Safety is the paramount importance in any Transport system.

1. Safety of traveling public

2. Safety of the staff working and

3. Safety of infrastructure.

4. Irregular working of staff is a threat to safety. Rules are framed for a uniform and systematic working.

5. Unauthorized persons are not permitted at any work site.

Who is the authorized person?

1. One who is competent and authorized by rules.

2. Should be PTS (personal track safety) trained or protected by a COSS (Controller of Site Safety).

3. Should be Inducted for site working.

General Safety

Safety Self and Others with you, Contractors, Public, Passengers, Trains, Accidents, Equipment & Infrastructure, Fire.

Personal safety

* Drugs and Alcohol 

* Medical Fitness 

* Competency in rules and regulations-

* Obeying Rules and special Instructions

* Communication with other members of the team

* Protecting clothing and equipment-

* Awareness of hazards at site

* Reporting of injuries and accidents

TRACK SAFETY

* You are considered on or near line if you are within 3 meters from the nearest line.

* on a platform this distance is 1.25metres from the platform edge

* Special arrangements are required when the speed of the trains is more than 125 mph.

* Use of mobiles is prohibited, if it endangers you or others working in any way.

* In all cases are emergencies, you are permitted to go without authority or competency

* Do not go near the line unless you have got work to do

* You should be either PTS trained or supervised by a COSS (Controller of Site Safety).

* Permitted to go in all cases of emergency

What you should know

* Right use of equipment

* Signal replacements,

* Track circuit operating clips

* Hand signals, indication boards, detonators

* Use of vehicles and tents near the line

* Working as a group or alone

* Working in electrified lines AC and DC

* Working in tunnels

* Management of accidents

Safety precautions

* Emergency Replacement of Signals:

* Securing the points

* Track circuit operating clips

* Hand signals and Detonators

* Railway Crossings, Gates etc:

* Working of road vehicles near the Rly. lines

* Use of Tents

Danger to trains

* Doors not closed properly

* Insecure load

* Vehicle on Fire

* Hot axle box

* Headlight not lit

* Tail lamp missing or not lit

* Driver sounding distress warning signals or showing a red light or any other such happening

Train Protection

* Information to be given to nearest signal box or to the person in charge.

* If the hazard can be removed, it may be removed, however it should not be attempted when you will be putting yourself in danger.

Line Protection

* Placing of detonators

* Providing Track circuit Operating clips

* Replacement of signals to danger

* Reaching a telephone or signal box etc.

* You must stay at the site until some one takes over from you or your are informed alternative protections are provided.

* Withdraw protection only when instructed

While traveling in trains

* Ensure only authorized persons are traveling in the driving cab.

* Ensure persons in the driving cab are not more than four.

* Ensure only authorized persons are traveling in empty coaching stock trains, Postal or parcels trains

Action during Accidents, Fire and Security

* Secure the train.

* Ensure no other train gets involved

* Get traction current switched off

* Call the emergency services

* You must not carry out tasks that you are not qualified to do.

* You must not put yourself or others in danger

Action during Accidents, Fire and Security

* Locate the emergency equipment

* Give as much information as possible.

* Watch for the arrival of emergency services

* Evacuate the train only when it is absolute necessary

* Advise the passengers to be in a safe place

* Preserve the evidence like driving controls, signaling equipment, rolling stock, line side equipment etc. at a serious accident.

* Report the accident with full details of accident and location

* Must prevent and put out fires in all types of locations

* Any suspicious objects should be reported.  Object should not be touched.

* Any explosion is suspected on or near the Railway, it should be reported to the nearest signaler and police.

Communication

* Must know how to use the Communication equipment.

* Make sure you are speaking to the right person

* Make sure you have properly understand the meaning of all safety messages whether they are given by phone, radio or face to face.

* Repeat the messages so the sender can be sure that you have understood the message.

* You must use the prescribed phonetic alphabet.

What is meant by blocking the line ?

When a work needs to be carried out on a running line, that Line should be blocked for  train services –

* when the trains running on that line might be affected by the work or

* Any person working on or near the line may be at risk while the trains running on that line.

Blocking in between the trains

* To be planned beforehand

* To be done with least interruptions to trains services

Duties of COSS

* Should make the arrangements for the type of protection agreed upon

* Inform the signaler the arrangements made.

DEFINITIONS

• PERMISSIBLE SPEED – The authorized maximum speed over a section of line.

• TEMPORARY SPEED RESTRICTION – A speed, less than the permissible speed, applied for a pre-planned period not normally exceeding 6 months.

• EMERGENCY SPEED RESTRICTION – A speed restriction not shown in the Weekly operating Notice (WON), or which is more restrictive than shown, or which applies at a time other than that shown in the WON.

• WEEKLY OPERATING NOTICE– The official printed notice advising drivers of alterations to permissible speeds.

AUTHORISATION

• The value of all permissible speed and temporary speed restrictions shall be authorized by the Infrastructure Controller.

• On lines which are used in both directions, it is possible to authorize different speeds for each direction of travel.

CLARITY OF SIGNING

Signing of speeds and restrictions should give clear and unambiguous information to  the driver.

All boards and indicators should generally be placed to the left of the track. In cases where it is not possible to do so they should be placed on the right hand side after due verification that they would not cause any confusion to the driver and/or be misread as applying to another line.

Positioning should be considered in relation to all other signs/indicators so that the information conveyed to the driver is clear.

Permissible speed Indicator

* Speed indicators for standard speeds shall comprise a single indicator displaying  the speed.

Differential speeds

Differential (Speed Restriction) : A speed restriction having two varying restrictions, each of which is applicable to different types of train.

Speed indicators for standard differential speeds shall comprise a single indicator displaying  the lower speed above the higher.

Permissible speed Indicator- Converging junction.

* Where permissible speed beyond a junction is the same as that on the higher speed route through the junction and is higher than the speed on the converging route, a speed indicator is not required for trains approaching from the converging route.

* It is permissible to provide a miniature speed indicator as a repeat sign immediately after a converging junction where the permissible speed beyond the junction is higher than that on the converging route.

Permissible speed Indicator- Diverging junction : 

* A speed indicator with an arrow indicating the direction of the diverging route shall be provided immediately before any diverging junction over which there is a reduction in speed.

*  Where a lower permissible speed applies equally to both the routes a single permissible speed indicator shall be provided without directional arrows.

* Where differential speeds commence for each route at a diverging junction, two indicators shall be positioned side by side. Arrows shall be provided to indicate any divergence.

Temporary Speed Restrictions – Procedures

* The infrastructure controller shall devise and apply procedures for the administration, implementation, alteration and withdrawal of temporary speed restrictions. The procedures shall be documented and responsibilities shall be clearly defined.

* Any temporary alterations required are fully documented and approved by the infrastructure controller, and the implementation of the alterations is co-ordinated with the introduction and withdrawal of the temporary speed restriction.

* Equipment is provided and removed at the correct time, is correctly positioned.

*  Implementation of temporary speed restriction shall only commence after notification to the drivers has been given through WON. Where this is not possible ,it shall be treated as a emergency speed restriction.

*  Temporary speed restrictions are generally for less than six months period.

Emergency Speed Restriction

The infrastructure controller shall have a documented procedure for advising emergency speed restrictions to drivers.

PERMANENT SPEED RESTRICTIONS

TPWS will be provided to protect Permanent Speed Restrictions on passenger lines where the approach speed is 60mph or more, and the speed reduction is one third or more.

PSR INITIAL SELECTION

Initial selection for fitment of TPWS on a PSR is done as per flowchart in Appendix C of RT/E/S/10137 Issue 3.

Additionally TSRs that are planned to be in place for greater than six months but not exceeding 12months  shall be considered for fitment subject to risk assessment in accordance with flowcharts in Appendices D & E of RT/E/S/10137 Issue 3.

PSRS REQUIRING FITMENT

PSRS REQUIRING FITMENT:

A  Plain Line on curve

D  Approach to converging junction

Ei  Approach to vehicular level crossing

G  Approach to Terminal Platforms

I  Provided for Reduced Signal Spacing / Overlap

Jii  Provided for Asset protection safety

Ni  Diverging Junction – Signal not Approach Released

Niii  Diverging Junction with splitting distant (No Approach Control Signalling)

PSRS NOT REQUIRING FITMENT – EXCLUSION CODES

B  Diverging Junction – Approach Released from Red

C  Diverging Junction – Approach Released from Y/YY

Eii  Approach to footpath or bridleway crossing

EXI  No protection provided to passenger trains due to freight   train timer issue

F  No longer used (was PSRs on RETB Lines)

H  Approach to Emergency crossovers

Ji  Provided for Asset Protection (Commercial)

K  Provided for Gauging or Aerodynamic Purposes

Mi  Attainable Speed less than 60MPH

Mii  Attainable speed less than agreed Excessive Speed

Nii  Diverging Junction indicated by Flashing Aspects

Q  Trackworker protection

PERMANENT SPEED RESTRICTIONS

Figure below shows the general positioning layout of the OSS on the approach to a speed restriction.

Following the initial selection, final selection shall be carried out in accordance with Appendix E of RT/E/S/10137 Issue 3, using Excel spread sheet TI-14_6.xls

Due to the complexity of determining loop positions and the iterative process of determining fitment criteria based on issues involving train performance, these calculations shall only be made by using the design tool developed and validated specifically for this purpose by AEA Technology Rail – “TPWS at Speed Restrictions: Loop Positioning Spreadsheet – June 2003 Issue 6.0” (TI-014_6.xls). The input page for general application is shown in the next slide.