Safety issue

Safety issue description

The procedures and guidance documentation for authorising movement past signals displaying a Stop indication was ambiguous.

Issue number RO-2013-009-SI-06
Issue owner Australian Rail Track Corporation
Transport function Rail: Infrastructure
Date issue released 04/09/2014
Issue status justification

Mandating that NCO's complete a written Caution Order and the development of a new Standing Notice will better inform operators of track configurations, reducing the risk of a recurrence of this incident.

Safety action

Action type Proactive action
Action number RO-2013-009-NSA-064
Organisation Australian Rail Track Corporation
Action date 04/09/2014
Action description

ARTC has mandated that network control officers complete a written Signalman's Caution Order form prior to verbally transmitting the instruction to the crew on all occasions when it is necessary to issue such an authority.

Australian Rail Track Corporation has developed a draft Standing Notice to supersede Standing Notices SN2533 (2008) and SN2529 (2009). The draft Standing Notice will contain the procedure for managing failure of points and the process for issuing an authority (Caution Order) to proceed past a signal that does not display a Proceed indication as expected. The draft Standing Notice will contain information of the 'End of Broad Gauge' signage and the DG/SG turnout indicators.

The Caution Order process will be amended to include the passing of dwarf signals that do not display a Proceed indication as expected.

The draft Standing Notice once approved will be distributed to all Operators and stakeholders.

ATSB response

 The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is satisfied that the action proposed by ARTC will adequately address the safety issue.

Action status Closed