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Train Driver > AWS/TPWS > Flashcards

AWS/TPWS Flashcards

1
Q

What is the purpose of AWS?

A

To give audible and visual warnings of upcoming risks

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2
Q

What is the AWS horn?

A

Where there are danger/cautionary risks to acknowledge- must acknowledge within 3 seconds

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3
Q

What is the AWS bell?

A

Proceed signals- does not need to be acknowledged

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4
Q

What does AWS prompt the driver to do?

A

Visual check out of window for risks

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5
Q

How does AWS work?

A

Signal received from magnet in four foot via AWS receiver under train

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6
Q

What dictates what indication you receive?

A

Depends on whether electromagnet is provided/energised. Permanent magnet is always energised.

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7
Q

What type of magnets are depot test magnets?

A

Permanent magnets- always receive horn.

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8
Q

What type of magnets are located before TSRs/ESRs?

A

Portable magnets

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9
Q

What protects the AWS system?

A

AWS circuit breaker

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10
Q

If you isolate AWS, does this also isolate TPWS?

A

Yes

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11
Q

How can AWS be isolated?

A

Via cab’s isolation panel

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12
Q

What restrictions are in place when AWS is isolated?

A

Driving alone= 60mph
Driving with competent person= line speed
Driving in fog with or without competent person= 40mph

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13
Q

What AWS/TPWS equipment is in the cab?

A

Speaker, cancellation button, sunflower, TPWS panel, TPWS temporary isolation

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14
Q

What must you bear in mind when a TSR/ESR is in place?

A

AWS magnets that are located before signals may be in relation to warning boards/emergency indicators and not the signal (permanent magnet provided for duration of TSR/ESR)

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15
Q

What type of signals do not have AWS magnets before them?

A

Sempahore stop signals

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16
Q

If you receive a warning horn at a semaphore signal that has both a stop and distant signal on, what is the warning for?

A

The distant signal only

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17
Q

What type of AWS magnet would you get before a fixed distant signal?

A

A permanent magnet- always receive horn

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18
Q

What are AWS gap areas?

A

Complex areas with a line speed under 30mph that have no AWS magnets

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19
Q

Where is there an AWS gap area on your routes?

A

Sheffield

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20
Q

What does a black/unlit sunflower mean?

A

Signal showing green/all clear or warning not acknowledged (brakes will apply)

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21
Q

What does a yellow/black sunflower mean?

A

Warning acknowledged

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22
Q

What is used to acknowledge warnings?

A

Yellow mushroom

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23
Q

What happens if you do not press the yellow mushroom within 3 seconds?

A

Brake demand

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24
Q

What is the AWS self-test?

A

Functionality tested on start up

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25
Q

Explain the AWS self-test procedure?

A

Energised desk in neutral, horn sounds with unlit sunflower, TPWS panel lights all illuminate. Press cancellation button, hear bell, observe black and yellow sunflower and unlit TPWS panel lights. Self-test then complete

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26
Q

What are reasons for black/yellow sunflower and horn?

A

Colour light signal showing double yellow/single yellow (steady or flashing) or red
Semaphore distant signal at caution
Drop in permissible speed (if over 60mph and 1/3 drop in speed)
Before ABCL/AOCL
Before TSR/ESR warning boards/emergency indicators
Cancelling indicator that doesn’t apply to train
Test magnet at depot

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27
Q

What are reasons for black sunflower and bell?

A

Colour light signal showing green
Semaphore distant signal showing clear

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28
Q

What board signifies the start of an AWS gap area?

A

Circle with AWS and cross through it

29
Q

What board signifies the end of an AWS gap area?

A

Square with AWS in it

30
Q

When might you still receive AWS warnings in an AWS gap area?

A

For TSRs/ESRs

31
Q

What happens to AWS magnets when travelling in the non-normal direction on a bi-directional line?

A

AWS magnets are supressed when travelling in the non-normal direction

32
Q

If magnets in the non-normal direction are not suppressed, what signage will you see?

A

Scottish flag 200m after magnet to confirm that any warnings do not apply.

33
Q

If you receive AWS warnings applying to trains travelling in the normal direction, what must you do?

A

You must still acknowledge them

34
Q

What indication might you get if warnings still apply in the non-normal direction?

A

Bell followed by a horn

35
Q

If you are unsure whether a warning applies to you or not, what are your actions?

A

Must assume that the warning applies unless followed by a cancelling indicator

36
Q

What are temporary AWS cancelling indicators?

A

Yellow sign with black cross- where warnings relate to TSRs/ESRs in the normal direction but do not apply in the non-normal direction.

37
Q

What sign signifies the start of a section where AWS is not provided in the non-normal direction on a bi-directional line?

A

Diamond with AWS and red cross through it

38
Q

What sign signifies the end of a section where AWS is not provided in the non-normal direction on a bi-directional line?

A

Diamond with AWS in it

39
Q

What are your actions upon receiving a warning horn?

A

Immediately identify the hazard, acknowledge via the cancelling button within 3 seconds and obey aspect/indicator/control speed accordingly.

40
Q

What are your actions if you fail to cancel AWS?

A

Apply step 3 to prevent rolling when brakes release
Immediately check TPWS panel to rule out intervention
Inform signaller
Proceed normally with signaller’s permission
Complete RT3185
Failure to cancel= continuous horn (TPWS is silent)

41
Q

What are your actions if you are certain that there is no AWS track equipment but you receive an AWS warning or bell?

A

Inform signaller as this is a right side failure - complete RT3185

42
Q

What is a right side failure?

A

Where the system has failed safe and you have received a warning that is more restrictive than required.

43
Q

What are your actions upon receiving a right side failure?

A

Report at the first opportunity

Complete RT3185

44
Q

What are examples of a right side failure?

A

Horn for a clear signal
Horn/bell simultaneously for a green or clear aspect.

45
Q

What is a wrong side failure?

A

Where the system has not failed safe and is giving a less restrictive warning than required.

46
Q

What are your actions upon receiving a wrong side failure?

A

Report immediately, stopping to do so.

Complete RT3185

47
Q

What are examples of wrong side failures?

A

Bell for restrictive signal
Horn/bell simultaneously for a restrictive signal
No warning for any aspect

48
Q

What is TPWS?

A

Mitigates impact of dangerous actions by stopping trains. Cannot prevent an incident but applies brakes before reaching conflict point.

49
Q

Where is TPWS located?

A
  • Signals capable of displaying danger aspect
  • Stop boards protecting crossings/converging movements
  • Stop signals where conflicting movements could happen in the overlap (eg: protecting stations)
  • Approaching buffer stops (below 10mph)
  • Approaching permissible speed reductions (initial speed 60mph or more and 1/3 drop in speed)
  • Approaching signals at danger too quickly
50
Q

What are overspeed sensor loops?

A

Two grids in the four foot that are spaced apart (arming and trigger)- loops armed when signal at danger or permanently before PSRs or buffers. Internal timer starts when passing arming loop- if time taken to travel to trigger is too quick= brake demand.

51
Q

What are train stop loops?

A

Two grids in four foot located close together. Still arming and trigger loops that sit before stop signals/stop board in event of passing these at danger without authority. Looped armed if signal at danger and de-energised if proceed aspect shown.

52
Q

If you receive a brake demand due to TPWS, what indications will you receive?

A

Brake demand light flashes on TPWS

53
Q

What are your actions if you receive a TPWS brake demand?

A

Immediately look at the TPWS panel, then acknowledge via AWS cancellation button to make the brake demand light go steady, immediately apply brake step 3 to prevent rolling when brakes release, contact signaller and act on instructions and do not move until authorised, brakes release after 60 seconds and brake demand light extinguishes. Never reset and go

54
Q

What are your actions if you receive a TPWS brake demand when approaching a buffer stop?

A

Immediately give 2-2 on the bell buzzer (do not open doors- contact driver), acknowledge via AWS cancellation button to cause brake demand light to go steady, immediately apply brake step 3 to prevent rolling when brakes release, wait for TPWS to time out (60 seconds) and then pull forward into the buffer and contact the signaller- only time reset and go permitted

55
Q

What will happen if the brake demand is not acknowledged via the cancellation button?

A

Brake demand light continuously flashes and brakes never release

56
Q

What could it mean if the temporary isolation/fault light is flashing on the TPWS panel on start up?

A

TPWS fault or train is sat over a grid so cannot self-test.

57
Q

What are your actions if the temporary isolation/fault light is flashing on the TPWS panel on start up?

A

Ask the signaller for permission to draw towards the signal to re-test. If continuing to flash, there is a TPWS fault.

58
Q

What are your actions if the signaller does not give you permission to draw forward?

A

Wait for the proceed aspect, draw forward then stop and re-test.

59
Q

What indications would you get if sat over an AWS magnet?

A

Continuous horn that cannot be cancelled. Train will not release brakes until cancelled.

60
Q

What are your actions if sat over an AWS magnet and you cannot cancel the warning horn?

A

Change ends to draw off the magnet with permission.

61
Q

What are your actions if you don’t receive permission to draw off the magnet?

A

Isolate AWS to move off the magnet with permission from control and then reinstate AWS afterwards.

62
Q

When can TPWS be temporarily isolated?

A

When making a movement that would trigger a brake demand such as ESW or TBW

63
Q

What must you remember to do after temporarily isolating TPWS?

A

Reinstate it, complete maintenance log

64
Q

Does temporarily isolating TPWS affect AWS?

A

No, only isolating AWS fully isolates TPWS

65
Q

When can the Train Stop Override Button be used?

A

When authorised to pass a signal at danger to prevent a brake demand

66
Q

How long does Train Stop Override prevent a brake demand for?

A

20 seconds

67
Q

What happens visually when you press Train Stop Override?

A

It illuminates when pressed and extinguishes when passing the train stop loops

68
Q

What is a TPWS activation?

A

When the driver applies the brake and is taking action to deal with the issue but has applied an insufficient amount of brake.

69
Q

What is a TPWS intervention?

A

When the driver is not actively trying to deal with the issue.

Train Driver (31 decks)

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