GO/GN3677. Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Telephony. Following GSM-R Introduction. Rail Industry Guidance Note

Transcription

1 GN Published by: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Copyright 2010 Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited GO/GN3677 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Telephony Following GSM-R Introduction Issue One December 2010 Rail Industry Guidance Note

2 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Issue record Issue Date Comments One December 2010 Original document Superseded documents Supply Uncontrolled When Printed This Rail Industry Guidance Note does not supersede any other Railway Group documents. The authoritative version of this document is available at Uncontrolled copies of this document can be obtained from Communications,, Block 2, Angel Square, 1 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NY, telephone or enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk. Other Standards and associated documents can also be viewed at Page 2 of 11

3 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Contents Uncontrolled When Printed Section Description Page Part 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this document 1.2 Background 1.3 Scope 1.4 Copyright 1.5 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 9 Definitions 10 References 11 Page 3 of 11

4 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Part 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this document Page 4 of 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 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 Rail Risk Portal at: Background research project T629 Replacement of Fixed Lineside Telecommunications Infrastructure with Radio Solutions was published in 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 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 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:

5 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside 1.3 Scope a) 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 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 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 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 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 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. 1.4 Copyright Uncontrolled When Printed 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 members are granted copyright licence in accordance with the Constitution Agreement relating to Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited. Page 5 of 11

6 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside 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. 1.5 Approval and authorisation of this document The content of this document was approved by Traffic Operation and Management Standards Committee on 12 October This document was authorised by on 29 October Page 6 of 11

7 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside 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 General principles GN1 GN2 GN3 GN4 GN5 GN6 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Page 7 of 11

8 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside 2.3 Guidance to the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings on lineside telephone categories that should be considered for provision 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 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 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. Page 8 of 11

9 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside 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 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 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 Electrification telephones GN16 GN17 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. 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 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 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 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. Page 9 of 11

10 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside Definitions Critical assets Uncontrolled When Printed 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. Page 10 of 11

11 Guidance on Operational Criteria for the Provision of Lineside References The purpose of the Code is to define the procedures by which and the members of 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. This information is also available from Documents referenced in the text RGSC 03 Railway Group Standards GK/RT0192 GE/RT8000 documents T629 T629 Uncontrolled When Printed 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) Other documents HS (G) 153/6 Railway Safety Principles and Guidance, Part 2, Section E, Guidance on Level Crossings Other references Railway Group Standards GE/RT8270 GE/RT8048 GK/RT0061 documents Assessment of Compatibility of Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Positioning and Labelling of Lineside Telephones Shunters Releases, Ground Frames, Switch Panels and Gate Boxes The CBA tool in support of this guidance note can be downloaded from the Rail Risk Portal at: Page 11 of 11