Visibility of trains
What’s changing for people
out on the track?
What’s changing?
People out on the track need to be able to see and hear trains appropriately.
The companies who introduce or operate trains are responsible for managing risks
associated with their operation, and working with other organisations, such as
Network Rail, to make this happen.
On 5 March 2016, a new Railway Group Standard came into force, describing the
audibility and visibility requirements for trains. It also helps companies consider
the front end colour, which no longer needs to be yellow on new or modified trains
complying with the relevant headlamp requirements.
Why?
In the 1950s, diesel and electric-powered trains were gradually introduced on to
Britain’s railways to replace steam locomotives. Being far quieter, people working
on or near the line found them more difficult to anticipate on approach, and so new
requirements were introduced to have yellow warning panels on the front ends of all
diesel and electric trains. This requirement has existed to the present day; however,
since that time, headlamp technology has improved.
The requirement for all new trains introduced on to the GB mainline to have the
right arrangement and illumination of headlamps is in law. This meant that the
Railway Group Standards on visibility and audibility needed to be changed to
reflect what the law actually requires, and so the new Railway Group Standard no
longer contains a requirement for yellow front ends on trains that comply with legal
requirements for headlamps.
So what’s actually changing?
•
New or upgraded trains introduced to the network must comply with legal
requirements to have the correct arrangement and illumination of headlamps
and can also display a yellow front end.
•
Existing trains which do not comply with the headlamps requirement must still
have a yellow front end warning panel.
•
Yellow plant still has to be yellow all over, and shunting locomotives and
snowploughs still require forward-facing surfaces painted yellow with black
diagonal stripes where it’s reasonable to do so.
• Where a non-yellow front end train is being considered on a route where trains
with yellow front ends are currently used, the operator will need to consult all
affected parties and carry out appropriate risk assessments.
This will include considering:
○
All operating conditions likely to be experienced by the train
○
The impact on the safety of railway workers, passengers and members
of the public
○
The impact on safety at level crossings
○
The effect of front end colour on the perceived position of a stationary
train when a driver is undertaking a permissive move into a platform
already occupied by another unit
○
Reliability and maintenance of the head lamps
○
All relevant duties under health and safety legislation
The new standard provides guidance on front end colours, particularly if a company
decides to exclude the yellow warning panel.
There is also advice on taking care to consider the impact of choice of certain colours
and designs, for example, avoiding colours associated with signal aspects or with
high visibility clothing to avoid confusion.
How will it affect me as someone out on the track?
As before, it will still be your employer’s responsibility to ensure compliance
with health and safety at work legislation, and set up safe systems of work that
adequately protect people working on the track.
In the short term, it’s unlikely you’ll notice any change to train fronts.
If an operator does want to introduce a train without a yellow front end, they will
need to consult all affected parties – including your employer and trade unions in
terms of people working out on track. They will need to carry out appropriate risk
assessments, including possibly applying other EU requirements to manage the
change effectively, such as the Common Safety Method on Risk Evaluation and
Assessment. This will be legally required if the change is considered significant.
In short, just as before, it remains for your employer and for train operators to
manage safety, to cooperate where needed and to take into account the law and
good practice to support relevant decisions. This responsibility is not diluted as a
result of the standard update.
Further information
To find out more, talk to your line manager or appropriate safety contact in
your organisation.
Or contact us – enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk or telephone 020 3142 5400 if you
have any questions.