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The safest way to drive a train in extreme weather, is slowly. When extreme weather is widespread, a blanket speed restriction (BSR) may be applied to temporarily lower the speed limit across large sections of the railway while conditions are more hazardous than usual.
BSRs help train operators prevent derailment, major service disruptions, or damage to infrastructure. Unlike temporary speed restrictions (TSRs) and emergency speed restrictions (ESRs) – which are applied to small chunks of the railway – BSRs cover large routes or geographical areas, making it near impossible to validate whether or not they’re actually being followed.
The reality is, the modern technology that control teams need to effectively monitor BSRs (and identify potential overspeeding) is largely absent from controls rooms in the UK. Because until recently, there’s been no method of doing so. Essentially, there hasn’t been an accurate way of knowing in real-time whether speed restrictions are mitigating risk.
Read more: why does overspeeding keep happening?
Working closely with one of our train operators, we developed the Overspeeding module within Sirocco to enable full visibility and real-time monitoring across areas impacted by a BSR – so speeding incidents can be identified and addressed as and when they occur.
The Overspeeding module means control teams can now monitor blanket restrictions in real time – and receive automated alerts when overspeeding is detected. The real-time alerts work to eliminate manual error, increase safety for passengers and crew, and reduce the additional workloads frontline teams often carry during times of disruption.
Sirocco already pulls data surrounding ESRs and TSRs into the speed management module to ensure control teams are able to monitor and identify speeding during smaller, more localised speed restrictions. The Overspeeding module has extended this capability to improve monitoring across large chunks of the UK rail network.
Information surrounding blanket speed restrictions is captured by Sirocco and brought into view for the control team when restrictions are applied.
If a train service goes beyond the speed limit that has been set, the control team is alerted in real time, so the driver can be contacted safely. As alerts are automated, speeding is less likely to be missed and can be addressed at the time rather than identified later on. This helps control teams prevent prolonged overspeeding and mitigate risk when weather conditions reach extremes.
We made the Overspeeding module to be configured to prevent false alarms and duplicate incident alerts. Train operators and control teams can set the parameters that would indicate prolonger and true overspeeding in a blanket speed restriction.
For example, an alert may only triggered when a train travels more than 10% about the speed limit, for more than 30 seconds. Alerts can be limited to just one per service, meaning control teams aren’t repeatedly alerted to the same incident.
We work with TOCs to establish the parameters that are logical and effective for their services.
A blanket speed restriction is a reduced speed limit applied across a large section of the railway. They’re typically communicated at morning briefings and through route papers. Crucially they are not marked with lineside signage.
If information isn’t passed on or a BSR is missed, any overspeeding within an area where one has been applied may not be identified until after the service has run. The Overspeeding monitor directly addresses this challenge, and reduces risk created by manual monitoring and communication methods.
Sirocco is our control room software that enables full visibility and real-time monitoring of train services. It brings critical service data into one place to improve decision-making and avoid service blind spots. Every module within Sirocco has been developed with direct input from TOC control teams, and tested in live situations to validate capability.
If you’d like to learn more about Sirocco or are interested in a demo, get in touch.