scope:

General

Route proving has been used for some time on the Victoria Line to enable a train to pass a signal at danger or proceed after a SPAD incident, without the need to secure points. This minimises delay and reduces risk to staff who would otherwise have to go on the track to secure the points.

The process uses a proceed aspect of a signal reading over points to prove the points of a crossover are set in the correct position for a train on an adjacent line to proceed.

This procedure is now being introduced at approved locations on the Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan lines. The procedure will work in the same way as on the Victoria Line, except that the train operator will need to stop and reset the tripcock after passing the signal at danger.

The diagram below explains how route proving works. In this example, signal DC5 is showing a proceed aspect which proves that no. 7 crossover is normal. A train standing at signal DC2 can therefore be authorised to proceed without the points being secured.