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Freight Route Knowledge

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Surreytraveller

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MrEd

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I've been wondering the same thing

I don’t know how FOCs ensure route knowledge retention, but I am fairly sure that no FOC driver would ever be allowed to drive a route which he did not sign without a route conductor (I.e. an accompanying driver, or possibly driver manager, who does sign the route). All drivers on the national rail network are surely required to sign a route card at regular intervals, to keep up their route knowledge by driving the route periodically (the roster should enable this), and to arrange refresher training if route knowledge has lapsed. I’m sure someone who knows more about FOCs will be along to explain in more detail how this procedure works, and how frequent these intervals are. Obviously FOCs will face challenges, as you suggest, in ensuring that their drivers keep up their route knowledge, as they tend to work a much larger range of routes than passenger drivers, including routes which they may only use occasionally/on an as required basis. Driving a route you don’t sign without a route conductor is a no-no, however.
 

Edders23

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I'm pretty sure they will have a few drivers that are current for the route even if it is only periodically used
 

Tom B

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What would happen in the case of a route that was mothballed and then re commissioned after more than a year? Thus leaving nobody still with 'current' route knowledge?
 

800002

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What would happen in the case of a route that was mothballed and then re commissioned after more than a year? Thus leaving nobody still with 'current' route knowledge?
Route knowledge training, before the required route trip, would occur.
 

Chrisgr31

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Route knowledge was an issue wasnt it in an investigation by the RAIB, involving a steam train I seem to recall
 

800002

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Route knowledge was an issue wasnt it in an investigation by the RAIB, involving a steam train I seem to recall
Quite possible. There has been a great deal of RAIB reportage mentioned surrounding WCR (West Coast Railway) and their numerous incidents.
It was certainly mentioned in the Wootton Bassett Jn SPAD report - and if I recall, WCR managed to have open themselves up to quite a dodgy area, as they were effectively reliant on their drivers saying they had the required knowledge - without the driver having had to drive for WCR. (the driver did his route knowledge as an employee of Colas and drove additionally for WCR).
I think also, they were using other operators maps (tracks, signalling, ect) and we're reliant on third party updates, to maintain specific elements of knowledge - but I might be mistaken on that.
 

Roast Veg

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Route knowledge doesn't always have to be learned in-situ, SE drivers were trained to use the international flyover at Waterloo on a video.
 

800002

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Route knowledge doesn't always have to be learned in-situ, SE drivers were trained to use the international flyover at Waterloo on a video.
Indeed. Presumably, a camera (in effect) driven by a driver with the knowledge.
Presumably, with a new / re-commission, as enquired about above, would require first a driver to go on a walk-thru or equivilant before driving, inorder to be the first route competent person, to train / assess the others who follow.
 

Panupreset

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When Shenfield was remodelled a couple of years ago we had to learn it in our own time using a briefing booklet and online computer animations.
 

800002

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It was DCR and the guy wasn't even competent to drive on the main line!
Posted the same time...
And quite, I think para. 55, from the RAIB report, says as much.
https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports?keywords=stafford

55. The driver signed his route card to confirm his competence on additional routes on 1 October 2011, including the route from Washwood Heath to Crewe; further routes were added on 4 January 2012. Colas Rail’s route learning norm for the route from Washwood Heath to Crewe requires a driver to experience a total of sixty trips over the route (thirty days); DB Schenker has assessed the equivalent route learning requirement as fifteen days. These norms are based on the operators’ route risk assessments for the route. Witness evidence suggests that the driver may have driven over the route on only six to eight occasions before the incident on 26 April 2012. The RAIB has seen no record of a formal assessment of his competence for the route.
 

Atishyou

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At my FOC, we refresh routes in operational down time via video, where available. We learn via a variety of methods, but mainly up front with other drivers, either our own services or with passenger drivers if they go the same way.

If I haven't been a particular route for a while, but am still confident I know it, and we still have services going that way, I'll ask the roster clerk to book me on a job to keep the route fresh, or if it's gone beyond being confident, I'll ask to go on the job with another driver for a refresh.
 
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