Unit of competency details

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to control rail traffic movement in accordance with workplace procedures and the requirements of relevant safeworking regulations and codes of practice. It includes monitoring the status of the current train area plan, implementing the daily working timetable, controlling rail traffic movement, implementing contingency plans for planned events and system faults and failures, and updating traffic movement documentation in accordance with workplace requirements.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit. Persons achieving competence in this unit will need to fulfil legislated rail safety requirements, including acts and regulations from each applicable state and territory, together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines.

The unit involves the application of operational principles; regulations; and safeworking codes, protocols and procedures to the controlling of rail traffic movement as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail industry.

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Monitor status of current train plan 

1.1 Train movements and associated activities are analysed to establish current situation

1.2 Proposed train movements and associated activities are identified to establish status of train plan in accordance with organisational procedures and policies

1.3 Train notices are checked for accuracy and adjustments made as required

1.4 Operational management system information is reviewed against observed status, and inconsistencies are corrected

2 Implement the daily working timetable 

2.1 Train movements are prioritised and coordinated in accordance with organisational policies and procedures to ensure optimum and consistent running to schedules

2.2 Relevant information is communicated to internal and external customers

2.3 Planned and where applicable unplanned train movements and train notices are implemented in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3 Control rail traffic movement 

3.1 Train movements are coordinated with other relevant personnel in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3.2 Where applicable, surveillance and alarm systems are monitored to identify emergency situations

3.3 Signalling systems are operated and monitored to ensure safe movement of rail traffic

4 Communicate with rail safety workers 

4.1 Communication with relevant rail safety workers is undertaken to ensure that they are informed of train movements, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.2 Alternative methods of communication are identified and used in the case of normal communication system malfunction

5 Communicate with stakeholders and customers 

5.1 Communication with relevant stakeholders and customers is undertaken to ensure that they are informed of train movements, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

6 Implement contingency plans  

6.1 Contingency plan to suit unplanned track works, disruption, system failure or fault is identified and implemented in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

6.2 Resources to respond to the contingency are arranged in accordance with relevant organisational policies and procedures

6.3 Required communications are established

6.4 Train plan or schedule is reviewed and adjusted in accordance with organisational requirements

6.5 Communication with internal and external customers is established and maintained as required

6.6 Operational management systems are updated to reflect changes resulting from the contingency

7 Update rail traffic movement documentation 

7.1 Rail traffic movement documentation is compiled and recorded in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

7.2 Rail traffic movement documentation is handed over when relieved and/or at the completion of shift in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge: 

• Relevant sections of legislated rail safety requirements, including acts and regulations from each applicable state and territory, together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

• Organisational procedures for the control and coordination of train operations

• Signalling and control systems and operations

• Local area knowledge

• Restrictions relating to loads and conditions

• Communication systems

• Surveillance and alarm systems

• Problems that may occur when controlling and coordinating rail traffic and related action that should be taken

• Relevant documentation requirements

Required skills: 

• Communicate effectively with others

• Read, interpret and follow instructions, procedures and information relating to the control and coordination of rail traffic

• Complete documentation and enter data relating to the control and coordination of rail traffic

• Operate communication systems to required protocol

• Use appropriate numeric functions when implementing the daily working timetable

• Report and rectify within limits of own role problems, faults and malfunctions identified when controlling rail traffic in accordance with organisational procedures

• Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

• Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

• The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:

• the underpinning knowledge and skills
• relevant legislation and workplace procedures
• other relevant aspects of the range statement

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• Resources for assessment include:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or
• access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

• In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

• relevant and appropriate materials and/or equipment, and/or
• applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment 

• As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:

• through activities in an appropriately simulated environment, and/or
• in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

RANGE STATEMENT  

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Control of rail traffic movements may require the use of: 

• automated signalling systems
• manual signalling systems
• centralised train control (CTC)
• written authority systems
• token systems

Associated activities are those that may affect the movement of trains and may include: 

• track maintenance
• signal maintenance
• defective electrical systems
• diversion and/or alternative routing of trains
• track inspection

Events triggering the need for implementing contingency plans may include: 

• breakdowns
• hazardous materials spills
• track damage
• adverse environmental events
• collisions
• injuries and fatalities
• fires
• electrical system faults
• derailments

Communication systems may include: 

• radios
• telephones
• fax machines
• computers
• electronic, including email, intranet and internet

Rail safety workers may include: 

• train crew
• track workers
• contractors
• other network controllers
• signallers
• network access supervisors
• safeworking inspectors

Stakeholders and customers may include: 

• regulators
• third-party operators
• contractors
• emergency services
• passengers
• customer services
• media unit
• state government

Traffic movement documentation may include: 

• train timetables
• track possessions and work notices
• incident and/or unplanned event reports
• train graphs and/or diagrams
• train notices
• special train notices
• weekly notices
• safeworking documentation

Applicable procedures and codes may include: 

• relevant state or territory codes of practice and safeworking system requirements
• relevant state and territory legislation relating to:

• environmental protection legislation
• OH&S legislation

• relevant Australian standards
• relevant sections of Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code and regulations