Section 218 in The Dedicated Freight Corridor Railway General Rules, 2018
218. Temporary single line working of trains on a double line section worked.
(1)Whenever an accident to train or track or any other obstruction prevents the use of one of the lines on a double line section temporarily, after ascertaining and, if need be, after verifying through visual inspection by a competent railway servant that the line is clear from all obstruction, the traffic, in consultation with Controller, may be worked on clear line as single line working under absolute block system on authority of written line clear ticket in form 2, or with personal permission of Director, Operation and Business Development, trains may follow each other even before the previous train has cleared the Block section on written authority in form 15, and in such a case,-(a)all signals irrespective of system of working, block instruments in case of absolute block system of working shall be suspended even for movement in the established direction. Likewise, semi automatic signals shall be put back to 'ON' aspect in manual mode.(b)(i)as a reminder of suspension of signals at either ends of the section where single line working is introduced and at all the intermediate stations signal buttons shall be covered with stop plugs, as also,(ii)as a reminder of suspension of block instruments, in case of Absolute Block System of working, the block instruments at either ends of the section where single line working is introduced and at all the intermediate stations shall be kept in train on line position and locked with keys kept in safe custody in Station through out the period of abnormal working; and-(iii)Buzzer alarm, if provided shall also be switched on as a reminder of abnormal working.(c)if there is an Intermediate Block Stop signal in case of Absolute Block System of working between the any two stations, the same shall be closed.(2)The Station Master on duty proposing single line working and the Station Master on duty at the other end of the affected section shall exchange messages in form 13 containing the following information under exchange of Private Numbers namely-(a)cause of introduction of single line working;(b)the line by which the single line working is proposed;(c)place of obstruction on the line which is obstructed;(d)names of intermediate stations, if any, which shall be out of use;(e)the number and the timings of the last train, which arrived or left the block station issuing the message; and(f)whether he proposes to run trains one by one as in absolute block system on authority to proceed in terms of form 2, or trains shall be following each other even though the earlier train has not cleared the entire Block section in terms of form 15 for which permission of Director, operation and business development has been obtained.(3)(a)before introduction of temporary single line, it shall be ensured by the Station Masters at either end that the entire stretch between which temporary signal line is proposed to be introduced is clear of all trains and that points and crossings at all the intermediate stations have been set and locked for main line.(b)It shall be the duty of the Station Masters of intermediate stations not to change the settings of the points and crossings once so advised, during the entire duration of the temporary single line working.(4)All trains shall be stopped before allowing them to proceed beyond the station at which temporary single line has been introduced and the Loco pilot of each train shall be handed over a written `Line clear ticket for Temporary Single Line Working on Double Line Section', form 14 or form 15 as the case may be, duly signed and stamped indicating the following, -(a)the authority to proceed upto the last station mentioning the names of the intermediate stations;(b)the line on which the train is to run from what station to what station;(c)the maximum speed which is to be observed all throughout while running in block section. Provided that when trains are to follow each other their speed shall be restricted to maximum of twenty five kilo meter per hour in clear visibility otherwise to ten kilo meter per hour;(d)whether a train (where applicable shall be following behind the said train) quoting the authority number of permission granted by the Director, operation and business development as conveyed by the controller and time of departure of the last train sent into the section; and(e)the line clear ticket in form 14 for temporary single line working on double line is given only after ensuring the route is properly set and locked for movement of the train.(5)Additional precautions to be taken in case trains are to run following each other. - (a) no train shall be allowed to run unless provided with Amber Flasher light in the rear which should be kept at 'ON' during the entire run, and a train shall not follow another from a station unless there has elapsed, since the departure of the previous train, an interval of not less than fifteen minutes, or such shorter interval as may be fixed by special instruction;(b)the Loco pilot shall not start his train unless such interval has elapsed after the departure of the last train mentioned on authority form 15;(c)all the trains following the first train shall be timed to run at the same speed and such speed shall not exceed twenty five kilo meter per hour except under special instruction;(d)the actual time of the departure of each train shall at once be intimated to the block section station in advance and the actual time of arrival of each train shall at once be intimated to the block station in rear;(e)the number of following train running at the same time between the two block station shall not be more than one for each five kilometers of station interval; and unless permitted by special instruction, shall never exceed four, whatever may be the length of the station interval;(f)no obstruction shall be permitted out-side the outermost facing point in the face of an approaching train;(g)when a train is stopped out-side the first Stop signal or the last Stop signal of the opposite direction or between stations for any reason and the detention exceed or is likely to exceed five minutes, it shall be protected in accordance with the provision of rule 223;(h)once the direction of movement has been established it shall not be changed unless the last train has reached the station in advance, and the earlier message is first cancelled under exchange of private number as in sub-rule (11) of the rule 218 below. Thereafter, for running trains in the other direction, a fresh message shall be exchanged in the manner prescribed under sub-rule (2) of the rule 218 above.(6)(a)in case of movement in the established direction, the Loco pilot shall also be given authority to pass the last Stop signal and all the governing signals falling enroute in `ON' position and in case the last Stop signal is protecting any points, in addition to the written authority, he shall also be shown Hand signals at the foot of this signal;and(b)in case of movement against the established direction, the Loco pilot shall also be given authority to start from a non-signalled line in accordance with rule 138 and piloted out of the station.(7)Unless, all the gateman on the way have been informed of introduction of single line working on double line specifying the road on which the train shall work on the approved means of voice communication, the Loco pilot of the first train proceeding against the established direction shall be given caution order to stop and inform accordingly.(8)Appropriate caution orders shall be issued to the Loco pilot of all trains.(9)On approaching the next station via the wrong line, the Loco pilot shall bring his train to a stop opposite the first Stop signal of right line or last Stop signal of the line on which he is running, whichever comes first.(10)The Station Master on duty of the station in advance shall authorise on form 16 to the Loco pilot to proceed beyond the said Stop signal only after ensuring that all the facing points have been correctly set and locked as the case may be and trailing points are correctly set over which the trains shall pass;Provided that if the train is running on right line, the approach first Stop signal of the station in advance may be taken 'off' Provided further, that when trains are being worked in this manner, no advance authority for reception of train at the station in advance shall be communicated to the Loco pilot from the station in rear.(11)Resumption of normal working. - (a) if there is a flow of trains for the established direction, i.e. signalled direction, for a substantial period or when obstructed line is available the temporary single line working can be cancelled and trains in established direction worked as per normal train working;(b)signalled movement shall not be undertaken till advice of introduction of single line on double line is withdrawn and until the last train has arrived at the Block station in advance and the line is clear between the two stations. The Station Master intending to initiate the signalled movement shall first consult the Controller to decide the last of the train after complete arrival of which at the either end, normal working shall be resumed;(c)a message in form 17 shall be exchanged between the Station Master on duty at either end and Station Master of all the intermediate stations on the approved means of communication withdrawing the temporary single line of working after passage of the last train as decided;(d)only after the specified train has passed their station, all the signal button plugs shall be removed and where applicable block instrument shall be unlocked; and(e)unless already informed on the approved means of voice communication, the Loco pilot of first train shall be given a Caution Order to stop and inform all Gatemen on the way about the resumption of normal working.E - Working of Trains during bad weather impairing visibility
