Adverse Weather

Question 1

What is the maximum speed you can travel at if the water level is up to the bottom of the rail head?

Answer 1

Permissible line speed.

Question 2

What is the maximum speed you can travel at if the water level is up to the top of the rail head?

Answer 2

5mph.

Question 3

What is the maximum speed you can travel at if the water level is above the rail head?

Answer 3

You must stop. Movement is only permitted by instructions from Operations Control.

Question 4

When must you tell the signaller about flood water?

Answer 4

If you believe the flood water:
• Is up to the bottom of the rail head.
• Is up to the top of the rail head.
• Is above the top of the rail head.
• Is moving and likely to dislodge the ballast.
• Has dislodged the ballast.
• Water rising from the track or cess.
• Unusual amounts of water pooling next to the track or in cess.
• Water flowing down or pouring out of the sides of embankments or cuttings.

Question 5

How often should you perform a running brake test when snow is falling, being disturbed by trains or if there’s prolonged freezing conditions?

Answer 5

Every 3-5 minutes. Use step 3/full service brake until your train’s speed decreases by a minimum of 10mph, then you can release the brakes.

Question 6

If freezing conditions are particularly severe, how often should you perform a running brake test?

Answer 6

Every 2-3 minutes. You will be informed of this instruction in the late notice case.

Question 7

When must you report snow to the signaller (stopping your train if necessary)?

Answer 7

If there is a build-up of snow that may affect the passage of trains, or if the snow is 8 inches above the rail head.

Question 8

What should you do if you are unsure of your train’s location in poor visibility?

Answer 8

Reduce your speed or bring your train to a stop and contact the signaller to ask where you are if necessary.

Question 9

What is the maximum speed you can travel at during poor visibility on a line where AWS is not provided?

Answer 9

40mph. You can find which lines are not provided with AWS in table A of the sectional appendix.

Question 10

What should you do if you’re unable to tell the aspect a signal is displaying due to light, snow, etc?

Answer 10

Treat the signal as being at danger and don’t go beyond it. Contact the signaller to ask.

Question 11

If prolonged freezing conditions are particularly severe, what additional restriction will be placed on disc/dynamic braked trains?

Answer 11

Their speed will be reduced to 10mph below the permissible line speed (however you do not need to reduce speed below 50mph).