2009 Q2 Overlaps- standards to apply

[PJW]

Do you have a mock question in mind Peter?

At Signet we discussed 2009 Mod3 Q2 that is relevant.

However since you have asked, have drafted something.

Explain the purpose of providing an overlap or overrun section:
a) where there is fully effective train protection,
b) where there is limited or no train protection.
[7 Marks]

For a railway with which you are familiar, discuss what interlocking and other signalling controls you would choose to apply:
a) at the time of route setting,
b) at the time of aspect clearance / movement authority being given,
c) whilst the train movement is taking place,
d) in the event of an overrun
and justify the reasons for your decisions based upon the context of that railway including the safety and reliability targets it seeks to achieve.
[18 Marks]


As you have remarked there is a good range of past Control table attempts on this website but not much in the way of written questions.

There have been a few hints over recent years that the examiners are finding Control Tables can be completed in too formulaic a manner and find the written questions a better means of determining a candidate's knowledge and understanding. Hence even if doing the CTs in the exam, it is in your interests also to submit a good written answer rather than just regard it as a "make weight". If your CTs are a bit dodgy (as most people's in exam conditions will be) then the impression given from that written question could be very influential when the examiners are wondering whether to give you "the benefit of the doubt" or alternatively mark more severely when a stupid error on the CTs is apparent.

So I think all candidates should PRACTICE written answers; this would be a good one to start onand I am looking forward to seeing some attempts posted

[merlin89]

Peter,
Many thanks for that, recently I have been concentraing very much so on the CTs and out of the layouts for 2000-2009 I have just the 2007 and 2009 layout to complete (will be submitting my answers for the other years attempts this week)..

I attempted the 2008 layout under exam conditions and found that in 1hr 10 mins I could not complete all CTs and left 233 points out. This was working flat out without wrtiting out any accompanying notes either; to say this was very hard is an understatement. I would suggest to anybody who like me is working through CTs to give it a go it isnt easy. So for the month and a half remaining I intend to switch my attention to written questions starting off with aspect sequencing and the swinging overlap question above. However even with the time remaining I still feel Im running out of time do you have any hints tips or suggestions or other areas I could and indeed my fellow students should concentrate on?
Many Thanks
Ian

[Peter]

Peter,
Many thanks for that, recently I have been concentraing very much so on the CTs and out of the layouts for 2000-2009 I have just the 2007 and 2009 layout to complete (will be submitting my answers for the other years attempts this week)..

I attempted the 2008 layout under exam conditions and found that in 1hr 10 mins I could not complete all CTs and left 233 points out. This was working flat out without wrtiting out any accompanying notes either; to say this was very hard is an understatement. I would suggest to anybody who like me is working through CTs to give it a go it isnt easy. So for the month and a half remaining I intend to switch my attention to written questions starting off with aspect sequencing and the swinging overlap question above. However even with the time remaining I still feel Im running out of time do you have any hints tips or suggestions or other areas I could and indeed my fellow students should concentrate on?
Many Thanks
Ian

It is always very difficult to say that something is certain to cope up, so your idea of thinking about general areas of principles like aspect sequence and swinging overlaps is a good one. A possible source of areas to look at comes from what has been in the industry press in the last year or so, or what have been the industry issues / changes. My suggestion would be something on Level Crossings as there is a lot of work on technology issues (eg obstacle detection) which may seem more like mod 5, but what about the principles around that (auto lower, time for checking, what about when an obstacle is detected after the signal is cleared. There has also been a lot of discussion on over-run at signals protecting level crossings where the signal is close (< overlap distance) to the crossing. Also, low cost, higher safety options (predictors at AHB; lights, sounders, gates or locks at user worked crossings rather than full conversion to barriers)These are essentially NR led issues, but bearing in mind that many of those involved with the exam committee will be influenced by this environment.