scope:

This Procedure defines the process, roles and responsibilities in the management of occasional short term dispensations for the exceedence of maximum allowable timescales for the removal of discrete rail defects.

This Procedure must not be used to provide dispensation to the requirements defined in Network Rail Standards for the imposition of ESRs or TSRs.

For sites with Rolling Contact Fatigue, with minimum actions and timescales prescribed in PWSI 4, tables 2a - 2d of Appendix B (superseded in August 2005 by Tables 4.6.3 & 4.6.4 in NR/SP/TRK/001, these sites are not covered by Section 4.2 of this Procedure, but the process and the template Temporary Dispensation Application Form, Appendix A, supported by the templated risk assessment forms, Appendices B & C must be used. On these sites, the Track Maintenance Engineer must propose risk controls, appropriate to the site, for review by the Area Track Engineer

Purpose

The minimum actions for the removal of rail defects, including timescales and, where appropriate, risk controls, are defined in Network Rail Standards :- ·

• * RT/CE/S/103, Issue 4 April 2001 Track Inspection Requirements including TNCs 2154 and 2436. 

• * PWSI 4, Issue 3 (Revised) October 2003, Instruction on The Management Of Rails To Control RCF (GCC & HC)

* Until August 2005, when these Standards will be replaced by / incorporated in Business Process Document NR/SP/TRK/001 Issue 01, Inspection and Maintenance of Permanent Way.

• NR/SP/TRK/032 (RT/CE/S/032), Joining Of Rails By Aluminothermic Welding

• NR/SP/TRK/053 (RT/CE/S/053), Inspection and Repair Procedures to Reduce the Risk of Derailment at Switches.

• NR/SP/TRK/054 (RT/CE/054), Inspection of Cast Crossings and Cast Vees in The Track

• NR/SP/TRK/132 (RT/CE/S/132), Weld Repair of Rails

If a situation is identified where there is a systematic failure or potential inability to comply with the requirements of the above Standards, then the Area Track Engineer must provide a documented scope or potential scope of the non-compliance and agree a recovery plan with the Territory Engineer [Track] (TET). The TET manages the non-compliance or potential non-compliance with the Head of Track Engineering, in accordance with Network Rail Standard NR/SP/STP/045 Managing the Process For Non-Compliance Authority. Where appropriate and subject to a satisfactory application from the TET (including risk assessments, risk controls and time bound recovery plan) the Head of Track Engineering may issue a Temporary Non-Compliance (TNC) Certificate.

Where there is a justifiable reason for inability to comply with the specified maximum timescales for the removal of discrete defects, an Area Track Engineer (or nominated deputy in their absence) is authorised to approve a temporary dispensation to extend the removal timescales. This approval must be supported by a risk assessment supplied by the Track Maintenance Engineer, which includes the imposition of any additional risk controls, as appropriate.