains are guarded?

Yes, all trains at Man Picc use the RA indicators. Mind you, the Up direction key switch on 13B doesn't get a lot of use so last time that I had to do that unusual move I had to use the buzzer anyway as it didn't work when the dispatcher tried it.

 

[Mojo]

Doesn't Manchester Piccadilly do RA (but no CD) as all the trains are guarded?

At some stations like Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, trains are dispatched with RA indicators as part of Spad mitigation.

 

[1D53]

Northern Trains themselves specifically referred to "CCTV assisted dispatch" as "remote dispatch", and I am aware of a person transferred to Leeds four months ago to work on this project.

Sounds like nothing to do with guards or drivers, possibly a platform / station thing.

Interesting, cheers.

 

[transportphoto]

Would you care to inform us of the correct method of working then, bearing in mind the above is exactly what happens in my area?

Are you thinking of “Train Ready to Start” rather than RA?

 

[_toommm_]

At some stations like Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, trains are dispatched with RA indicators as part of Spad mitigation.

Very interesting, thank you. I (wrongly) assumed it was due to the platform lengths and having two or even three individual sets potentially on platforms.

 

[gobbla]

Northern Trains themselves specifically referred to "CCTV assisted dispatch" as "remote dispatch", and I am aware of a person transferred to Leeds four months ago to work on this project.

Sounds like nothing to do with guards or drivers, possibly a platform / station thing.

CCTV assisted dispatch is currently in operation at Shipley P2, which the method of work, simply put, has the guard using the CCTV screens for assistance with the length of the train and a safe dispatch corridor due to the curvature.

Numerous people have been and continue to be involved in the introduction of this method of work but on the ground and at the time the only people involved in it as far as dispatching goes are the train crew.

 

[TrainzBK]

Yes, all trains at Man Picc use the RA indicators. Mind you, the Up direction key switch on 13B doesn't get a lot of use so last time that I had to do that unusual move I had to use the buzzer anyway as it didn't work when the dispatcher tried it.

The new MoW at Picc is for the leading dispatcher to display a green flag to the driver if the RA is unable to be displayed.

 

[godfreycomplex]

CCTV assisted dispatch is currently in operation at Shipley P2, which the method of work, simply put, has the guard using the CCTV screens for assistance with the length of the train and a safe dispatch corridor due to the curvature.

Numerous people have been and continue to be involved in the introduction of this method of work but on the ground and at the time the only people involved in it as far as dispatching goes are the train crew.

this sounds a bit more plausible. Been in place in various SWR stations for about 10 years.

Remote dispatch is being worked on elsewhere, but is in very early stages

 

[357]

Are you thinking of “Train Ready to Start” rather than RA?

This is my thinking too.

@ValleyLines142 - the RA is part of the interlocking and can't be illuminated if the signal is not showing a proceed aspect.

Signallers have no involvement with the CD/RA equipment unless there is a fault.

The dispatch method when ECS is TOC specific. I stop at stations where my TOC has the guard dispatch but other TOCs have platform staff.

TP clarify - no dispatch or RA should be occuring while the signal is not showing a proceed aspect, except during failure scenarios

 

[Horizon22]

CCTV assisted dispatch is currently in operation at Shipley P2, which the method of work, simply put, has the guard using the CCTV screens for assistance with the length of the train and a safe dispatch corridor due to the curvature.

Numerous people have been and continue to be involved in the introduction of this method of work but on the ground and at the time the only people involved in it as far as dispatching goes are the train crew.

I don't personally see this very different from DOO dispatch with a driver using either platform or in-cab CCTV. It's just another individual doing the dispatch. As mentioned, SWR have had these cameras for some time.

To me that seems quite different to "remote" train dispatch.

 

[357]

I don't personally see this very different from DOO dispatch with a driver using either platform or in-cab CCTV. It's just another individual doing the dispatch. As mentioned, SWR have had these cameras for some time.

To me that seems quite different to "remote" train dispatch.

London Underground had CCTV screens on curved platforms to assist guards in the 90s!

 

[Horizon22]

London Underground had CCTV screens on curved platforms to assist guards in the 90s!

Yep CCTV dispatch isn't exactly new, but normally that person doing the dispatch is on site! The "remote dispatch" mentioned up-thread by @185 seemed to alluded to some trial of people presumably away from the site, unless I've got the wrong end of the stick.

 

[ValleyLines142]

This is my thinking too.

@ValleyLines142 - the RA is part of the interlocking and can't be illuminated if the signal is not showing a proceed aspect.

Correct - hence why I said in my post 'once a proceed aspect is given'.

 

[357]

you have permission to depart once you have a proceed aspect given.

I think it's this part that myself and others have misunderstood - it sounded to me like you were saying that you give RA before the signal comes off

I think everyone is on the same page and it was just a miscommunication

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Yep CCTV dispatch isn't exactly new, but normally that person doing the dispatch is on site! The "remote dispatch" mentioned up-thread by @185 seemed to alluded to some trial of people presumably away from the site, unless I've got the wrong end of the stick.

I can't wait until the first delays because someone's cut an ethernet cable or the WiFi has gone down

 

[Annetts key]

As others have said, the answer to the question depends on the company instructions, the type of stock, if it's an in service passenger train (with guard) or ECS / light loco or similar, if the station is staffed, the local instructions that relate to that station (see sectional appendix, local instructions section) and what signalling equipment (if any) has been provided at that station.

At Bristol Temple Meads when I was there, all in service passenger trains were dispatched by the station dispatch staff indicating to the guard. The guard then used the buzzer to communicate to the driver that the train was ready to depart. The R.A. was normally only used for ECS / light loco etc.

T.R.S. or T.R.T.S. is a system whereby station dispatch staff can press a button on / in a device mounted on a wall or post. When the button is pressed, an indication will be shown in the signal box / PSB / signalling centre so informing the signaller that the train is ready to start (depart). The indication extinguishes automatically when the train leaves the platform.

R.A. is a system whereby station dispatch staff can press a button on / in a device mounted on a wall or post. When the button is pressed, if and only if the relevant signal is showing a proceed aspect, on the same signal structure a "RA" indication will be shown to the driver. This informs the driver that station duties are complete and that the train may now depart. The R.A. resets automatically when the signal goes back to red.

As others have said, get advice from your trainer / instructor.

 

[jfollows]

T.R.S. or T.R.T.S. is a system whereby station dispatch staff can press a button on / in a device mounted on a wall or post. When the button is pressed, an indication will be shown in the signal box / PSB / signalling centre so informing the signaller that the train is ready to start (depart). The indication extinguishes automatically when the train leaves the platform.

Or extinguishes when a route is set, proved and cleared?

 

[Efini92]

Yes, all trains at Man Picc use the RA indicators. Mind you, the Up direction key switch on 13B doesn't get a lot of use so last time that I had to do that unusual move I had to use the buzzer anyway as it didn't work when the dispatcher tried it.

That’s not entirely correct. Light locos don’t need the RA

 

[43096]

Or extinguishes when a route is set, proved and cleared?

TRTS is not normally visible to the public like CD/RA is - you can only see it on the likes of Open Train Times maps where at (for example) Waterloo “TRTS” shows against the signal and disappears once the signal is cleared.

 

[Krokodil]

That’s not entirely correct. Light locos don’t need the RA

Nor do freights if you're going to be pedantic.

How many light locos do you see departing Piccadilly?

 

[Efini92]

Nor do freights if you're going to be pedantic.

How many light locos do you see departing Piccadilly?

Freights chose not to, though strictly speaking they should if they are detained.

 

[Annetts key]

That’s not entirely correct. Light locos don’t need the RA

After detaching from passenger stock / or a multiple unit (after assisting it) you may sometimes see the R.A. used. But if it was a loco on it's own or any through train using a platform, no, R.A. would not be used.

 

[jfollows]

TRTS is not normally visible to the public like CD/RA is - you can only see it on the likes of Open Train Times maps where at (for example) Waterloo “TRTS” shows against the signal and disappears once the signal is cleared.

That was the basis of my point, seen similarly at London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.
This thread’s about RA so I’m more than happy not to pursue this further.

 

[dk1]

As Norwich GA drivers the only two stations we departed on RA were Liverpool Street and Cambridge.