Module AC

Question 1

What are your actions and who must you contact if you see anything in the OLE that could cause damage if it comes into contact with your Pantograph?

Answer 1

Immediately lower Pantograph
Stop the train as soon as possible
Report to the signaller
Signaller will inform ECO

Question 2

What objects or defects must you report immediately to the ECO?

Answer 2

Objects thrown onto or touching OLE
Damage to the OLE
OLE is smoking or flashing excessively
Broken or displaced along track conductors
Broken or displaced wires connected to the OLE
Damaged or loose automatic power control track conductors
A broken or parted rail
A broken or defective bond (must tell ECO the colour of the bond)

Question 3

What distance should you or anything you are carrying be away from live OLE?

Answer 3

2.75 metres or 9 feet

Carry long items horizontally

Question 4

When working on a unit or vehicle (unless OLE is isolated, local instructions have been met, there is no OLE or DP has issued an overhead line permit) what height are you permitted to be at?

Answer 4

Never go above cant rail or climb above the floor level of the driving cab.

Question 5

Communicating with the ECO

When contacting the ECO what must you state?

Answer 5

Name 
Job title 
Employer 
Lines concerned 
Location
The number of nearest OLE structure
Telephone or radio number 
If ECO gives you a message identification number you must state this each time you speak to the ECO

Question 6

Emergency switch off
When types of incident must you immediately contact the ECO to request an emergency switch off (note. This does not mean trains have stopped running)?

Answer 6

Derailment 
Lineside fire 
Fire on a vehicle or train 
A person in contact with the OLE
Any incident which requires emergency switch off

Question 7

Emergency switch off

When reporting an emergency switch off to an ECO what must you state?

Answer 7

This is an emergency call
Tell ECO the reason you want the electricity turned off
Whether any person is in danger from the OLE
Whether emergency services are waiting to give assistance

If it is necessary to protect an obstruction on a line other than the one your train is travelling on, you must do this before asking for the electricity to be switched off

Question 8

Emergency switch off

How long must you stay in contact with the ECO after you have reported the incident?

Answer 8

Until assured that the electricity has been switched off and OLE has been made safe or other arrangements are in place.
ECO will decide who will be the PICEE ( person in charge of electrical emergency)

Question 9

Emergency switch off

If appointed as the PICEE what will the ECO tell you and what are your actions?

Answer 9

ECO will tell you the limits of the electrical switch off and will tell you prior to shortening the limits.

You must identify yourself to anyone arriving on site
Tell emergency services about the live OLE and the limits of the electrical switch off
Make sure passengers are kept clear of OLE
Advise ECO if you hand over responsibility
Warn anyone prior to electricity being switched on

Question 10

Isolation of the OLE
An isolation of the OLE does not mean trains have stopped running.
When a section of OLE has been isolated you must continue to treat it as live until?

Answer 10

An overhead line permit has been issued or where local instructions allow this.

Question 11

Electric train moving to or from non electrified lines

What must you do when moving on a non electrified line or crossover?

Answer 11

Make sure all Pantographs are lowered.

Question 12

Electric trains moving to or from non electrified lines
If a portion of line is blocked and your electric train is being assisted to or from that section of line what must you do?

Answer 12

Lower all Pantographs
Tell driver of assisting train when this is done
Keep Pantographs in lowered position throughout the movement
Not resume AC mode until you gave arrived or passed the location advised by the signaller or indicated by lineside signage

Question 13

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
If you become aware of damage to the OLE, unusual movement of the OLE or any unusual noises from the OLE what are your actions?

Answer 13

Operate Pan down button
Stop train asap
Report incident to the signaller

Question 14

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
What are your actions if the ADD has operated?

Answer 14

Pan down
Stop train asap
Report incident to the signaller

Question 15

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
What are your actions if the line light goes out and there is only one Pantograph which is not on the first three vehicles or there is more than one Pantograph on the train

Answer 15

Pan down
Stop train asap
Report incident to the signaller

Question 16

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
If line light goes out when can you coast to a stand?

Answer 16

Only one Pantograph in use and it’s on the first three vehicles
ADD is available but has not operated
No unusual movement or noises from OLE
You have made one attempt to reset which was not successful

Question 17

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
When the line light goes out when can you continue as normal?

Answer 17

ADD is available but has not operated
No unusual movement or noise from the OLE
You can reset at the first attempt or the line light is restored
You can regain power

Question 18

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
Sequential tripping
If you have been told by the signaller that your train has caused sequential tripping, what should you do?

Answer 18

Visually examine all Pantographs and OLE for damage
Do not leave the cab unless the signaller has told you that the OLE has been made safe
Report findings to signaller

Question 19

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
Examining the train or OLE.
If you have stopped your train because the line light has gone out or ADD has operated or you have seen damage to the OLE, what are your actions?

Answer 19

You must visually examine the OLE and Pantographs.
Report whether there appears to be any damage to any of them to the signaller
Do not leave cab except in an emergency unless the signaller has told you that the OLE is safe
If after inspection you find a fault with your train other than the Pantograph report immediately to signaller so normal working can be restored

Question 20

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
If the train cannot proceed because of damage to the Pantograph but the damage is not severe can the Pantograph be raised while you are waiting for assistance to arrive?

Answer 20

Yes after raising pan, Immediately check OLE and Pantograph.
No movement of the train is permitted with the pan raised.
You must lower pan before the assisting train is attached.

Question 21

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
If it becomes necessary to isolate the ADD, what must you do?

Answer 21

Isolate ADD in accordance with traction instructions
Inform signaller
Follow instructions given

Question 22

Drivers instructions following a loss of line light, ADD, tripping or damage to OLE
After isolating the ADD, When the train is to proceed with the affected pan raised what is the maximum speed you should travel at?

Answer 22

100 mph (unless instructed a lower speed for some or all of the journey) until the Pantograph has been examined and the ADD reset.

Question 23

Examining the OLE
If you are on an adjacent line and asked by the signaller to examine the OLE. What is your max speed and what must you consider during darkness poor visibility or in a tunnel?
If signaller asks whether trains are to proceed on an affected line with pan down or on own traction power they can do so if?

Answer 23

20mph
Be accompanied by a competent person

Any obstruction is not more than 150mm below contact wire
Not more than 2 consecutive stoppers have come off
The object of defect is more the 3 OLE structures away from a tunnel of over bridge
No other defect is obvious

Question 24

Moving trains after an OLE incident
When a Pantograph is damaged and there is no other Pantograph available after you have lowered the pan, what should happen?

Answer 24

Train may be assisted forward at a reduced speed to the first location where Pantograph can be dealt with.
You must give signaller assurance that the damaged pan is clear of any contact with the OLE.
You must not move the train until a competent person has carried out necessary repairs if the clearance between pan and OLE cannot be assured or the damaged pan is foul of the loading gauge.

Question 25

Moving trains after an OLE incident

When a Pantograph is damaged but another is available, what should happen?

Answer 25

You may be allowed to proceed after any damaged Pantograph has been dealt with.
You must give signaller assurance that the damaged pan is clear of any contact with the OLE.
You must not move the train until a competent person has carried out necessary repairs if the clearance between pan and OLE cannot be assured or the damaged pan is foul of the loading gauge.

Question 26

Moving trains after an OLE incident
Following an examination of the OLE, the signaller may allow trains (with pan lowered) to pass under objects or defects to OLE. What information should the signaller tell you?

Answer 26

There is a problem with the OLE
The location and descriptions of the affected area
If the affected area will be identified by 20mph coasting signs
To lower Pantographs through affected area
Pantographs are not to be raised until passed through area
To obey all signals or indications

Question 27

Moving trains after an OLE incident

When signaller has told you to coast through area and signage is provided. What are your actions?

Answer 27

Advance lower pan is located 400 metres in advance of the lower pan sign.
Must lower pan before reaching lower pan sign
Can lower pan at any speed
Only raise pan after through affected area
Can raise pan at any speed up to 80mph

Question 28

Moving trains after an OLE incident
A do not raise Pantograph sign is placed af the end of the safe Pantograph raising area. If you have not raised your pan before reaching the sign, what are your actions?

Answer 28

Reduce speed to 20mph

Raise pan

Question 29

Preventing damage of danger from on train equipment overheating.
If you become aware of any serious defect or electrical overheating, what are your actions?

Answer 29

Lower all pans
If lowering pans cures the fault you must:-
Isolate defective equipment
If this is not possible isolate the Pantograph of the defective unit
Or if cannot lower pan on defective unit and there is still a fault, contact ECO and arrange for electricity to be switched off

Question 30

Electric trains driven off the contact wire

What are your actions?

Answer 30

Stop
Pan down
Contact signaller 
Follow instructions 
Competent person to examine all Pantographs anx if necessary secure pans in a safe position