Train protection

This term covers equipment fitted to trains and on the track that either prevents trains passing signals at danger (known as SPADs) or reduces the consequences (by making a collision less likely) should they do so.

In this section

Background to train protection

Over the years there have been a number of serious incidents following SPADs, including collisions at Southall and Ladbroke Grove where lives were lost. Since then, train protection warning system (TPWS) has been installed across the network and is successfully reducing SPAD risk. There have been a number of incidents where TPWS has intervened to avoid a potential collision.

Details about AWS, TPWS, ATP and ERTMS can be found under Types of Train Protection.

Policy

Our policy is to ensure the railway industry obtains, delivers, manages and monitors command control signal systems that provide safe, reliable train control, and train protection under all foreseeable conditions. With the support of Government, industry and stakeholders, we promote the research, development and deployment of modern signalling systems, including automatic train protection. Further information is available in the section on command control signalling strategy.

Legislation

In Great Britain the use of train protection systems to provide automatic braking in danger situations is a specific legal requirement under Regulation 3 of the Railway Safety Regulations 1999. Railway companies use various types of train protection systems to comply with the law.

Safety Performance

Since TPWS was fitted on the national network in the late 1990s there have been a number of incidents where TPWS has helped to prevent a potential collision after a SPAD. We publish quarterly reports on the numbers of SPADs which includes a summary of the key trends.

Types of Train Protection

Signalling and telecommunications (S&T) equipment and on-board controls are vital parts of train control systems for ensuring that railways operate safely. Drivers and in some cases automatic systems, use information from signals, radio messages or other sources, to determine the safe limits within which trains must be driven.

Train control systems operate to keep trains on correctly set safe routes, apart from each other and obstructions, and at speeds that reduce the likelihood of collision and derailment. In Britain the use of train protection systems to provide automatic braking in danger situations has been a specific legal requirement since 1999. Railway companies use a variety of systems to comply with the law. Systems reduce risk by preventing or reducing the consequences of signals being passed at danger (SPADs), and by preventing trains going too fast.

Train protection systems have been under development since the mid-1800s. The first widespread system was developed in 1894 on the North Eastern Railway. Early systems gave train drivers audible and visual warning of the indication displayed by the next signal. They required action by the driver to acknowledge the warning, but would not intervene if the driver then failed to stop the train.

Railway companies use a variety of systems to comply with the law. Systems reduce risk by preventing or reducing the consequences of signals being passed at danger (SPADs), and by preventing trains going too fast.

Last updated: 25 February 2008

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