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Glossary

Browse the A-Z below for some rail-specific terms that are used in this website, together with their meanings.
 

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S

SAMNET

Safety Management and interoperability thematic Network for railways systems

SAMRAIL

Safety management in railways

Services for the carriage of passengers by railway

Section 82(2) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that “services for the carriage of passengers by railway” includes services for and in connection with the carriage of luggage, parcels or mail on trains which at the time are available, and primarily intended, for use by passengers; and references to carrying, or to the carriage of, passengers by railway shall be construed accordingly”.

Services relating to railways

“Services relating to railways” are defined in section 67(3ZA) of the Railways Act 1993 as:
“(a) railway services;
(b) the provision or maintenance of rolling stock;
(c) the development, maintenance or renewal of a network, station or light maintenance depot; and
(d) the development, provision or maintenance of information systems designed wholly or mainly for facilitating the provision of railway services.”

 

SFAIRP

So far as is reasonably practicable.

Signal failure

Where the signalling system fails to work correctly. This includes signal failures, points failures and track circuit failures.

SPAD

Signal passed at danger: one of the criteria on which the safety of the national rail network is measured. Relates to the occasions where a train passes a signal at which it should have stopped.

Station services

Section 82(2) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that “station services” means any service which consists of, or is comprised in, the provision or operation of a station”, and section 82(4) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that “In determining whether any service is a station service, it is immaterial whether or not the person who provides the service also provides or operates a station, or any part of a station, or provides the service on behalf of a person who does so.”
Section 82(2) explains that, for the purposes of the definition of “station services”, where a person permits another to use any land or other property comprised in a station he is to be regarded as providing a service which falls within the meaning of “station services”.

Stoneblower

A track machine that automatically lifts and aligns the track by adding ballast to level the track.

Super-red

An eighth mile length of track with average alignment or level faults that exceed a maximum level.