This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to manage train planning, in accordance with workplace procedures and regulatory requirements.

It includes preparing to manage train planning, and developing and implementing strategies to optimise train planning.

This unit provides an awareness of rail train planning and strategies for optimising performance. It can be applied to freight, heavy haul or metropolitan and regional passenger rail systems.

In applying this unit, the following rail safety operating principles may be involved:

• ensuring emergencies and incidents are properly managed
• ensuring interfaces between different organisations are properly defined and managed
• identifying and managing risk
• protecting persons from injury
• protecting property from damage
• track access
• train separation.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1 

Prepare to manage train planning 

1.1

Goals of train planning are identified and explained

1.2

Principal factors involved in train planning are identified and outlined

1.3

Resources required for train planning are identified, explained and obtained

1.4

Methods by which train planning performance can be measured are identified and implemented

2 

Develop and implement strategies to optimise train planning 

2.1

Factors that contribute to optimal train planning are identified and explained

2.2

Strategies for ensuring optimal train planning is maintained are developed and implemented

2.3

Methods by which optimal train planning performance can be measured are developed and applied

2.4

Strategies are communicated to relevant personnel

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

• accessing and using rail industry standards and codes of practice
• applying relevant legislation and workplace procedures
• developing and implementing strategies to optimise train planning
• identifying job hazards and required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards
• researching relevant information.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• capacity of network
• changes in rail industry operations and technology with implications for rail planning
• key concepts and definitions relating to rail operations
• key principles and practices associated with railway operations
• key rail industry regulatory requirements and standards
• rail industry and rail industry terminology, including terminology used in rail industry standards
• rail regulatory framework
• rail safety operating principles
• relevant duty holders
• relevant information to manage train planning
• relevant rail industry standards and codes of practice
• relevant rail safety, work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental legislation related to train planning and running
• train planning and management systems.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in rail workplace operational situations or, where this is not available, in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate rail workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment include:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry
• applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, rail industry standards, codes of practice and operation manuals.