"Boltar" wrote in message
oups.com...
the driver what the problem is. Therefore the driver cannot be "given
permission". S/He waits one minute and if the signal fails to clear there
is
a standing instruction to proceed. This is the "stop and proceed" rule.

So in other words the driver should only wait for 1 minute at any red
light
since the line controllers don't have a clue whats going on and
wouldn't
know if train A was in front of train B. In which case how come I've
been
in trains stuck at non broken red lights for up to 10 minutes at
various times?

Perhaps its about time LU moved into the 20th century , never mind the
21st and actually had electronic line maps in the controllers rooms so
they
had a bloody clue where the trains on the line they're controlling
actually are.

B2003

Boltar...... The L/C and signal guys dont have a visual of whats on the
track. All they have is a line diagram that shows a light when a train is
occupying a section of track. That shows a train is there.
A signal failure manifests itself by.......thinking a train is in the
section ahead of the signal. So the signal goes red, thus stopping you and
everyone else. The diagram shows a train in the section, if it didnt the
signal could go green. So the first the L/C knows about it is when your
train calls up and says i've been here and its red. The L/C looks at the
diagram and sees a light in the section. He now thinks there is a train
there. Before he can authorise anyone to move he has to try and contact the
train by radio. If no-one responds he will assume we have a problem. Its not
actually a 'signal' failure. Its a track circuit down. Nothing wrong with
the signal, its reflecting what it thinks is a train ahead.
You may have been stopped for 10 minutes....perhaps you were the 5th train
in line.
If the T/Op cant contact L/C he then can carry out the appropriate
procedure. If its an auto, wait 2 minutes and go at a speed that he can
stop....etc etc. If its protecting points then he must contact L/C by any
means. If he cant get a direct contact, such as signl phone he nmust wait
for a visual/verbal direct communication.
They tried the system where trains set off at 2 minute gaps without the
hindereance of signals about 100 years ago.....too many crashes....You might
be a bit late for a meeting or dinner...but this is safe.

Mal