Safety Related Incidents and Signaller Workload Increase Caused by Automatic Route Setting (ARS)

Our Ref: HSR/4/2
Head Office Circular: NP/20/20
27th January 2020
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

Safety Related Incidents and Signaller Workload Increase Caused by Automatic Route Setting (ARS)

A report from our National Operations Council representatives into ongoing concerns with the company’s plans to implement ARS has recently been considered by the National Executive Committee (NEC). At their meeting on the 16th January 2020 the NEC carried the following resolution:

That we note the report from our National Operations Council rep and the difficulties experienced in discussions with the company. We instruct the General Secretary to inform the company that we will pay no further part in any such discussions until our concerns are addressed as listed by our negotiating team in the said report.

Branches, National Operations Councils reps to be advised.

I have written to the company setting out our position in this regard and demanding they provide answers to the following set of questions:

• Who is responsible for regulating trains, the Train Running Controller, Train Running Specialist, ARS or the Signaller?

• Why are Network Rail continuing to roll known ARS generic faults into the new signalling?

• Why are Network Rail allowing ARS to break operational rules?

• Why are Network Rail putting such reliance on a flawed ARS system which has limitations that make it not fit for purpose in busy multiple train and line locations?

• Who is leading, accountable for and going to deliver on the heavily evidenced concerns from the signalling grade?

• How are Network Rail going to provide next working associations to our automated signalling?

I will keep you informed of any further developments. Please make the contents of this Circular available to all appropriate members.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary