Re: NSW Driver road knowledge (was something about the Airport)

[craigd@lios.apana.org.au (C. Dewick)]

Eric Cartman <erk_cartman@yahoo.com> writes:

>Under this theory, the Glenbrook accident would not have happened with
>that driver as I beleive he is from Lithgow Depot.

Correct, but that makes little difference. It could have been a freight
train with an Enfield crew, or maybe a Penrith driver on a train from
Springwood. 

The end result looks to have been caused through lack of communication
between the driver(s), signallers and train controllers, mostly resulting
from a lack of information available to the signaller at Penrith as to train
position, etc. and inadequate physical radio infrastructure. Isn't it true
that the problems which the Glenbrook accident has highlighted (incompatible
radio systems, radio black spots, etc. which lead to overall inadequate
communication infrastructure, coupled with other factors) have only come
into scrutiny because of the serious accident which occured?

Granville was the same (although the cause was different) - things got
pushed aside into the 'too hard basket' and then all the mitigating factors
came together at a point in time which resulted in a serious incident taking
place.

On the subject of radio communications, we are *still* not being issued with
hand-portable radios which can link in with the on-train Siemens system. So
in the event of an emergency when the driver and/or guard have to leave
their compartments, we cannot communicate unless we both use (and carry,
since a lot of people don't carry the old open-channel UHF radios anymore)
the old radios, and even they are hopeless in most situations if there is no
line-of-sight view between radio operators.

More importantly, unless we have a personal mobile phone, and there is good
signal reception, we cannot call any emergency service if we're out of the
cab. Of course under the current regulations we are actually not permitted
to use mobile phones, or any other non-departmental radio device, so there
are legal issues to be resolved if use of personal mobile phones for
departmental purposes in any sort of emergency situation was made
'official'.

> I hope Craig enjoys driving Sutherland - Waterfall. Is that inclusive or
>exclusive, by the way?

If that was the only section I worked on it'd be quite a boring job. 8-)
However I'd always be close to home, which would be good for my family...

Regards,

Craig.
--
            Craig Ian Dewick            |       Stand clear - jaws closing
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