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Mark Gleeson · 18-03-2011, 11:52

Legally they must carry a guard or second driver with them while within Northern Ireland as all Northern Irish trains do. As there are no guards based in Dundalk it must be a second driver

The second person is the guard or conductor. If the guard is not present in the cab speed is limited to 40mph due lack of the required safety equipment

Newry station is fitted with AWS at the very least. CAWS cab equipment is being upgraded to enforce speed restrictions. Unlike AWS it does show the actual signal not green/caution. At Newry two trains will approach the station from opposite ends. Both will have to swap tracks at some point and therein is the risk of a conflict. NIR radio coverage is considered poor, and not suitable for safety critical communications and is to be replaced with GSM-R and that will remove the conductor requirement. See Downhill accident train was uncontactable due to a gap in coverage.

Fact is both NIR and IE have a fleet of trains which meet the safety requirements and would allow for a fast service to Dublin calling all stops to Gormonston, then non stop overtaking the trains ahead at Mosney and Skerries to deliver something close to an express time

18-03-2011, 11:52	#74
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Legally they must carry a guard or second driver with them while within Northern Ireland as all Northern Irish trains do. As there are no guards based in Dundalk it must be a second driver The second person is the guard or conductor. If the guard is not present in the cab speed is limited to 40mph due lack of the required safety equipment Newry station is fitted with AWS at the very least. CAWS cab equipment is being upgraded to enforce speed restrictions. Unlike AWS it does show the actual signal not green/caution. At Newry two trains will approach the station from opposite ends. Both will have to swap tracks at some point and therein is the risk of a conflict. NIR radio coverage is considered poor, and not suitable for safety critical communications and is to be replaced with GSM-R and that will remove the conductor requirement. See Downhill accident train was uncontactable due to a gap in coverage. Fact is both NIR and IE have a fleet of trains which meet the safety requirements and would allow for a fast service to Dublin calling all stops to Gormonston, then non stop overtaking the trains ahead at Mosney and Skerries to deliver something close to an express time __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 18-03-2011 at 12:07.