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© Copyright 2010
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
Issue One December 2010
Rail Industry Guidance Note
RSSB
Block 2
Angel Square
1 Torrens Street
London
EC1V 1NY
Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Telephony
Following GSM-R Introduction
Published by:
GO/GN3677
GN
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction
Issue record
Issue
Date
Comments
One
December 2010
Original document
Superseded documents
This Rail Industry Guidance Note does not supersede any other Railway Group
documents.
Supply
The authoritative version of this document is available at www.rgsonline.co.uk.
Uncontrolled copies of this document can be obtained from Communications, RSSB,
Block 2, Angel Square, 1 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NY, telephone 020 3142 5400 or
e-mail enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk. Other Standards and associated documents can also be
viewed at www.rgsonline.co.uk.
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GO/GN3677 Issue One: December 2010
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction
Contents
Section
Description
Part 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
Introduction
Purpose of this document
Background
Scope
Copyright
Approval and authorisation of this document
Part 2
Guidance to the Infrastructure Manager and Railway Undertakings on
Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Telephony Following
GSM-R Introduction
General principles that should be considered when deciding on provision
of lineside telephony following GSM-R introduction
Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on
lineside telephone categories that should be provided
Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on
lineside telephone categories that should be considered for provision
Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on
circumstances where lineside telephony should not be provided
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Page
4
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
7
8
9
Definitions
10
References
11
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction
Part 1
1.1
1.2
Introduction
Purpose of this document
1.1.1
The widespread introduction of GSM-R, reducing reliance on signal post and
other lineside telephones, has prompted a review of the provision of fixed lineside
telephony. Recognising the technological advances of introducing GSM-R and
the potential operational benefits in safety and performance terms, opportunities
exist to reduce the provision of lineside telephony. This document therefore gives
guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on criteria that
should be considered when deciding on the provision of lineside telephony
following GSM-R introduction. It does not constitute a recommended method of
meeting any set of mandatory requirements.
1.1.2
In conjunction with this guidance a risk assessment tool has been produced to
assist duty holders in reaching costed appraisal of the safety and performance
benefits and disbenefits of providing or removing lineside telephony. The CBA
tool in support of this guidance note can be downloaded from the RSSB Rail Risk
Portal at: www.safetyriskmodel.co.uk.
Background
1.2.1
RSSB research project T629 Replacement of Fixed Lineside
Telecommunications Infrastructure with Radio Solutions was published in 2007.
The Phase 1 report explored the specific uses of lineside communications, and
concluded that some 32,412 lineside telephones of all kinds were in use. Of this
total, 3,237 were located at level crossings and were effectively excluded from
further consideration, as it was concluded these would remain in place because
of routine or emergency use (according to crossing type) by members of the
public as crossing users. An extensive review of Railway Group and Network
Rail Company Standards was also undertaken, examining their relevance to
lineside telephones for operational use, legacy radio systems or GSM-R. In
addition to signal post and location telephones, due consideration was given to
lineside telephones provided in relation to electrification systems and
communication with electrical control rooms, and emergency tunnel telephones
provided for use by fire brigade personnel.
1.2.2
The subsequent T629 Phase 2 report, also published in 2007, set out to quantify
the usefulness of different types of lineside communication, and to compare the
capability and capacity of the GSM-R system to supersede some or all of these
fixed telephone functions, both as cab-fitted for use by drivers and hand portable
for use by track workers or operations staff such as mobile operations managers.
A risk analysis and replacement model was produced, which provided a rationale
for removal of some lineside telephones. The completed research study
identified interesting comparisons between roles performed by different forms of
lineside telephony, establishing that some systems are better than others at doing
their job. Frequency of use varied significantly depending on the type of system,
the purpose for which the telephones were provided and the location. Fitness for
purpose and perceived reliability were two other factors considered in the
research study, with the observation that telephone failure (either singly or as a
sub-system) might not be apparent until someone needed to use it in earnest. In
seeking the most objective means of making a judgement on the utility of different
types of lineside telephone and the suitability for replacement by GSM-R, the
Phase 2 report concluded that selective withdrawal of some lineside telephones
provided for operational purposes would be unlikely to increase risk.
1.2.3
The research model considered existing and planned telecommunications
systems for use by drivers, signallers and trackside staff in communicating with
each other, and subjected them to a risk assessment and analysis exercise. A
review of other European railways’ experiences and strategies was also
undertaken for lineside telephones and radio based systems. The model then
considered:
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
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1.3
How existing and planned telecoms systems satisfy requirements for
operational purposes.
b)
How they contribute to reducing risk levels.
c)
How they appear to function from a reliability, availability and maintainability
performance aspect.
1.2.4
The Phase 2 report stated in the concluding paragraph of section 3.1 that the UK
follows the ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP) approach, rather than the
‘at least as good as’ (ALAG) approach seen to be used in most of Europe. The
aim of the research model was to be able to demonstrate that a railway equipped
with GSM-R along with an agreed fallback system (where there is a commercial
case), offers improved safety performance compared with cab secure radio
(CSR) and national radio network (NRN), and the existing lineside telephony as
the fallback system.
1.2.5
A clear and immediately appreciated safety benefit is to reduce the occasions
when rail staff are required to use lineside telephones, often situated in places of
limited clearance, and where maintenance access is restricted.
1.2.6
When considering the financial benefits in removing or no longer having to
provide some lineside telephony, savings can be summarised as the avoidance
of the first cost of equipment installation, and the subsequent reduction in
maintenance costs for telephone handsets, equipment cubicles, cabling and
exchanges. The cost benefit analysis should take into account the cost of
recovery of redundant assets and configuration of concentrator, which may
conclude that disconnection and clear labelling that a handset is no longer in use
may suffice in the short term.
1.2.7
However, consideration needs to be given to continuing provision of lineside
telephony for operational purposes in the vicinity of certain critical assets such as
key junctions, no signaller key token stations, ground frames and tunnels, where
rail staff require lineside telephony for routine or emergency use. The general
principle adopted in this guidance is that lineside telephony should only be
provided as suggested in sections 2.2 and 2.3, where justified under the riskbased appraisal process.
Scope
1.3.1
1.4
a)
This guidance is intended to assist infrastructure managers and railway
undertakings in understanding operational safety responsibilities when deciding
what lineside telephony should be provided under the strategy of cab mobile
GSM-R fitment, particularly in relation to critical assets, and what potentially may
be recovered. This guidance should be read as supporting the network change
process. It does not constitute a recommended method of meeting any set of
mandatory requirements.
Copyright
1.4.1
Copyright in the Railway Group documents is owned by Rail Safety and
Standards Board Limited. All rights are hereby reserved. No Railway Group
document (in whole or in part) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or means, without the prior written permission of Rail
Safety and Standards Board Limited, or as expressly permitted by law.
1.4.2
RSSB members are granted copyright licence in accordance with the Constitution
Agreement relating to Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited.
RSSB
GO/GN3677 Issue One: December 2010
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
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1.4.3
1.5
In circumstances where Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited has granted a
particular person or organisation permission to copy extracts from Railway Group
documents, Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited accepts no responsibility
for, and excludes all liability in connection with, the use of such extracts, or any
claims arising therefrom. This disclaimer applies to all forms of media in which
extracts from Railway Group Standards may be reproduced.
Approval and authorisation of this document
1.5.1
The content of this document was approved by Traffic Operation and
Management Standards Committee on 12 October 2010.
1.5.2
This document was authorised by RSSB on 29 October 2010.
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction
Part 2
Guidance to the Infrastructure Manager and
Railway Undertakings on Operational Criteria for
the Provision of Lineside Telephony Following
GSM-R Introduction
2.1
General principles that should be considered when deciding on
provision of lineside telephony following GSM-R introduction
2.1.1
General principles
GN1
The infrastructure manager should consider limited provision of lineside telephony in the
vicinity of critical assets to facilitate application of GE/RT8000 Rule Book procedures
during perturbed working, where the GSM-R system may have failed or in an area of poor
radio reception. This may include critical locations commonly used as boundaries for
temporary block working, single line working or engineering possessions.
GN2
The infrastructure manager should assess the importance of providing lineside telephony in
the vicinity of other critical assets for safety and performance reasons, in the event of
GSM-R failure or in places of poor radio reception. These critical assets include as
examples, junctions, tunnels, viaducts, swing bridges, and electrification switchgear and
neutral sections.
GN3
The infrastructure manager should take account of areas of poor radio reception, and duty
holders should co-operate during the introductory period of GSM-R as adjustments are
made to lineside equipment to reduce or eliminate reception blackspots. It may be
necessary for some lineside telephony, otherwise deemed to be suitable for removal, to be
retained temporarily until GSM-R reception is proven in service.
GN4
The infrastructure manager should consult with railway undertakings operating over each
line of route under consideration over decisions on the provision of lineside telephony.
This supports the network change process and duty of co-operation.
GN5
The infrastructure manager and railway undertakings should confirm that the risk-based
decisions to rationalise the provision of lineside telephony are applied consistently along a
line of route.
GN6
The infrastructure manager and railway undertakings should inform staff of changes to the
provision of lineside telephony arising from the introduction of GSM-R.
2.2
Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on
lineside telephone categories that should be provided
2.2.1
Level crossings
GN7
The infrastructure manager should provide lineside telephony at level crossings, as
mandated by GK/RT0192 Level Crossing Interface Requirements, Section 2.10, and HS(G)
153/6 Railway Safety Principles and Guidance, Part 2, Section E, Guidance on Level
Crossings for:
a)
Routine use by the public, for example, at user worked crossings.
b)
Emergency use by the public or emergency services, for example, at AHB crossings.
c)
Use by rail staff when crossing controls are being worked locally or maintenance
activities are being undertaken.
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2.3
Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on
lineside telephone categories that should be considered for provision
2.3.1
Lineside telephony in the vicinity of critical signals
GN8
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, provision of lineside
telephony, for all likely types of intended user, in the vicinity of critical signals such as those
that:
a)
Protect strategic junctions.
b)
Protect critical assets such as tunnels, viaducts, swing bridges and sea walls.
c)
Are regularly used as engineering possession blocking points, or boundary locations
for temporary block working, single line working or working by pilotman.
d)
Are in remote or mountainous areas where radio reception may be unreliable, for
example, intermediate block home signals.
(This list is not exhaustive)
GN9
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, provision of lineside
telephony, for all likely types of intended user, in the vicinity of block markers or stop
boards, such as:
a)
Where located in European Train Control System (ETCS) areas.
b)
Entry to or exit from Network Rail or other infrastructure manager areas (from private
sidings, yards, etc).
c)
No Signaller Token (NST) or Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB) areas.
(This list is not exhaustive)
GN10
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, whether a strategically
placed lineside telephone could fulfil multiple functions, such as that of a point zone
telephone and as a substitute for signal post telephones (SPTs) in a strategic junction area.
2.3.2
Tunnel communication systems
GN11
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, provision of:
a)
Emergency tunnel telephone systems, and/or
b)
Emergency radio systems
for use of rail staff or emergency services personnel.
2.3.3
Point zone and ground frame telephones
GN12
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, provision of lineside
telephony located:
a)
At points critical to train operation, for example, during perturbed working at strategic
junctions or crossovers used for single line working.
b)
At ground frames.
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction
GN13
As in GN9, the infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, whether a
strategically placed lineside telephone could fulfil multiple functions, such as that of a point
zone or ground frame telephone and as a substitute for signal post telephones (SPTs) in a
strategic junction area.
2.3.4
Authorised walking routes
GN14
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, provision of lineside
telephony at specific locations to enable staff to use an authorised walking route safely, for
example, where a cess pathway has limited clearance or a foot crossing with limited
visibility is involved.
2.3.5
Station platforms
GN15
The infrastructure manager and railway undertakings should consider, in their risk
assessments, provision of telephones in connection with:
a)
Train dispatch, where required by local circumstances.
b)
Train movements where permissive working is permitted, and where required by local
circumstances.
2.3.6
Electrification telephones
GN16
The infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment, provision of lineside
telephony to communicate with the electrical control room operator in association with
operation of electrification switchgear either in emergency, or when arranging a planned
isolation. Depending on the type of electrification system in use, these telephones may be
provided at substations, track paralleling huts, switching stations, neutral sections, station
platforms, etc.
GN17
As in GN9 and GN13, the infrastructure manager should consider, in its risk assessment,
whether a strategically placed lineside telephone could fulfil multiple functions, such as that
of an electrification telephone as well as a point zone or ground frame telephone and as a
substitute for Signal Post Telephones (SPTs) in a strategic junction area.
2.3.7
Legacy telephone systems
GN18
The infrastructure manager should consider retention of legacy telephone systems where
the circumstances of their fitment are unique. Such circumstances may be as a result of
special or unusual environmental aspects in the railway area concerned. Examples include
tunnel emergency telephones or lineside telephones associated with airport tripwire
systems. Equipment that was provided in such locations could then be reviewed when it
falls due for renewal and in the light of proven in-service GSM-R reliability.
2.4
Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on
circumstances where lineside telephony should not be provided
2.4.1
Lineside telephony in the vicinity of signals
GN19
The infrastructure manager should not provide lineside telephony in locations of limited
clearance, such as at signals on middle tracks in multiple track areas.
2.4.2
Other lineside telephony
GN20
The infrastructure manager should not provide other lineside telephony unless it falls under
the categories listed in section 2.2 or 2.3 and can be justified for provision under the riskbased appraisal process.
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Definitions
Critical assets
Physical features occurring on the railway infrastructure, considered to be of importance
particularly in the case of perturbed working, where rail staff may need an alternative form
of communication with the controlling signal box or electrical control room.
CSR - Cab Secure Radio
A legacy analogue train radio system implemented over part of the rail network, providing
secure communications between driver and signaller.
GSM-R
A digital radio system (Global System for Mobile communications – Railways) based on the
GSM mobile communication standard adapted for use on European railways. The GSM-R
system, for the purposes of this document, is one that complies with the current versions of
the EIRENE Functional Requirement Specifications and updates, approved as part of the
change control process.
Lineside Telephony
Railway-specific fixed telephonic equipment that is provided for operational purposes in the
vicinity of assets such as junctions, ground frames and tunnels, where rail staff may require
lineside telephony for routine or emergency use. Examples of telephones included within
the expression ‘lineside telephony’ are: signal post telephones, emergency telephones,
electrification telephones and dial telephones (non exhaustive list).
NRN - National radio network
A legacy analogue train radio system implemented across the rail network, providing nonsecure communications between driver and operations control.
Railway internal telephone network
The telephone system provided throughout the British railway network as an alternative to
the public telephone network. It is sometimes referred to as the ETD (extension trunk
dialling) network or as Railnet.
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Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside
Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction
References
The purpose of the Code is to define the procedures by which RSSB and the members of
RSSB co-operate to create, revise or withdraw RGSs and manage deviations from them.
The Catalogue of Railway Group Standards and the Railway Group Standards CD-ROM
give the current issue number and status of documents published by RSSB. This
information is also available from www.rgsonline.co.uk.
Documents referenced in the text
RGSC 03
Railway Group Standards
GK/RT0192
GE/RT8000
RSSB documents
RSSB T629
RSSB T629
Other documents
HS (G) 153/6
The Railway Group Standards Code
Level Crossing Interface Requirements
Rule Book
Replacement of Fixed Lineside Telecommunications
Infrastructure with Radio Solutions (Phase1 Report –
Research Findings and Conclusions)
Replacement of Fixed Lineside Telecommunications
Infrastructure with Radio Solutions (Phase 2 Report – Risk
Analysis and Replacement Modelling)
Railway Safety Principles and Guidance, Part 2, Section E,
Guidance on Level Crossings
Other references
Railway Group Standards
GE/RT8270
GE/RT8048
GK/RT0061
Assessment of Compatibility of Rolling Stock and
Infrastructure
Positioning and Labelling of Lineside Telephones
Shunters Releases, Ground Frames, Switch Panels and
Gate Boxes
RSSB documents
The CBA tool in support of this guidance note can be downloaded from the RSSB Rail Risk
Portal at: www.safetyriskmodel.co.uk.
RSSB
GO/GN3677 Issue One: December 2010
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