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YEAR END CATEGORY A SPAD FIGURES REVEALED

Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has today reported the 2004 total for the number of category A signals passed at danger (SPAD) across the national rail network.

There were 360 category A SPADs in 2004. This is 32 less than the 2003 total of 392. The potential consequences of SPADs have been significantly reduced with the introduction of TPWS (train protection and warning system), equating to a 61% reduction in risk since March 2001.

The figures, as reported in RSSB’s ‘Category A SPAD report - year-end 2004’, are encouraging and suggest that many of the industry’s efforts to tackle the problem have begun to pay off.

The months of October, November and December each recorded the lowest ever levels for those months. Many initiatives set up over the past few years to tackle SPADs have resulted in sustained improvement and the industry is committed to a continued drive to further reduce the number of SPADs.

A full copy of the report can be found at:http://www.rssb.co.uk/safety/spr/spad_new.asp

Editor’s notes:

1. The report analyses SPAD by territory, route, train class and severity. It also provides information on SPAD risk, TPWS activations and initiatives to reduce SPAD risk.

2. A Category A SPAD is any SPAD when a stop aspect or indication (and any associated preceding indications) was displayed correctly, in sufficient time for a train to be stopped safety at the signal.

3. The report covers the full calendar year for 2004.

4. Over the past quarter, progress has been made on the following initiatives:

Improving understanding between drivers and signallers Network Rail and ATOC are working together to promote mutual understanding between drivers and signallers, as recommended by Lord Cullen in his Inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove accident. A number of joint initiatives are being developed and Network Rail has used its quarterly briefing of operations employees to raise awareness and engage signallers in efforts to bring them closer together with drivers.

As part of these efforts, 2 500 signallers were invited to share their views and came up with a list of five ways in which they want drivers to help them. The full results will be shared with ATOC, and train companies may undertake similar initiatives so that signallers can benefit from drivers perspectives.

Further initiatives pursued in various parts of the industry include:

• Joint briefings
  
• More cab rides for signallers
  
• Signal box visits and use of signal box simulators for drivers

Implementation of the EWS advanced driving scheme EWS (English, Welsh and Scottish railways) has introduced an Advanced Driving scheme. Using concepts adapted from the police ‘Road Craft’ system, the policy builds on ‘defensive driving’ and ‘professional driving’ and aims for an all-embracing, holistic approach.

TPWS reset and continue
The National SPAD Focus Group (NSFG) has developed a presentation-based resource to assist and guide all duty-holders, for use by trainers and briefers, to provide background information to front line staff on TPWS and actions the industry is taking to reduce the risk associated with ‘TPWS reset and continue’. Additionally it is aimed at supporting both Network Rail and train operator safety briefing material on the changes to rules concerning TPWS interventions, which are to be implemented as from 05 February 2005.

For more information on these initiatives, please visit:http://www.rssb.co.uk/national_programmes/operational_safety.asp