• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

PTS Practical - expectations

Status
Not open for further replies.

Betttys17

New Member
Joined
22 May 2020
Messages
4
Location
London
Hi all,

I'm hoping to complete my PTS Practical course soon.
I have completed my e-learning and done so many times to make sure I know and understand it all as well as reading the personal track safety rulebook/handbook for track workers.

What do you do on your PTS test exactly?
Anyone have a simplified written step-by-step advice?

What do they ask, what do you do etc?

TIA
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

alxndr

Established Member
Joined
3 Apr 2015
Messages
1,575
Don't overthink it, it's not overcomplicated. As long as you pay attention and act sensibly it shouldn't be anything to worry about. Ask if there is anything that you are unsure or unclear about (and continue doing so even once you have left the training course!)

It's been a good few years since I did mine, but as far as I can recall it was some classroom stuff, followed by a short walk along track, and I think the application of a track circuit clip. I also did the DCCR (third rail) PTS and had to apply a conductor rail shield as part of that too.
 

MistaMatthews

Member
Joined
20 Apr 2020
Messages
97
Location
Brighton, United Kingdom
I did mine recently which also included track induction. It went like this...

Day 1: Started with verification test... You need to pass this otherwise you're of the course. But if you done the e-learning then you'll be fine. Spent the rest of the day going over some rules and ended with PTS + AC test.

Day 2: Going over some rules regarding DC, practiced stepping over DC rails, applying DC rail Shields, track circuit clips, but this was done on dummy track in the training centre. Then went out on a live line walk to demonstrate how to acknowledge a passing train. Practiced emergency call procedures and then finished with a test on DC.

Day 3: Manual Handling

Day 4: First Aid

Second week was more practical stuff such as changing rails, sleepers, fishplates, IBJ's, clipping / unclipping and then an open book test at the end of the week.

I think PTS on its own is only the first two days, but the rest of the course was definitely very useful.

It was all pretty easy and near impossible to fail so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Good luck.
 

Stigy

Established Member
Joined
6 Nov 2009
Messages
4,914
I did mine recently which also included track induction. It went like this...

Day 1: Started with verification test... You need to pass this otherwise you're of the course. But if you done the e-learning then you'll be fine. Spent the rest of the day going over some rules and ended with PTS + AC test.

Day 2: Going over some rules regarding DC, practiced stepping over DC rails, applying DC rail Shields, track circuit clips, but this was done on dummy track in the training centre. Then went out on a live line walk to demonstrate how to acknowledge a passing train. Practiced emergency call procedures and then finished with a test on DC.

Day 3: Manual Handling

Day 4: First Aid

Second week was more practical stuff such as changing rails, sleepers, fishplates, IBJ's, clipping / unclipping and then an open book test at the end of the week.

I think PTS on its own is only the first two days, but the rest of the course was definitely very useful.

It was all pretty easy and near impossible to fail so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Good luck.
PTS is only the first two days, you’re right.

@Betttys17, It varies depending on who’s carrying out the course as to its exact content, but it’s fundamentally all the same (Apart from applying conductor rail shields which I guess is part of NWR PTS if you’re going to be working on the track a lot?).

Certainly at TOCs, we don’t tend to do live track walks anymore. Last time I did one of them was in 2006 as part of a PTS.
 

Undiscovered

Member
Joined
28 Jan 2013
Messages
434
Our TOC we strapped a dummy det to the line too. Wash your hands after this as our contained lead in the strapping.
 

Steam Man

On Moderation
Joined
9 May 2019
Messages
95
PTS is only the first two days, you’re right.

@Betttys17, It varies depending on who’s carrying out the course as to its exact content, but it’s fundamentally all the same (Apart from applying conductor rail shields which I guess is part of NWR PTS if you’re going to be working on the track a lot?).

Certainly at TOCs, we don’t tend to do live track walks anymore. Last time I did one of them was in 2006 as part of a PTS.
When we do it at the heritage railways we don’t do track walks we read a booklet and 30 multiple choice questions.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top