PR S 40002

Question 1

When is temporary bridging allowed

Answer 1

to minimise disruption to rail traffic or users of level crossings when signalling equipment becomes damaged, disconnected or disarranged

Question 2

What must be considered for temporary bridging

Answer 2

The protection defeated is provided by an alternative means. Adequate testing is conducted to prove effectiveness of the portion of circuit to remain unbridged.

Question 3

What contacts can be bridged

Answer 3

Generally confined to position indication or detection contacts of trackside equipment.

Question 4

Trainstop protection

Answer 4

A trainstop protecting a series of suppressed trainstop must remain in the stop position

Question 5

what part of the equipment is bridged

Answer 5

Bridging is generally applied to the removed or failed portion of equipment.

Question 6

Where is the ideal location for bridging

Answer 6

To be applied as close as possible to the affected equipment. This includes the bridging authority form and accompanying circuit diagram

Question 7

What must be done to the opposite part of the circuit that is bridged

Answer 7

The opposite of the bridged circuit must be disconnected, for example If the Normal detection is bridged the Reverse detection must be disconnected.

Question 8

What documentation is required for bridging and any additional documentation for planned works

Answer 8

Infrastructure Booking Authority NRF 003, PR S 40002 FM01, Marked up circuit diagram. A package with work instructions is required for planned works

Question 9

How long can bridging be left in

Answer 9

16 weeks. Any longer and you need authority from the authorising engineer, the maintenance signal engineer and the Principal engineer signalling integrity

Question 10

Prior to bridging, what is discussed in the briefing with the signal engineer and the person applying/removing the bridging

Answer 10

The bridging arrangements, alternate protection, testing requirements, and notification arrangements.

Question 11

What needs to happen if the works cannot be completed in time

Answer 11

The authorising signal engineer must be contacted and a request for a time extension must be approved.

Question 12

Can an engineer give verbal approval

Answer 12

Yes, they can. However it must be to an independent licensed signalling person who will transcribe the engineers instructions and write the name of the engineer on the form until a signature can be obtained

Question 13

If the bridging is left unattended, what must be left with it.

Answer 13

A copy of the temporary bridging form PR S 40002 FM01 and the circuit diagram.

Question 14

What do you need to do with the paperwork once the bridging is finished

Answer 14

You must fill in all required areas on the form, notify the authorising signal engineer and send a copy of the documents to the authorising signal engineer. He will then inspect and sign, then forward a copy to the maintenance signal engineer.

Question 15

What needs to be on the circuit diagram

Answer 15

Temporary bridging for ___ Equipment at ___ Location on Date___ Time___ in accordance with bridging authority____.
Time and date of application and removal, and by who.
The authorising signal engineer signature.
any correlation and function testing

Question 16

Temporary bridging wire requirements

Answer 16

1.5m length minimum, orange or brightly coloured, 1.5mm^2 CSA flexible stranded, 0.6/1kV rating, individually labelled, kept in a locked box by the signal engineer or delegated team leader, signed in and out on a register.

Question 17

What happens in an emergency if there is a need for a temporary bridging wire

Answer 17

A temporary bridge can be made with engineers approval, it must be fitted with a label and then destroyed immediately after use.

Question 18

What protection needs to be confirmed with the signaller

Answer 18

Protecting signals to be placed at stop, points levers to be in correspondence with position in field. blocking facilities to be applied to signals and points

Question 19

What notes are to be made on the IBA

Answer 19

“BRIDGED” to be written in next to equipment that has been bridged. example XYZ points BRIDGED.

Question 20

How do you secure points that are bridged.

Answer 20

Points to be booked out and disconnected, points to be clipped and SL locked, any releasing switches, EOL/ESML or half pilot staffs are to be falcon 8 locked

Question 21

How do you secure the Signals protecting the equipment temporarily bridged

Answer 21

The signals immediately protecting the equipment temporarily bridged are to be booked out and disconnected.
With engineers approval, some signals may be allowed to be booked in to facilitate train running

Question 22

What conditions are required to book in protecting signals over bridged points.

Answer 22

Testing is satisfactory, points are locked and spiked, level crossings have a qualified worker manually operate the crossing , ESML/EOL/half pilot staffs/releasing devices are falcon 8 locked, the signal engineer that makes the determination has suitable experience relative to the complexity of the nature

Question 23

Procedures for temporary bridging

Answer 23

Correlate to one clear point of intended temporary bridges, disconnect the portion of circuit leading to the bridges, disconnect the opposite detection circuit/contacts, apply bridges as per bridging authority only, do not bridge out portion of circuit not worked on.

Question 24

Can temporary bridges be shorter than 1.5m in length

Answer 24

yes they can be shortened to fit into closed equipment with the authority of the authorising signal engineer. need to be labelled as shorter than regulation.

Question 25

do you remove and replace the bridges inbetween shifts

Answer 25

NO

Question 26

Testing required when bridge is applied

Answer 26

Strap and function the bridged portion of the circuit with the temporary bridges.
Circuit function the non-bridged equipment contacts for the position in lay, to be verified in the control panel.

Question 27

What do you need to do with bridged points to be left unattended

Answer 27

Securing the bridges to ensure they are not tampered with, points to be XL locked and spiked, ESML/EOL to be falcon 8 locked.

Question 28

Testing upon removal of temporary bridging

Answer 28

Wire/null count where bridging was applied, circuit function test contacts in detection circuit for position in lay, operate to opposite side and function test circuit again.
correspondence/out of correspondence testing.

Question 29

Do non-vital signalling circuits require a bridging authority.

Answer 29

No however the maintenance signal engineer or signal works engineer shall have process in place to manage the application and removal of the bridging.