Route knowledge

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As knowledge of the track is called an in-depth knowledge of by a train traversed route.

The duties of a locomotive driver , and possibly also of the train driver , require knowledge of the routes he is traveling on, especially their peculiarities such as gradient and curve conditions, the signal and station distances as well as the track layouts within the stations, which are also decisive for the driving speeds. There are also local features, such as B. different procedures for train dispatching on the platform and when parking vehicles, areas of responsibility of the dispatcher and switch keeper , special signaling and various diversion procedures.

The engine driver acquires this knowledge through so-called instruction drives or route knowledge drives as a passenger on the locomotive of a train. Driving on a route without route knowledge requires the provision of a route-knowledgeable pilot. If this cannot be provided, the route may i. d. Usually - depending on the railway administration - only be driven on at a lower speed.

If the routes are not used, depending on the company or state, knowledge of the route must be renewed every two years by means of a further instruction drive.

The knowledge of the route of the locomotive driver is of great importance for the safe and smooth operation.

Situation in Germany

As track customer is understood within the railway to acquire knowledge of a railway line (in particular their peculiarities) by driver (Tf).

In Germany, according to the regulations of the Ril 408 (formerly DV or DS 408), a Tf must be familiar with the route for every railway line it travels . Without route information, he may only drive a route in accordance with the following rules:

  1. If, in exceptional cases, you are not familiar with the route, you will have to drive if you have been assigned an employee (pilot) who is familiar with the route.
  2. If an employee who is familiar with the route is not available, you may drive without an employee who is familiar with the route, provided it is not prohibited in the local guidelines. You then have to adapt your driving style to the route and visibility conditions. The permissible speed is 100 km / h on main lines and 40 km / h on secondary lines.

He is commissioned separately by his railway company (EVU) to acquire the route customer. To do this, a route should be driven four times in daylight and twice in the dark under the guidance of a train driver who is familiar with the route. These journeys are noted on the route customer purchase form issued by the RU with the date, train number and the signature of the instructing driver.

Through these trips a Tf u. a. Acquire knowledge of train dispatching procedures, vehicle parking, areas of responsibility of the dispatchers and turnout keepers, route and shunting radio channels, signaling deviating from normal operation or diversion procedures on the routes to be traveled by them. In support of this, the preliminary remarks on the book timetable are stored on each locomotive for inspection by the driver . In this, all local features are listed individually by route number and station.

By submitting the order form to his superior office, the driver declares that he is familiar with the route and is therefore entitled to drive this route independently. If a Tf does not travel on routes for which he is authorized for more than a year, the route customer expires and must be purchased again.

history

Before the western introduction of the Riedbahn went into operation in 1985, route knowledge was primarily conveyed using notices and films. At the end of the 1980s it was still necessary to drive as an assistant for three months in order to first acquire route knowledge in the standard procedure.

Situation in Switzerland

In Switzerland regulated by FDV R300.13 section 2.5.2.

In order to gain knowledge of the route, it is necessary to drive the route four times in each direction, once each time in the dark. This can be shortened with the approval of the BAV , for example by making part of the journeys on the locomotive simulator. The locomotive driver is jointly responsible for ensuring his level of knowledge, he must have traveled the route and station at least every three years, otherwise it is necessary to refresh his knowledge. To do this, the route must be traveled once in each direction as a training trip. Engine drivers who are not familiar with the route must be accompanied by a train driver who is not familiar with the route.

In the event of operational disruptions, a train driver is allowed to drive on unfamiliar routes and stations with the necessary caution. This, however, only with his consent, but he must know and be able to apply the necessary route tables and implementation regulations. The transport companies may determine routes which may not be traveled without sufficient knowledge.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Fritz Schröder: First acquisition of route knowledge with leaflet and film . In: Die Bundesbahn , 64, No. 12, 1988, ISSN  0007-5876 , pp. 1165-1168.