Dispatching trains against starting signal

Public Transport Services has advised that the following action is proposed with respect to Adelaide metropolitan rail system. Public Transport Services advises that it is significantly increasing staff numbers through recruitment to address this issue. This is being undertaken through the recruitment of additional drivers and the inclusion of undertaking Platform Coordinator duties as part of the training of new drivers.

The additional staff available for Platform Coordinator duties will result in all departures from Adelaide Railway Station being given Right of Way by a Platform Coordinator only when a proceed aspect is displayed on the starting signal, unless under direction due to a signal failure condition.

It is anticipated that sufficient staff will be trained to implement this, with the procedure amended to reflect the process, by 15 September 2011. In the interim, as mentioned in Section 2.6 of the report, PTS has revised its starting procedure to include a requirement for the PC to physically point at the signal at stop to bring it to the clear attention of the train driver, similarly to processes used on Japanese railways and in aviation.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is satisfied that the action proposed by Public Transport Services adequately addresses the safety issue.