Fellow Drivers and Signallers, a conundrum for you. Can a signaller call you unexpectedly on the GSM-R, causing you to stop out of course, just so they can get permission from you class 2 to revert a signal ahead of you to let a late running class 1 ahead of you, causing you a delay? - ThreadSky

charlierwalker.bsky.social • 52 days ago

Fellow Drivers and Signallers, a conundrum for you.

Can a signaller call you unexpectedly on the GSM-R, causing you to stop out of course, just so they can get permission from you class 2 to revert a signal ahead of you to let a late running class 1 ahead of you, causing you a delay?

Comments

acetrains.bsky.social•52 days ago

From a performance POV, it will depend on the regulation statements drawn up by TOCs, which cover key junctions/stations. These will usually state "if service X is less than say 10 mins late, let it take priority over service Y". But not sure reverting a signal to achieve it is best practise at all!

charlierwalker.bsky.social•52 days ago

I didnt think it was best practice.
I've had it where I'm stood in a platform for 10 mins and signaller has been a bit keen and asked for it back, but never on the move when it's been offered to let another service run ahead.

acetrains.bsky.social•52 days ago

Yep, standard practice would be to hold the train at a platform, loop or junction signal, not heard of many happening on the move!

charlierwalker.bsky.social•52 days ago

Is this a valid reason in the rules to do this? Seems like the signaller messed up and tried to undo things when really I should've just been allowed to run through?

guard-ian.bsky.social•52 days ago

I’ve worked Chathill services where we’ve been ‘looped’ despite being OT to allow late runners ahead of us. Not sure it’s been done in the exact same manner as yours however but seems madness to run 2 services late when only 1 was initially

charlierwalker.bsky.social•52 days ago

I can understand that on chathill with the shunt back as it gets the fast out the way before you shunt.

whereinsussex.bsky.social•52 days ago

The answer is in TW1:
signaller:
You can use the train radio at any time to send a ‘contact signaller’ message to get the driver to call you.

whereinsussex.bsky.social•52 days ago

However, the driver has to decide if they can answer the radio "safely". So I guess it is up to the signaller and driver to apply local knowledge.

I've seen it done many times for a wrong route set ahead, for regulation I'm not sure if most signallers would, but if the sections are long... 🤷🏼‍♂️

charlierwalker.bsky.social•52 days ago

The irony here is as he rang it would have answered anyway after 3 rings and been on loudspeaker so it forced me to stop.
Had he not rang id have been through the junction in 3 mins

rivierasignalman.bsky.social•52 days ago

I wouldnt even consider ringing a driver on the move unless it was an emergency. Thats what the contact signaller message is for. Allows the driver to ring us when its appropriate for them. As for pulling up a signal for regulation. I aint waiting 4 minutes for a die out. I'll live with my mistake.

charlierwalker.bsky.social•52 days ago

That's why I stopped so abruptly. I was just entering a tresspass hot-spot so thought there must be something urgent occurring.
Had he sent a contact signaller I'd have stopped at the platform 300m later.

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