SIGNAL IRREGULARITIES

Question 1

What is a signal irregularity?

Answer 1

Any signal not communicating clearly to you is an irregularity.

Question 2

How must you treat a signal that is showing an irregularity?

Answer 2

At its most restrictive…

• A STOP signal as at DANGER
• A YELLOW signal as at CAUTION
• A shunting or subsidiary signal as at NORMAL

Question 3

What must you do when you encounter a signal irregularity?

Answer 3

Tell the signaller immediately, stopping the train if necessary and completing a form RT3185.

However, if the signal irregularity relates to a shunting, positional, or stop board, this can be done at the earliest opportunity rather than immediately.

Question 4

What form must you complete for a signal irregularity?

Answer 4

The RT3185 (immediately unless it can be explained as a right sided failure by the signaller).

Question 5

What is the difference between a right sided and wrong sided failure?

Answer 5

A wrong sided failure leads to a potentially dangerous incident, for example a signal that should display a stop aspect showing a proceed one.

A right sided failure will make something safer or more restrictive. For example a fault in a track circuit causing a signal to revert to red when the signal section is clear.