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Line Blockage Guidance for IWA,COSS or PC

Operational Close Call Line Blockage Group

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24-Mar-14

Guidance to Signallers Rule Book TS1 (V01)

Guidance to IWA/COSS/PC Handbook 8 (V02)

Guidance to Planners NR/L2/OHS/019 (V03)

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BackgroundFollowing a number of issues of interpretation that have resulted in confusion between Signallers, Track workers and Planners regarding the “correct” signals to be agreed during the process of taking a line blockage . This subject has been discussed at the National Operational Close Call Line Blockage group.

The intention is to produce further guidance for all groups that is acceptable across the three disciplines.

Attached are three briefings, one for each group giving guidance on what is expected when planning a line blockage, requesting a line blockage and granting a line blockage

Above all, the underlying principle is making sure that the correct protection is given to the track workers and that signallers and planners are supported in the decisions they are making.

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Principle of a Line Blockage

What does the Planner, Signaller, PC, COSS or IWA need to understand when planning, requesting or granting a line blockage?

Where is the work activity taking place?

•This should include the access to the site of work and any protection requirements.

•Which lines will be affected during the work activity?

How will the activity be protected?

•What signals will be used to protect the activity? (a protecting signal must be identified for each line that will be affected by the work) e.g. Diagram 1 – Up Main L6 Diagram 2 AB4-AB19

•What other signals will be kept at danger to protect any route that leads towards the line blockage? e.g. Diagram 1 – Up Branch L8 Diagram 2 AB6-AB8-AB21

•What points need to be set so that trains can be signalled normally on unaffected routes? (away from the line blockage) e.g. Diagram 2 – Up Main AB15

Will the safety of the line be affected and what additional protection would be required?

•Agreement by all parties what additional protection is going to be used.

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Handbook 8 states:

► the line to be blocked► the nature of the work► the locations between which

the work will take place► the amount of time needed to

do the work► the time after which permission

can be given for the line blockage to start

► which signal will be kept at danger to protect the activity

► any additional protection needed

► If work will take place beyond points that need to be used for train movements

► The arrangements if single line working is taking place

► the arrangements to apply at each level crossings

Agreeing the arrangements

You must agree all of the following with the signaller.

What does this mean to a PC, COSS or IWA when they are making a request for a line blockage?

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Guidance - Protection arrangements

24-Mar-14

The signaller and the COSS will have a safety conversation that clearly establishes:

Where the work is taking place on the groundWhere the work is on the Signallers panelWhich running line (s) are affected by the work What are the protecting Signals (Single, Bi-Di or Rev)

The safety conversation will then establish which protecting signals will be maintained at danger with reminder devices fitted to protect the work

The Signaller will during the safety conversation further establish any other converging routes where signals will also be maintained at danger OR routes with points set and reminders fitted to protect the work (see diagram 1)

The objective being to prevent any train entering the area where work is taking place and endangering staff or the safe passage of trains

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Diagram 1 Simple Line Blockage

24-Mar-14

Up Branch

Down Branch

Up Main

Down Main

L1

L3L5

L7

L8

L6 L4

L2

The COSS rings the signaller and requests a line blockage of the Up Line from signal L6 to L4, the COSS will then request a line blockage of the Down line from signal L3 to L5.SSOW plan will show Signals L6 to L4 & L3 to L5

The Signaller and COSS will have a safety communication and agree that Signals L8 and L1 will also be held at danger for the protection of the work group

Site of work

Down Branch

Up Branch

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Guidance - Protection arrangements

The Signaller will expect the IWA/COSS/PC to identify the line (s), specific location & nature of the work to be undertaken.

In regard to signal protection on a BI-Directional running lines► What are the protecting signals for each end of the section they are working

on (see diagram 2)

The Signaller & the IWA/COSS/PC will then discuss if any other signals are require to be maintained at danger to protect the staff (see diagrams 1&2)

The Signaller WILL record details of all Signals maintained at danger on the RT3180. The IWA/COSS/PC should record & repeat the details on their RT3181

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Diagram 2: Bi-directional lines & working clear of points

Signaller will expect the IWA/COSS/PC to identify where they are working and what signals on that line are required as protection. (Signals highlighted in Red)

The Signaller and IWA/COSS/PC will have a safety conversation that will agree which signals will be kept at danger to protect the activity (Signals highlighted in Blue)

Also what Signals can be used as normal, this may include maintaining a set of points in a specific position, for routes that do not affect the site of work. (Signals highlighted in Green)

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Site of Work

Signals the COSS will quote that protect the site of work

Following safety conversation, agreed signals held at red

Location of COSS

Points are set and maintained for the down main signal used as normal for that route.

Up Main

Down Main

Bi-Directional Reversible

AB 4

AB 6AB 8

AB 21

AB 19

AB 17AB 15

AB 11 Bi-Directional Reversible

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Summary of guidance for PC/COSS/IWA ► The IWA/COSS/PC will identify the

location of work and where he is with the signaller

► The IWA/COSS/PC will request signal protection for the line they are planning to working on

► The IWA/COSS/PC and Signaller will agree which signals will be kept at danger to protect the activity

Which position the points will be kept in to enable signals to be cleared for any unaffected routes

The time required to complete the work

The nature of the work and any additional protection that is required

If Patrolling what direction they are walking towards.

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The signaller and COSS/IWA/PC as part of the safety conversation must also discuss and agree any additional working arrangements for Level Crossings or other degraded working arrangements that may be affected by the work activity

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Guidance - Pre-planned arrangementsThe IWA/COSS/PC, under normal circumstances, should have a documented safe system of work arrangements pack including the RT9909 and RT3181 forms.

The pre-planned arrangements will be published, as appropriate, in either the;► Weekly Operating Notices (WON)► Signal Box Instructions or formal Signal Box agreements► Signallers Daily list issued by the GZAC process

The RT9909 and RT3181 forms will contain details required by TS1 and Handbook 8 regarding line (s) affected, location and nature of work and the protecting signal for each line that work is on

The IWA/COSS/PC will not have a document that defines each signal that will be maintained at danger or route that will be set by the Signaller to protect the work area.

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Guidance - IWA/COSS/PC RT3181 contentsThe IWA/COSS/PC, have an RT3181 form where the columns in Section 2 – Blocking the Line are currently headed as shown below…

It is completed to the convention illustrated

Provided that the actual work mileage area is totally within the limits shown on the RT3181 – the arrangements can be implemented during the safety conversation.

The Signaller will determine any other signals to be maintained at danger or routes to be set with appropriate reminder devices fitted during the safety conversation.

From Controlled Signal

From C/O Points From Controlled Signal

From Controlled SignalTo defined Exit locationRunning Line A

Running Line B To defined Exit location

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From Controlled Signal

From C/O Points From Controlled+BiDi Sig

From Controlled+BiDi SigTo defined Exit locationRunning Line C

Running Line D To defined Exit location

(Uni directional line)

(BI directional line)

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Closing Slide

20-Mar-14