Bowtie — Signal Passed at Danger
Barrier-based analysis of a SPAD on a suburban route, ranking the route conductor and the two TPWS installations as the most critical barriers and leaving 98.9% of the inherent risk removed.
Make it your own.
title "Signal passed at danger — suburban route"
hazard "Trains operating under lineside signalling at up to 75 mph"
top "Train passes a signal at danger"
unit "/yr"
threat "Driver misreads a signal in poor sighting conditions" likelihood: 0.9 {
barrier "Signal sighting committee review of every aspect" effectiveness: 0.55 type: control {
escalation "Vegetation growth obscures the approach" {
control "Seasonal lineside vegetation clearance programme"
}
}
barrier "AWS audible warning on approach" effectiveness: 0.75 type: detection
barrier "TPWS overspeed and train stop loops" effectiveness: 0.85 type: control
}
threat "Driver distracted or fatigued on a night turn" likelihood: 0.5 {
barrier "Fatigue risk index limits on roster design" effectiveness: 0.6 type: control {
escalation "Rest day working accepted to cover shortages"
}
barrier "Vigilance device with driver acknowledgement" effectiveness: 0.5 type: detection
barrier "TPWS overspeed and train stop loops" effectiveness: 0.85 type: control
}
threat "Signaller replaces the signal in front of the train" likelihood: 0.12 {
barrier "Approach locking on the interlocking" effectiveness: 0.9 type: control
barrier "Signaller competence and workload assessment" effectiveness: 0.45
}
threat "Route knowledge lapse after a diversion" likelihood: 0.28 {
barrier "Route conductor rostered for unfamiliar routes" effectiveness: 0.7 type: control
barrier "Pre-departure briefing on the diversionary route" effectiveness: 0.4
}
consequence "Collision with a conflicting movement" severity: 5 {
barrier "Overlap beyond the signal sized for the line speed" effectiveness: 0.8 type: mitigation {
escalation "Reduced overlap granted at a congested junction" {
control "Risk assessment and speed restriction on approach"
}
}
barrier "Emergency brake application by TPWS" effectiveness: 0.7 type: mitigation
barrier "Crashworthy vehicle structure and anti-climbers" effectiveness: 0.5 type: mitigation
}
consequence "Derailment on trap points" severity: 4 {
barrier "Trap points sited clear of running lines" effectiveness: 0.6 type: mitigation
barrier "Low approach speed enforced by TPWS" effectiveness: 0.55 type: control
}
consequence "Passenger injury in an emergency brake application" severity: 2 {
barrier "Standing passenger grab poles and door interlocks" effectiveness: 0.35 type: mitigation
}
consequence "Route blocked and service suspended" severity: 3 {
barrier "Contingency plan with pre-agreed diversions" effectiveness: 0.5 type: recovery
barrier "Rail replacement and passenger information plan" effectiveness: 0.4 type: recovery
}