SPAD

Signal Passed At Danger

A signal passed at danger (SPAD),
in British railway terminology,
occurs when a train passes a stop
signal without authority to do so.


These fall into four basic
categories:

A Category A SPAD is where the
signalling equipment was working
properly, but the train passed the
signal at danger even though
there was adequate opportunity
for it to stop.

A Category B SPAD is where the
signal reverted to danger in front
of the train due to an equipment
failure or signaller error, and the
train was unable to stop before
passing the signal.

A Category C SPAD is where the
signal reverted to danger in front
of the train due to an emergency,
and the train was unable to stop
before passing the signal.

A Category D SPAD is where the
train ran out of control and could
not be stopped from passing a
signal at danger.

AWS
Automatic Warning
System

The system basically consists of a
relay control box, EP valves
connected to the braking system,
a 'sunflower' indicator mounted in
a prominent position in the
driver's cab, a magnetically
operated 'receiver' underneath
the locomotive/multiple unit
driving car, a driver's reset plunger
and a static voltage-converter
providing operating voltages of
12V & 40V from the unit supply,
plus an isolating handle that is
both an electrical and vacuum
pipe/air isolator.
















DRA
Driver Reminder
Appliance

The Driver's Reminder
Appliance (DRA) is a manual
switch in the driving cab of a
passenger train. When
operated it glows bright red
and prevents the driver
from being able to take
power. It was introduced in
the design and operation of
United Kingdom passenger
trains in the 1990s

in
response to a series of
railway accidents where
train drivers had passed a
signal at danger when
starting away Operation

TPWS
Train Protection & Warning System
The Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) is a train protection system deployed across the entire UK
passenger railway network, as well as in Victoria, Australia. It automatically activates brakes on any train that
has passed a signal at danger or is over speeding. It is fitted at selected sites, including some lines where
automatic train protection (ATP) is installed.
[

Signal Photo Description


Green


The track ahead is clear. The
train is permitted to travel
at any speed up to the
current line limit.


Double Yellow


Be prepared to find the
following signal showing
caution (yellow).

Caution (Yellow)
The following signal will be
showing Stop (red), and the
driver must be prepared to
stop at the following signal
if it does not change to a
less restrictive aspect
before they reach it.

Red
Also known as danger. The
driver must stop at the
signal. The train may only
proceed when the signal
changes to a less restrictive
aspect.

Differential
Permanent Speed
Restriction
Start of differential
permanent speed
restriction, with two varying
restrictions for different
types of trains. The figure
above the line is the
maximum permitted speed
for freight trains, while the
figure under the line is the
maximum line-speed for
passenger trains. In this
example, freight is
permitted to 35 mph (56
km/h), while passenger
trains are permitted to 70
mph (110 km/h).