1. OFG Communications Sub Group
Keith Shepherd
3rd October 2012

2. Looking back
 ABC of communication
 Accuracy
 Brevity
 Clarity
 ‘This is an Emergency Call’
 Do not use the phrase ‘line not clear’ use ‘line
blocked’.
 Means of communication with signaller mainly
‘SPT’ only.

3. Present Day
 Phonetic Alphabet
 Repeat Back
 ‘This is an Emergency Call’
 ‘This is a Rail Dangerous Goods Emergency’.
 Do not use the phrase ‘line not clear’ use ‘line
blocked’.
 Means of communication with signaller:
 SPT, NRN, CSR, Mobile Phone, GSM-R etc.
 RSSB Guidance

4. Present Day 2
 Still not many standard terms and phrases
 Traction current, Juice Rail, 3rd Rail,
Overhead, Power etc.
 A lot of good work done in SAF6 on Safety
Critical Communications.
 CRG’s appear to be working in isolation.
 Is voice communications getting better?

5. The Way Forward?
 Proposed work of Communications Sub Group
 Move industry forward following success of SAF6
training.
 Review research project T700 carried out by Human
Engineering.
 Review role of CRG’s and improve feedback to
identify National trends.
 Consider a communications manual similar to CAA.
 Review key operational scenarios for critical
communications.
 Consider and provide clarity between safety critical
communications and safety communications.