Driver route signing

[Alistair G.]

Just wondering if a anyone out there can shed some light on route knowledge.

Had a forwarding driver last night at rugby (won't say his headcode) but I told him he was booked via the west mids rather than the trents. Although he was happy to take the train he did confess he hadn't seen part of that route in "years"

So, once you sign a route, how often do you have to drive it to keep it valid?, can you just drive it once in a blue moon and still be ok?. I thought there might be some industry standard on this that someone might be able to share?.

 

[Dave1987]

You must drive a route at least once every 6 months to keep your competency. Some depots have literally one job over a certain route a day just to keep drivers competency up to date.

 

[Pepperami]

As above, we had this come up in the training room the other day, you must do a route at least once in a 6 monthly period to keep that route signed, if not then you cannot take a train over the unsigned route... if anything had happened the driver would be the one in the poo and it would have been deep poo I would imagine

 

[Alistair G.]

Thanks guys. I guess sometimes when people say "years" they do sometimes just mean a while!. Was just curious on the ruling and now I consider myself informed!. Cheers!!!

 

[hello]

Just wondering if a anyone out there can shed some light on route knowledge.

Had a forwarding driver last night at rugby (won't say his headcode) but I told him he was booked via the west mids rather than the trents. Although he was happy to take the train he did confess he hadn't seen part of that route in "years"

So, once you sign a route, how often do you have to drive it to keep it valid?, can you just drive it once in a blue moon and still be ok?. I thought there might be some industry standard on this that someone might be able to share?.

when you say forwarding driver, do you mean you were being relieved by them?

 

[scott118]

when you say forwarding driver, do you mean you were being relieved by them?

i thought similar - the OP works for NR

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I'm not sure how written in stone the 6 months rule is? Certainly doesn't always seem to be stuck to.

 

[Minilad]

You don't have to actually drive the route every six months. You are OK as long as you have travelled over the route in the front cab or reviewed the route via digital media

 

[ComUtoR]

This is also a weird one for us. No one can find anything about a hard and fast rule about the number of times or length of time between trips.

The basic rule(s) is if you believe that you need a refresher then you ask. If you believe that you are not competent to drive the route then you do not drive it.

@Alistair. There are a few places I haven't been for years but I would still drive in a blink. Mostly sidings tbh.

There are also train movements on route I sign that I have NEVER driven.

 

[TDK]

You don't have to actually drive the route every six months. You are OK as long as you have travelled over the route in the front cab or reviewed the route via digital media

In fact I think it is down to the individual, if a driver is OK on the route then it can be longer than 6 months however a driver CAN refuse to drive over a route after the period of time has elapsed that is in the recommendations. This also goes for traction as well.

 

[Minilad]

In fact I think it is down to the individual, if a driver is OK on the route then it can be longer than 6 months however a driver CAN refuse to drive over a route after the period of time has elapsed that is in the recommendations. This also goes for traction as well.

Not with my TOC. It's a hard and fast rule now

 

[dk1]

Unless i put in for a 'Route Refresher' i sign it. The second my driver manager recieves it, i don't.

 

[class 9]

I think it used to be a group standard, but now it's down to individual companies to set their own policy.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Unless i put in for a 'Route Refresher' i sign it. The second my driver manager recieves it, i don't.

Same here, there's effectively a 1/4 mile "branch" off of one of my routes and it was the best part of 18 months between working trains over it. I have no issues with my competency over that route and neither did my manager when it came up in conversation with them. It's generally left to me to decide when I'm no longer competent and need a refresher on the routes I sign. That branch is unique as we only have one train a week that goes over it and it is difficult to keep within the competency on it, however it's so simple you could probably walk it with your eyes closed.

 

[Alistair G.]

thank you evryone for your replies to this. obviously it issnt as straight forwward as i thought it might be

Just clarify one point... in an earlier comment i state i spoke to a forwarding driver. I am a signaller and th driver had rang me to confirm he was at the station ready for when the train arrived.

 

[scotraildriver]

Here if you havent driven a route for 6 months you must have a route "refresher." After 18 months you need route "learning." And it is very much adhered to.