Posted 18th January 2011 | 13 Comments
Network Rail launches review of signallers’ training
NETWORK Rail is reviewing the way newly-recruited signallers are trained, because it believes the present arrangements are inflexible and unnecessarily time-consuming.
At the moment, it takes about six months to train a signaller, but operational services director Dyan Crowther said: “Quite frankly, it takes too long.”
Ms Crowther is also critical of the present training because she believes it does not take into account the varying types of signallers’ job, which can vary from running a high-tech computerised control desk in a state-of-the-art signalling centre to pulling the levers in a mechanical box.
The company employs about 5,400 signallers around the country – 15 per cent of its total workforce. She added: “We approach recruitment training of signallers as if one size fits all – but it doesn’t.”
Network Rail is under acute pressure to reduce its costs, and the Office of Rail Regulation has delayed the start of its work on the funding Network Rail will receive in Control Period 5, which will begin in 2014, so that Sir Roy McNulty's report on railway ‘value for money’ can be completed for the Department for Transport first. He has already indicated that he has identified an annual industry overspend of £1 billion.
Ms Crowther pointed out that changes are necessary. “We have been criticised by the ORR for adopting too many gold-plated solutions. Now we are making cost-effectiveness our priority.”
She accepted that changes to signallers’ training could provoke opposition from unions, but said: “We are being transparent about our proposals.”
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
ken Baldwin, Horsham
When I was a signaller I always taught learner's that they need to have local area knowledge as well as being conversant with the signaller's at the box on either side.
Unfortunately we then found ourselves with some text-book line manager's and a generation of staff that only wanted to know what they thought they should know and standards dropped appreciatively.
Now that safety critical staff(driver's &signaller's)are leant on so heavily it
is no wonder that the job is no longer attractive and soon to be underpaid.
Me, South
It must be noted that each signal box, or signalling center is different to work in, people have failed to mention that the training is more than the signalling school, ie 4 to 8 weeks learning the job at the actual location.
( I resigned in 2002 after 21 years signalling)
Alan Roberts, Abergele, UK
I work as a Relief Signaller. It was only 6 weeks in the signalling school at Manchester where I attended.
Nigel Bentham, Stoke on trent, UK
Back in 1981 I was in Signalling School in Manchester Victoria for only 6 weeks, those were the days when we worked with British Rail !.
In the 1970's fully qualified diesel or electric drivers took 20+ years from traction trainees through to secondman, relief driver and then a fully qualified driver. Back in the steam days it even took longer starting as cleaner, fireman, pass fireman then a driver.
Nigel.
Tim Ratnett, Hastings, England
Only six months! I thought it would be longer that that.Having spent 39 years in the driving grades, I have a fuller appreciation of the Signallers skills and respnsibilities that Miss Crowther apears to.
I case of an incident, it is only a Signaller and Driver that are there to deal with the first critical moments. Managers and Directors are normally at home.
I would recomend that Miss Crowther completes the Signaller training course herself.
Bobby, Worcester
Yes signallers are trained on lever frame signalling even though they may spend there working life sitting in front of a computer screen, But when out of normal disruption occurs for instance due to cable theft, the method of operation then used is to go back to lever frame methods of operation.
Not being trained on lever frame signalling reduces the safety of all signallers when the normal safety systems are not working.
William, SHEFFIELD, UK
Im applalled by what Ms Crowther is suggesting lets not forget what Lord Cullen reported when he investigated that fateful crash at Paddington in 1999
It was clearly identified that lack of training and fastracking of Driver Hodder contributed to the SPAD at SN109 on that fafeful day.
This changed history into how Drivers are now trained .
Lets never forget what happened that morning "we have a responsibility to ensure this never happens again and give that commitment to everyone travelling on trains that there safety is at the forefront of everything we do,
Safety is Paramount and should always come first.
"And yes I am a signaller"
William Tell
me, here
Perhaps as its so easy to become a signaller Ms Crowther should come round the signalling work places and show us how its done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anon, Leeds, Uk
Having worked in one of NRs signalling schools (albeit not as a signalling trainer); one question always jumped out at me-
If they are training to work in an ASC or IECC, why do they need to learn bell codes and the like?
Paul Tutton, Swindon
Every new signaller has different attributes. Some take to it like duck to water, some are excellent at qouting rules, some likewise on the workstation/pane/frame. It doesn't matter whether thay have an academical background or leave school without any quallifications. A new signaller should not take on until he/she is ready. If they are taking an exceptionally long time, then yes that person should be assessed as to whether they are suited to the job. Then that is how it used to happen before we started putting in Managers who dont know how to work a signal box..
Anon, East Anglia
So NR are proposing to train signallers up specifically to their type of box? Obviously this person at NR (who seems to have gained a lot of promotions recently) is way out of touch of what goes on on the real railway. Signallers all have to work together whether they are in one of the enormous new control centres or a small mechanical box in the countryside. Currently everyone is trained up to the same level so there is always a mutual understanding of eachothers job. In addition to this if a signaller is offered a promotion to a different type of box, a return to signalling school is not required. NR should pride itself on having signallers universally trained to a high standard and short sighted budget cuts should not even be considered for something so safety critical.
S Kelly, Larkhall, UK
Unfortunately everything seems to be purely based on cost these days. I fear it is only time when the railways will have a disaster due to putting costs before that of safety.
Joel Kosminsky, London, Britain
Do we train signallers for safety or cost? Not everyone can do an operational job - only time shows this. Shorter training times reduce the ability to assess in depth. Operational competence is only tested by disruption; we need people with acquired knowledge and experience!