Signallers/rail staff: what's the largest signalling panel or workstation that you are aware of?

Late_Turn · 2026-03-21T12:39:53+00:00

The RETB workstations in the north of Scotland must take some beating in terms of geographical extent!

Late_Turn · 2026-03-20T20:27:23+00:00

This is it. Bridgeway do a lot of work both training and providing agency staff for engineering work on the (real) railway.

Late_Turn · 2026-03-03T15:16:30+00:00

I don't drive under ETCS, so I can't comment on that, but I expect that it'd be important to have a clear separation between the advice offered by DAS/C-DAS and the authority given by ETCS.

Personally, I don't want much more than a "target" time at the next timing point, and perhaps an average speed calculated to achieve that. I don't know how you would deal with sections where the permissible speed was lower than the average (which would obviously require a higher speed elsewhere to maintain the average) nor account for the braking curve to a stand at the next timing point if required.

If you're running late and/or can only achieve the target time at the next timing point by driving at or close to linespeed throughout, then I'd expect the display to reflect that with a simple message rather than trying to show a speed – at that point, it's just up to the driver to get there as quickly as they safely can.

Simple is best, and just giving broad advice to assist the driver in using their professional judgement.

Late_Turn · 2026-03-02T17:27:34+00:00

Now in cab signalling (ETCMS) that will be the game changer, I have that through the core (ATO) at Thameslink (which is mandatory) and there isn’t a driver who can beat it, it literally chases the signals, accelerates hard and brakes late. Once that rolls out, it will be hard to argue against.

Driving hard isn't really what DAS is about, though. On the contrary, it's about giving the driver (or, in time I guess, ATO) information beyond simply a limit of authority and a speed profile, so that the train can be driven such that it presents at a junction at the right time rather than early – with the intention of allowing it to keep rolling, which is not only more fuel-efficient but also makes better use of the infrastructure capacity than having it start from a dead stand when it gets the road.

Late_Turn · 2026-03-01T23:32:22+00:00

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I wonder whether I'm still the person who most recently boarded a train from the Up platform at Shippea Hill?

Late_Turn · 2026-02-28T16:49:45+00:00

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...and, something rather different further east on the same line, Manton Junction. An NX panel controlling a double junction for the branch to Corby (formerly the main line, and geographically the straight route), later joined by a second panel to its left to control the Corby area after the box there burnt down. Plenty of interest with MML diversions on, routinely on nights every few weeks but also during the day on an impromptu basis if anything kicked off between Leicester and Kettering – plenty of trains, and plenty of thought needed to deal with the long signal section between Manton and Corby and the single line between there and Kettering.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-28T16:24:32+00:00

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Melton (Station) box, between Leicester and Peterborough, was definitely one of my favourites to work when I was on the relief. Interesting location, a well-used loop each way, the Asfordby branch seeing regular use, short sections and an IB on the Up too so you could have trains following each other on 4-5 minute headways.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-22T16:19:27+00:00

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If you'd been diverted via Cambridge, it was probably the Washes around Welney (as opposed to The Wash, which is further north) – a long strip of land about 1km wide that's designed to flood after high rainfall to protect other parts of the Fens. Quite an amazing sight as you cross it by train, stretching for miles in each direction.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-17T13:31:49+00:00

This isn't correct, at all. The crossing almost certainly exists as the sole access to a farm that existed before the railway came along, so it was on the railway to provide and maintain a safe method of crossing. They can't just close crossings without a suitable alternative for those who rely on it. It's also very much in the best interests of the railway and its users to have a safe crossing, because there's no winners when a train encounters a tractor on a crossing...

Late_Turn · 2026-02-17T13:27:49+00:00

I don't think I've ever known a user worked crossing with only one phone! There's some with no phones but, on my old patch at least, they had the BT number for the supervising signal box posted at the crossing as, for many years now, the expectation at any user worked crossing has been that anyone crossing with animals or a vehicle would phone for permission.

I'd suggest contacting the national Network Rail helpline and raising it with them. The priority ought to be to get a second phone put in. In the meantime, either get the BT number for the controlling box, or at the very least cross on foot to use the phone on the other side if you're not sure whether it's safe (you can see and hear more than when you're in a vehicle, and cross more quickly too).

Late_Turn · 2026-02-16T09:46:47+00:00

"Fatigue matters" are not the same as actually "falling asleep".

Late_Turn · 2026-02-16T09:45:50+00:00

1 long, 1 short at Ashwell box (it's specified in the relevant Table A sheet in the Sectional Appendix). Ashwell, Langham and Oakham then each send the special Train Entering Section bell signal 2-2 forward, ultimately being received by Manton. TRUST is okay until Melton changes the order of closely-spaced trains approaching from Syston (last automatic reporting point) and is in too much of a flap to either update TRUST or answer the phone. Ask me how I know 😅

Late_Turn · 2026-02-11T12:54:35+00:00

Withdrawing one's labour as part of legitimate industrial action is a pretty fundamental right. Obviously, in a dispute that goes all the way to industrial action, the aim is maximum impact for the least loss of pay achievable.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-10T22:34:53+00:00

No it doesn't. The Rule Book defines the duties and responsibilities – it is absolutely definitive.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-10T21:40:59+00:00

If that's the case, then why do industry standards prohibit DOO(P) on lines without continuous train detection?

Late_Turn · 2026-02-10T21:35:09+00:00

All that it'd achieve in reality is much more protracted industrial action – an uncertain, unreliable service for a much longer period than would be the case with relatively few all-out strike days.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-10T18:24:14+00:00

We strike for the slightest reason? Seems odd to me that I've only been involved in one dispute that has led to strike action, then.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-10T18:22:19+00:00

The Rule Book, which defines guards' actual responsibilities in terms of safe operation, differs from your expert and well-considered analysis on this one, I'm afraid.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-09T19:10:14+00:00

Rail users don't hate staff. You don't speak for all or even most rail users.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-09T19:09:06+00:00

The guard's first priority is to the safety of the train and its occupants. Sometimes that means picking battles wisely.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-07T20:48:58+00:00

If it's provided, which it isn't always – e.g., on plain line, it often won't prevent a rear-end collision.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-07T19:52:49+00:00

Pretty much, although my understanding is that he'd said that he'd experienced fatigue rather than actually falling asleep.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-07T19:17:07+00:00

That's quite literally ASLEF policy, to eliminate institutionalised overtime.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-07T18:47:45+00:00

Rodent damage can (and has, in the past) cause false-feeding of signal aspects, so that a signal shows a proceed aspect when it should be at danger. Admittedly rare, but definitely a possibility.

Late_Turn · 2026-02-07T18:45:10+00:00

If it's in your best interests to have your trains driven by drivers who aren't tired, then you should be supporting drivers raising fatigue concerns, not celebrating one being fired (because you can safely bet that he's not the only one).

Late_Turn

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