PTS - Personal Track Safety Railway Hazards and Terminology Flashcards

What is the term for the minimum distance that track workers must keep from a running line when a train is approaching?

Answer: Position of safety

A position of safety is the distance and location where a track worker is clear of all moving trains and other hazards on the line.

What does the term 'cess' refer to on a railway?

Answer: The area of ground beside the track outside the rails

The cess is the strip of ground running alongside the railway track, outside the rails, which workers use for access and egress.

What is a 'line blockage' in railway operations?

Answer: A formal arrangement preventing train movements on a specified line or section

A line blockage is a formal arrangement, authorised through the signaller, that prevents train movements on a specified section of track for a defined period.

What does 'fouling point' mean in railway terminology?

Answer: The location where vehicles on converging lines would come into contact

A fouling point is the location at a set of points (switches) where vehicles on converging lines would first come into contact with each other.

What is the purpose of a 'look-out' in a Lookout Protected Working system?

Answer: To watch for approaching trains and give timely warning to workers

A look-out watches for approaching trains and gives a timely warning signal to allow all workers to reach a position of safety before the train arrives.

What does 'possession' mean in the context of railway track work?

Answer: An arrangement where a section of line is taken out of use and handed to engineering teams

A possession is a formal arrangement where a section of track is taken out of normal use and handed over to engineering teams for maintenance or renewal work.