Line Blockages, Working on Points, Possession of Sidings - TS1, Regulation 13.2, 13.3, 13.4

Question 1

Who can request a 13.2 Line Blockage?

Answer 1

A COSS (Controller of Site Safety)
An IWA (Individual Working Alone)
A PC (Protection Controller)

Question 2

What is a 13.2 line blockage?

Answer 2

Where a line may be blocked as part of a safe system of work, as long as no engineering trains or OTP (on-track plant) will occupy the line concerned.

Question 3

9 things to arrange with the COSS/IWA/PC:

Answer 3

Line to be blocked,

Nature of the work,

Locations between which the work will take place,

Amount of time needed to do the work

Time after which permission can be given for the line blockage to start

Which Signals/Block markers protect the activity
(including those in both directions on single & bi-directional lines),

Additional protections if work affects the safety of the line

Arrangements if line block is occurring during Single Line Working (SLW),

Arrangement at any level crossings affected by the line blockage.

Question 4

You may set the route for an unaffected line, IF ________

Answer 4

the COSS/IWA/PC has agreed, and the work location for the line blockage will be beyond any points/crossovers required for that route.

Question 5

Unless the route can be set for an unaffected line, you must keep the previous signal at danger (or route closed at previous block marker) if _______

Answer 5

The site of work is less than 200m from the protecting signal/block marker

AND

Work will affect the safety of the line

Question 6

If a train to is pass a signal at danger, that is previous to the protecting signal (assuming that it is being kept at danger because the work site is less than 200m from the protecting signal & work is affecting the safety of the line), what must you do first?

Answer 6

Tell the COSS/IWA/PC

AND ONLY for the train to access:

A Station
Sidings
A Crossover being used for Single Line Working

Question 7

What form do you use to record details of the Line Blockage?

Answer 7

NR3180

Question 8

What must you do with the COSS/IWA/PC after you have filled out Sections 1,2,3 & 4 on your NR3180 form, before you allow work to begin?

Answer 8

Get them to read the form back to you in full.

Question 9

Before granting the Line Blockage, you must make sure the line to be blocked is clear of all trains, unless both of the following apply:

Answer 9

SBSI (Signal box Special Instructions) allow a line to blocked with a train in the section

AND

You and the COSS/IWA/PC are SURE that all trains have passed the location where the activity is to take place.

Question 10

If the line blockage will affect an Absolute Block section, what bell code must you send to the box in advance?

Answer 10

2-2-2 (Block line for protection purposes).

Question 11

If the line blockage affects a single line being worked with a token, and a train is occupying that section of line when the blockage is granted - you must NOT_______

Answer 11

place the token into the token instrument or give 2-1 (Train Out of Section) until the Line Blockage has been given up.

Question 12

What methods of additional protection may be used?

Answer 12

Detonator Protection,

Lock-out Device,

T-COD or Remote-activated T-COD,

A signalling technician disconnecting signalling equipment,

Another signaller placing their Block Indicator to “Train On-line” (BITOL),

EPR (Engineering Possession Reminders - TCB lines),

Token given to COSS/IWA/PC (on token block lines),

Keeping acceptance switches in ‘Normal’ on (Tokenless Block lines)

Question 13

When can a T-COD/Remote T-COD be used?

Answer 13

Where authorised the Section Appendix,

The signalling equipment is working normally when the T-COD is to be placed,

The work to be done will not affect the correct operation of the track circuit concerned.

Question 14

What must you do immediately after a T-COD has been activated?

Answer 14

Check that the track circuit concerned has been activated.

Question 15

Where will the use of EPRs (Engineering Protection Reminder) or putting the Block Indicator to ‘Train On-line’ for additional protection, be authorised?

Answer 15

In the Signal box Special Instructions (SBSI)

Question 16

You can close the signal box during a line blockage if______

Answer 16

additional protection has been placed, and the line blockage is planned to be in place until after the Signal box re-opens.

Question 17

If a signalling technician has disconnected signalling equipment as additional protection, whose responsibility is it to arrange the signalling technician to reconnect the affected equipment, after the line blockage has been given up/suspended?

Answer 17

The signaller.

Question 18

What must you do for each line that has been affected by a line blockage, when the first train passes over that affected line?

Answer 18

Watch for the correct operation of the affected track circuits.

Question 19

If personnel are to work on or near points, what must you find out?

Answer 19

Which points are affected,

The position the points must be kept in,

How long the work will take,

Whether the points will be secured (or the points-machine isolated) to prevent any movement of the points that might cause injury.

Question 20

If a PICOS is to take only a part of a siding under possession, what must you do?

Answer 20

Give permission to the PICOS to apply line protection and apply a PLB (Possession Limit Board) in a place where it can be clearly seen by any approaching movement.

Additionally the PICOP MUST be told to place and secure a sleeper across the line at that same point, if:

Anyone needs to work on or near that part of the sidings,
OR
The work taking place would make it unsafe for movements to enter that part of the sidings,
OR
That part of the sidings has become unsafe for any movement to take place over it.

Question 20

When agreeing to give possession of a siding, or part of a sidings to a PICOS, what must you agree:

Answer 20

Name/Contact details of PICOS

Location of siding(s) involved

whether its the whole or part of the sidings they will be taking possession of

how line protection will be arranged

date/time possession will be taken and given up

who will tell any shunter (if involved)