scope:

Purpose and scope of the handbook

This handbook gives practical guidance regarding the action that may be taken to achieve emergency track repairs. It should be noted that some repairs may be temporary and that speed restrictions may be imposed until the track is restored to a safe condition to permit normal train services to resume.

This handbook covers situations where the track is the sole asset category involved, such as broken rails or blockjoint failures, and those which affect more than one category of asset, for example derailments or damage to trackside structures.

The following types of situation are addressed in this handbook:

↕ derailment

↕ train collision

↕ track component failure

↕ track geometry defect

↕ structural failure or collapse

↕ obstruction on the track

↕ flooding on the track

↕ aftermath of fire on the track

↕ chemical leak or spillage on the track

↕ hot weather buckle

↕ extreme winter weather.

These situations fall within the category of medium incidents as defined in the Control Standards Manual, Loss Control Standard 1. The factor that characterises them as emergencies is the actual or potential risk of loss of life or serious injury they present to customers or staff, combined with the risk of loss to the track asset and train service.

Most of the emergencies which line staff are likely to meet in their day-to-day work involve track component failure. Emergencies related to particular forms of component failure are treated in detail in Section 2 of this handbook, which sets out check lists for action in specific types of track emergency. Section 3 offers guidance to help track staff investigate emergencies, analyse their causes and contributory factors, and develop measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring. Section 4 outlines the process for handing back the track when repairs are completed.

This manual should be used in conjunction with the current version of track standard E8404 which identifies the parameters to be used for maintenance purposes in measuring the geometry of the track and assessing the condition of track components. The track parameters have been developed into three levels as described below:

Safety standard - for a given track parameter, the obligatory threshold value consistent with the safety of the track. Measurement of the parameter shall not give a reading at or beyond the safety standard. The standard was formerly termed the safety intervention threshold;

Maintenance limit - for a given track parameter, the threshold value representing the level beyond which the parameter should not be allowed to deteriorate. Where measurement of a track parameter gives a reading at or beyond this value, corrective maintenance is to be undertaken within the terms of track standard E8404;

Maintenance target - in the case of parameters which are recorded statistically over sections of the track, the value that is to be achieved or bettered on not less than 90% of the length of the track. In the case of parameters such as chair gall or side wear, which are measured in the form of discrete occurrences, the value that is to be achieved or bettered in all locations where normal conditions apply. The margin of tolerance allows for locations untypical of the track as a whole, where track characteristics impose particularly complex maintenance requirements, for example in junctionwork, or where track components are scheduled for renewal.

The scope of this handbook does not include:

↕ emergencies such as fatality or injury on the track, which do not normally involve track repairs

↕ emergencies related to signalling systems or train borne equipment

↕ asset conditions that are expected to be put right by line personnel as part of their maintenance responsibilities and which do not normally involve the PSD Emergency Response Unit.

↕ organisational responsibilities in emergency situations, which are governed by Reference Manual document Na100 (Incident organisation)

↕ procedures for notifying and reporting emergencies as defined in the Control Standards Manual, Loss Control Standard 1 (Incident Investigation and Reporting)

↕ administrative arrangements or responsibilities for mobilising and managing emergency maintenance teams, which Business Units will wish to co-ordinate in ways that conform with the LUL Railway Safety Case and match their individual operational needs.