Regulation 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires–

• “approved” means approved for the time being in writing;

• “buffer stop” means a buffer stop at the end of a passenger platform;

• “emergency crossover” means a connection between two railway tracks to enable trains to change tracks and which is used–

  1. (a)

     in an emergency, or

  2. (b)

     to enable engineering work to be carried out, in accordance with special procedures established by the infrastructure controller;

• “excessive speed” in relation to–

  1. (a)

     an approach to a stop signal or buffer stop, means such speed as would prevent the train from stopping at that signal or buffer stop,

  2. (b)

     an approach to part of the railway where there is a speed restriction, means such speed as would prevent the restriction from being complied with when the train enters that part, and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph a speed restriction shall be treated as being complied with if the speed of the train does not exceed the total of the permitted speed and such additional speed as may be approved by the Executive for the purpose of this sub-paragraph;

• “infrastructure controller” has the meaning assigned to it by regulation 2(1) of the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994^f1;

• “line speed” means the highest of the permitted speeds on the railway concerned;

• “Mark I rolling stock” means rolling stock which has a structural underframe which provides its own longitudinal strength and has a passenger compartment created on the underframe which relies mainly on the underframe for its longitudinal strength;

• “permitted speed” means the maximum speed permitted on the part of the railway concerned;

• “railway” has the meaning assigned to it by the Schedule to these Regulations;

• “relevant approach” means–

  1. (a)

     an approach to a stop signal referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of “train protection system” in this regulation except where a train travelling at the maximum speed it could attain on that approach would be stopped within the distance between the signal and the point where it could collide with another train by reason of the train protection system installed at the stop signal;

  2. (b)

     an approach to part of the railway where there is a speed restriction if–

     1. (i)

        the permitted speed on that approach is 60 miles per hour or more; and

     2. (ii)

        in order to comply with the restriction, a train travelling at the permitted speed on that approach would need to have its speed reduced by one third or more;

  3. (c)

     an approach to a buffer stop;

• “speed restriction” means a permitted speed other than the line speed;

• “stop signal” means a signal conveying to the driver of the train an instruction that he should stop the train except that it does not include–

  1. (a)

     a signal provided for shunting purposes only;

  2. (b)

     a hand signal; or

  3. (c)

     a buffer stop;

• “temporary speed restriction” means a speed restriction which is in place for no longer than 3 months and used in accordance with special procedures established by the infrastructure controller;

• “train” has the same meaning as in section 83(1) of the Railways Act 1993^f2;

• “train protection system” means equipment which–

  1. (a)

     causes the brakes of the train to apply automatically if the train–

     1. (i)

        passes without authority a stop signal such passing of which could cause the train to collide with another train, or

     2. (ii)

        travels at excessive speed on a relevant approach;

  2. (b)

     is installed so as to operate at every stop signal referred to in sub-paragraph (a), except a stop signal on the approach to an emergency crossover, and at an appropriate place on every relevant approach; except that where it is reasonably practicable to install it, it means equipment which automatically controls the speed of the train to ensure, so far as possible, that a stop signal is not passed without authority and that the permitted speed is not exceeded at any time throughout its journey.

Nothing in these Regulations shall require equipment referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of the definition of a train protection system to function in relation to a temporary speed restriction, and accordingly any reference in these Regulations to the permitted speed in relation to such equipment is, in a case where a temporary speed restriction is in place, a reference to the permitted speed which normally applies on that part of the line concerned.

Any reference in these Regulations to a person operating a train or rolling stock is a reference to the person operating a train or rolling stock for the time being in the course of a business or other undertaking carried on by him (whether for profit or not), but it does not include a self-employed person by reason only that he himself drives or otherwise controls the movement of a train.

Any reference in these Regulations, except regulation 4, to a train colliding with another train does not include a reference to a train colliding with the rear of another train travelling in the same direction on the same track.

Any reference in these Regulations to–