Exeter St David's signalling problems 27th April 2021

[whole diary]

[GBM]

Noticed on journeycheck https://www.journeycheck.com/greatwesternrailway/
that St David's are experiencing signalling issues this morning.
Cancellations to services at Exeter St David's
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Exeter St David's trains have to run at reduced speed.
Train services running through this station will be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected until 09:00 27/04.
The Paignton - Exmouth services being turned around at St David's and Central respectively.
Salisbury services being turned at Central.
If signallers have to 'talk a driver past a signal', does the signal control centre tend to look like the older air traffic centres by using paper train codes laid out on the desk and move the paper train along to the next signaller?

[rower40]

If signallers have to 'talk a driver past a signal', does the signal control centre tend to look like the older air traffic centres by using paper train codes laid out on the desk and move the paper train along to the next signaller?

Not quite that bad, but the signaller has to cancel out the train description from the TD berth at the red signal, and then put ("interpose") that description in the TD berth at the next signal.  If the red signal is that signaller's last signal, then they need the next signaller's permission before authorising the train to pass it, and then the first signaller tells the second signaller what's coming, and the second signaller interposes the description.

Even if these two signallers are sitting right next to each other in one of the larger signalling centres, they're encouraged to use the telephone for that conversation - so that it is recorded on the Voice Recorders.

[Lee]

If signallers have to 'talk a driver past a signal', does the signal control centre tend to look like the older air traffic centres by using paper train codes laid out on the desk and move the paper train along to the next signaller?

Not quite that bad, but the signaller has to cancel out the train description from the TD berth at the red signal, and then put ("interpose") that description in the TD berth at the next signal.  If the red signal is that signaller's last signal, then they need the next signaller's permission before authorising the train to pass it, and then the first signaller tells the second signaller what's coming, and the second signaller interposes the description.

Even if these two signallers are sitting right next to each other in one of the larger signalling centres, they're encouraged to use the telephone for that conversation - so that it is recorded on the Voice Recorders.

Visions of Dom Joly Trigger Happy TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) come to mind - "HELLO? I'M IN A SIGNALLING CENTRE. EVERYTHING'S F***ED. YOU WANT ME TO INTERPOSE THE WHAT?..."