Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8040
Issue One
Date August 2002

Low Adhesion
between the
Wheel and the
Rail – Managing
the Risk

Synopsis
This document mandates the actions
required to identify and plan the
mitigation of conditions of low
adhesion between the wheel and the
rail.

Submitted by

This document is the property of

Elizabeth Fleming
Railway Safety. It shall not be
Standards Project Manager
reproduced in whole or in part without
the written permission of the Controller,
Authorised by Railway Group Standards,
Railway Safety.

Published by:
Railway Safety
Evergreen House
160 Euston Road
London NW1 2DX
Brian Alston
Controller, Railway Group Standards © Copyright 2002 Railway Safety
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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8040
Issue One
Low Adhesion between the Wheel Date August 2002
and the Rail – Managing the Risk Page 1 of 8

Contents
Section Description Page

Part A
A1 Issue record 2
A2 Implementation of this document 2
A3 Scope of Railway Group Standards 2
A4 Responsibilities 2
A5 Health and safety responsibilities 3
A6 Technical content 3
A7 Supply 3

Part B
B1 Purpose 4
B2 Application of this document 4
B3 Definitions 4
B4 General requirements 4
B5 Site specific action plans 5
B6 Action to be taken when low adhesion is reported 6

References 8

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Date August 2002 Low Adhesion between the Wheel
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Part A
A1 Issue record
Issue Date Comments
One 3 August 2002 Original Document
Supersedes GO/RT3356

This document will be updated when necessary by distribution of a complete

replacement.

A2 Implementation of
this document
The publication date of this document is 03 August 2002.

This document comes into force on 05 October 2002.

The dates by which compliance with the requirements of this document is to be

achieved are set out in Part B2. Where those dates are later than the date on
which this document comes into force, this is to give Railway Group members
additional time to plan and commence implementation so as to achieve full
compliance by the dates set out in Part B2.

This document supersedes the following Railway Group Standards, either in

whole or in part as indicated:

Railway Issue Title RGS sections Date(s) as of

Group No. superseded by which sections
Standard this document are superseded

GO/RT3356 1 Identification, All 1 February 2003

Reporting and
Rectification
of Conditions
of Low Rail
Adhesion.
A3 Scope of Railway
Group Standards
The overall scope of Railway Group Standards is set out in Appendix A of
GA/RT6001. The specific scope of this document is set out in Part B2.

A4 Responsibilities
Railway Group Standards are mandatory on all members of the Railway Group*
and apply to all relevant activities that fall into the scope of each individual’s
Railway Safety Case. If any of those activities are performed by a contractor, the
contractor’s obligation in respect of Railway Group Standards is determined by
the terms of the contract between the respective parties. Where a contractor is
a duty holder of a Railway Safety Case then Railway Group Standards apply
directly to the activities described in the Safety Case.

* The Railway Group comprises Railtrack PLC, Railway Safety, and the train
and station operators who hold railway safety cases for operation on or related to
infrastructure controlled by Railtrack PLC.

Railtrack PLC is known as Railtrack.

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Low Adhesion between the Wheel Date August 2002
and the Rail – Managing the Risk Page 3 of 8

A5 Health and safety

responsibilities
In issuing this document, Railway Safety makes no warranties, express or
implied, that compliance with all or any documents published by Railway Safety
is sufficient on its own to ensure safe systems of work or operation. Each user is
reminded of its own responsibilities to ensure health and safety at work and its
individual duties under health and safety legislation.

A6 Technical content
The technical content of this document has been approved by:

Richard Evans, Technical Principal, Railway Safety

Enquiries should be directed to Railway Safety – Tel: 020 7904 7518

A7 Supply
Controlled and uncontrolled copies of this document may be obtained from the
Industry Safety Liaison Dept, Railway Safety, Evergreen House,
160 Euston Road, London NW1 2DX.

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Date August 2002 Low Adhesion between the Wheel
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Part B
B1 Purpose
This document details the action to be taken to identify and plan the mitigation of
risks due to conditions of low adhesion between the wheel and the rail.

B2 Application of this
document
B2.1 To whom the requirements apply
This document contains requirements that are applicable to duty holders of the
following categories of Railway Safety Case:

a) infrastructure controller

b) train operator.

B2.2 Compliance requirements

B2.2.1 Infrastructure controller
The requirements of this document are mandatory from 01 February 2003. The
requirements of GO/RT3356, issue one, June 1995 shall be complied with until
that date.

B2.2.2 Train operators

The requirements of this document are mandatory from 01 February 2003. The
requirements of GO/RT3356, issue one, June 1995 shall be complied with until
that date.

B2.2.3 General compliance requirements

After the compliance date, Railway Group members shall not deviate from the
requirements set out in this document.

Where it is considered not practicable, or not reasonably practicable, to comply

with the requirements set out in this document, authorisation not to comply shall
be sought in accordance with GA/RT6001, GA/RT6004 or GA/RT6006.

B3 Definitions
Low adhesion
The level of adhesion between the wheel and the rail that has the potential to
extend the braking distance beyond that required under normal conditions.

Urgent advice
The means used by train operators to advise drivers under their control of urgent
operational requirements that have recently been published.

B4 General
requirements
B4.1 Infrastructure controller’s responsibilities
The infrastructure controller shall have measures in place to control the risk of
low adhesion to a level as low as reasonably practical. The Infrastructure
Controller shall, as a minimum:

a) have processes in place to identify locations where low adhesion may occur

b) publish details of locations where low adhesion may occur in the Sectional
Appendix

c) lead the development of site specific action plans to reduce the likelihood of
low adhesion occurring, as set out in section B5

d) lead the development of action plans to manage low adhesion that occurs at
locations not previously known to be affected, as set out in B6

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e) monitor the performance and review the plans, at least annually, to ensure
that the most effective action is taken

The conditions for reporting low adhesion rail are contained in GO/RT3000 Rule
Book.

B4.2 Train operators responsibilities

B4.2.1 Train borne systems
Train operators shall co-operate with the infrastructure controller to take action to
reduce the risks generated by low adhesion that cannot be eliminated by local
treatment at specific sites.

In developing the plans consideration shall be given to providing train borne

systems to improve braking performance under conditions of low adhesion,
including:

a) optimised wheel slide prevention equipment

b) sanding equipment (as set out in GM/RT2461 Sanding Equipment Fitted to

Multiple Units and On-Track Machines).

In addition consideration shall also be given to:

a) utilising on train systems to detect wheel slide activity and alert the driver

b) providing remote monitoring systems to allow drivers to be alerted to low

adhesion conditions.

Where, it has not been considered reasonably practicable to implement train

borne systems to reduce the risks generated by low adhesion that cannot be
eliminated by local treatment at specific sites, a record of the decision including
details of the alternative risk mitigation measures implemented shall be retained.

B4.2.2 Train driving

Train operators shall ensure drivers are trained and competent:

a) to recognise those locations where conditions of low adhesion may occur

b) on the driving techniques to be used when they become aware of conditions

of low adhesion

The conditions for reporting low adhesion rail are contained in GO/RT3000 Rule
Book.

B5 Site specific action

plans
B5.1 Establishing site specific action plans
The infrastructure controller, in co-operation with the train operator(s) concerned,
shall lead an assessment to determine the risks involved where a site of low
adhesion is identified.

A site-specific action plan shall be developed setting out measures to eliminate

the risks or mitigate them if elimination is not reasonably practicable.

B5.2 Content of site specific action plans

The site-specific action plan shall:

a) identify the source of the risk, for example:

i) vegetation

ii) contamination of the rails by grease, fuel, oil etc

iii) industrial pollution, road traffic pollution etc.

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Date August 2002 Low Adhesion between the Wheel
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iv) damp, dew, ice, frost or other climatic conditions

b) identify any relevant features of the location, for example:

i) gradients

ii) signals

iii) level crossings

iv) terminal platforms or buffer stops

v) rail flange lubricators

c) identify actions to control the risk, for example:

i) vegetation control, felling or pruning of trees

ii) additional track protection measures, leaf screens etc

iii) fitting of devices to the wheels of rolling stock that regularly uses
the route to eliminate or reduce contamination of the wheel tread

iv) fitting of devices to rolling stock that regularly uses the route to
enhance the performance of the braking system

v) railhead cleaning

vi) application of substances and compounds to the railhead to

improve wheel rail adhesion

vii) removal of litter, debris and fallen leaves or other dead vegetation
from site

Where substances and compounds are applied to the railhead to improve

wheel rail adhesion, account shall be taken of the potential effect on the
activation of track circuits, the potential damage to the railhead and the
implications for regular ultrasonic and other non-destructive testing the rail
required by GC/RT5022 Rails and Rail Joints.

d) identify those responsible for implementing the actions to be taken when

conditions of low adhesion arise:

The examples quoted are not exhaustive.

B6 Actions to be taken
when low adhesion is
reported
B6.1 Infrastructure controller’s responsibilities
B6.1.1 Low adhesion reported at a location having a site specific action
plan
When low adhesion is reported or becomes evident, the Infrastructure Controller
shall arrange for either:

a) a site assessment to be undertaken by those able to quickly determine

whether or not the measures agreed in the action plan for the site are
appropriate for the current circumstances

b) a review of the measures agreed in the action plan without a site

assessment, provide the infrastructure controller can be certain that the
conditions at the site have not materially changed from previous site
assessments.

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If the site assessment or review confirms that the measures agreed in the action
plan for the site are appropriate for the current circumstances, the infrastructure
controller shall arrange for the remedial action detailed in the site specific action
plan to be implemented as soon as possible.

If the site assessment or review indicates that the measures agreed in the action
plan for the site are not appropriate for the current circumstances, the
infrastructure controller shall arrange for the action plan to be updated and the
remedial action detailed in the revised action plan to be implemented as soon as
possible.

B6.1.2 Low adhesion reported at a location not having a site specific

action plan
When low adhesion is reported or becomes evident, the Infrastructure Controller
shall:

a) immediately advise train operators whose trains are scheduled to pass over
the route of the location of conditions of low adhesion, in order that the train
operators may implement urgent advice to train drivers under their control
who are required to drive over the affected section of the line

b) caution all trains passing over the affected section of the line, in accordance
with the Rule Book, until confirmation has been received from the train
operators concerned that the arrangements to advise drivers who are
required to drive over the affected section of the line has been carried out

c) arrange for a site assessment to be undertaken by those able to quickly

determine the measures required to deal with the circumstances at the
location

d) advise train operators when effective remedial action has been taken in
order that drivers can be advised that normal working has resumed

e) ensure that the results of the site assessment and the remedial action taken
are reviewed to determine if the site should be treated as a site of known
low adhesion as detailed in section B4.1 and develop a site specific action
plan as set out in section B5.

B6.2 Train operators responsibilities

When low adhesion is reported or becomes evident, Train Operators shall:

a) have in place a process to provide urgent advice to all drivers who are
required to drive over the affected section of the line. All such drivers are to
be advised as soon as possible when an advice of low adhesion is received
from the infrastructure controller

b) advise the infrastructure controller immediately that the process of urgently

advising drivers, referred to above, is in operation so that the infrastructure
controller may cease cautioning trains at the site

c) make arrangements for all drivers to be advised immediately, when advice

is received from the infrastructure controller that the remedial action at the
site has been successful and normal working may resume

d) have processes in place to obtain the views of drivers on the efficacy of

action taken at sites of low adhesion and to pass these to the infrastructure
controller for inclusion in the review of action plans.

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Date August 2002 Low Adhesion between the Wheel
Page 8 of 8 and the Rail – Managing the Risk

References
Railway Group Standards and other Railway Group Documents
GA/RT6001 Railway Group Standards Change Procedures
GA/RT6004 Temporary Non-Compliance with Railway Group Standards
GA/RT6006 Derogations from Railway Group Standards
GC/RT5022 Rails and Rail Joints
GM/RT2461 Sanding Equipment Fitted to Multiple Units and On-Track Machines
GO/RT3000 Rule Book

Other References

The Catalogue of Railway Group Standards and the Railway Group Standards
CD-ROM give the current issue number and status of documents published by
Railway Safety.

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