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- Freephone: 0800 4 101 101
- Text us on: 07507 285 887
- Freepost: Freepost CIRAS
- Call me back
August 2011 in Network Rail and Suppliers
Station and platform
Equipment
Central
South West
A reporter has raised concerns about the positioning of the OFF indicator on platform four at Gloucester station.
As the platform is long and curved an OFF indicator is a necessity when dispatching trains. However, the indicator has been positioned behind a pillar and some platform signage. This creates difficulty for staff dispatching trains as they are having to walk near to the front of the train in order to read the indicator. The reporter fears that this could result in a signal passed at danger if the indicator is not double checked before departure.
For Network Rail:
Network Rail would like to thank the reporter for bringing their concerns to our attention.
In response to the concerns raised by the reporter, a Signal Sighting Engineer has visited Gloucester station to evaluate the visibility of the OFF indicator. He advises that the indicator is in good condition and can be clearly read by Dispatch Staff from the nominated dispatch point on the platform. He does acknowledge however that a Guard (Train Manager or Conductor) undertaking self-dispatch when the platform is not staffed would potentially need to walk along the platform to see the indicator, depending on the length of the train.
The solution recommended is an additional co-acting OFF indicator. This will be progressed, with the first stage being a formal Signal Sighting Committee involving all the Train Operating Companies that operate through Gloucester to agree the size and location of the additional unit. This will be undertaken in September 2011.
