IRSE Module 6 Sample Answers

Introduction
The sample questions on the following pages are based on genuine candidate answers with
minor alterations such as spelling corrections and clarifications. They are not ‘perfect’ but it
is hoped that these will go some way towards helping future candidates to understand what
is expected of them. Any candidate submitting three answers of a similar standard could be
reasonably confident of achieving a good pass mark in Module 6.

The commentary section after each question gives some observations and tips for future
candidates but does not attempt to list all possible errors, omissions or alternative solutions.
Students should thus be wary of assuming that all information is entirely correct or
appropriate – the aim is to show the overall approach and level of detail, not a definitive
technical answer.

Question
You are designing a new customer information system for a major multi-platform station OR a major
underground station.

a) Explain the options available for both audio and visual systems giving reasons for your choice of
equipment for the concourse areas and platforms.
[5 marks]
b) Explain the human factors which need to be considered.
[10 marks]
c) Describe how information can be made available on the internet.

[10 marks]

Candidates answer;

a). The options for designing a new customer information system for a major underground station
include;

1. Public Address PA System in order to make announcements

2. Customer Information System CIS screens and displays
3. Help points on the platform
4. Public evacuation system linked with the PA to make announcements when there is an
emergency.
5. Clocks

1 Public Address System

Amplifier

Loudspeakers

The PA system consists of loudspeakers and amplifiers. Usually the amplifiers will be connected in
parallel with the amplifier. The amplifiers are usually connected on two different circuits, one
emergency and one non emergency. Hence in the case of one of the circuits having a problem / fault
the other circuit will still be able to be used for making announcements. The loudspeakers should be

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installed all the way along the platforms areas and concourse, entrance and top and bottom of
escalators.

Ambient noise sensors should be also be used to regulate the volume of the announcements
depending upon the background and external noise such as when a train is approaching or is at the
platform. Hence ambient noise sensors are usually installed in the platform areas

2 Customer Information Systems

A CIS system consists of Next Train Indicators (NTI) displays and Summary of Departures (SOD)
displays. The SOD are usually placed at the beginning of the platform and on the concourse. There
may be more than one NTI depending upon the length of the platform.

b) Human factors which need to be considered are;

1. Induction loops for the PA system to enable people with hearing impairment to hear the
announcement. The person with the hearing impairment will have to switch the hearing device to the
T position to allow the user to hear the announcement.

2. Place signage labels on the platform and concourse that indicate that inductive loops are available.

3. The CIS screen displays should be mounted taking into consideration the height of the persons
using wheel chairs, and the displays font size and colour should taking into account people with sight
difficulties and colour blindness.

4. Help points should be accessible for wheelchair users.

c) An IP network can be used to make information available on the internet. All the trains arrival and
departure times planned and are adjusted when there are delays or any other emergencies. All this
information is stored on the CIS server. The CIS server is connected to the screens and displays at
the station via an IP network. The same information can be displayed on the company’s website and
hence making the train arrival and departures available to the public. This also allows real time
information to be made available on mobile applications such as SMART phones.

The answer could be improved by describing the options available in more detail; for example PA
systems can be provided with single or dual / hot standby amplifiers, and it is usual to provide end of
line terminations so that the integrity of the PA loops can be automatically tested. The question is
with respect to an underground station, but there is no mention of Zero Halogen Low Smoke (ZHLS)
cabling, or standby power supplies. These will be a requirement if the PA system is to be used as an
automatic fire detection system (AFD). With AFD systems there will be a hierarchy of inputs, with the
fire officer’s microphone the highest priority, followed by manual inputs by the operator and automatic
announcements. With a major underground station it is normal practise to provide a number of PA
zones, especially if the system is linked to an AFD system, enabling different messages to be
announced in different parts of the station in order to direct people away from the incident. With the
CIS system answer, reference could have been made of the type of display technology e.g. LED /
LCD and the use of either large format display boards or smaller distributed smaller displays. At an
underground station (and even some major multi-platform station) the tendency nowadays is to have

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a larger number of smaller displays located around the station concourse so that people do not
congregate in one place.

In the human factors part of the question, mention could have been made on the requirement to
locate displays in order to keep people moving through the station, and that the displays should be
located to minimise trips and falls; for example people reading a display while still moving on an
escalator or stairway should be avoided. Mention is made of people with reading difficulties, and the
answer could have stated that it is preferable to have display signs that do not scroll the text.
Maintenance could have also been mentioned in this part of the answer, with a requirement that
equipment should ideally be located where there is safe and easy maintenance access. The answer
could have also included a requirement that the telecoms equipment is protected from heat and dust
intrusion, this is a particular problem with underground stations. Real (actual) time clock displays can
be provided within CIS displays, but care is needed within the design to make sure there is no
confusion between the train time and the actual time. A major underground station is likely to have a
very frequent service, therefore the design of the CIS system including the displays and the
communication network must ensure that the train information can be posted and removed quickly, so
that no out of date or misleading information is on display.

The last part of the question could have mentioned a requirement to have a firewall between the CIS
equipment and the public internet so that the integrity of the railway equipment is not affected by the
public internet.

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Question

What factors should you take into account when developing the design solution for the renewal of a
voice concentrator system for a large signalling control area?

[15 marks]

What differing factors would you consider for developing the design solution if the system was a
business telephone solution for office accommodation?

[10 marks]

Candidates answer;

a) The factors I would take into account when developing the design solution for the renewal of a
voice concentrator system for a large signalling control area are;
· Public Emergency Telephones systems (PETS) for Automatic Half Barrier Crossings
· The number of operational telephones connected to the system
· Transmission system / method being used
· Hot-line facilities
· Analogue telephones
· Types of specialised telephones connected
· Voice recording facilities – including amount of storage, retrieval and archive
arrangements
· System diversity, resilience and availability
· Speed of operation
· Location of PABX switches
· Emergency and safety related telephones
· Mono-dial telephones
· Level crossing telephones and lineside telephones
· Cabling system, external and internal, types and lengths
· Testing strategy for the system
· Number of Signallers in the control room or signalbox
· New telephones to be added to the system
· Restriction / access code facilities

In design solution for the renewal of a voice concentrator system for a large signalling control
area must ensure that the system is reliable, available and safe. There will have to be a
migration strategy that ensures that there is little or no downtime for the renewal. There must
be a maintenance regime designed and implemented, along with a robust testing strategy.

The number of operators / signallers must be considered in terms of human factors e.g.
location and operation of the keyboard, reflections, audio alarms and calling requirements,
handsets / headsets, conflict with operation of other signaller equipment.

There should be independent design and testing resources allocated as part of the
implementation strategy. The system must be rigorously tested to ensure that there is no
cross talk, and that users can call the correct destination. The new system should be able to
interface with all the legacy systems already in place, or they may also need replacing.

b) For a business telephone solution I would take into account the following factors;

· Direct Dialling In (DDI) and Direct Onwards Dialling

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 · Number / quantity of trunk lines needed
· Mobile telephony system
· VoIP (Voice over IP) interfacing or requirements
· Call centre facilities and multi-call capabilities
· Call waiting facilities

For a business telephone solution more options are available and should be considered; such as
commercial off-the- shelf solutions such as VoIP, DDI and DOD. With an office telephone system
there are no safety implications, other than emergency call (999) facilities. While there would need to
be a testing regime in place it need not be as robust as that for a signalling control centre. The
number and size of the office accommodation would influence the trunk line requirements, taking into
account the busy hour period and the budget available for the trunk lines. A direct connection to
mobile telephony may be required to interface with the railway telephone system. If the office were to
serve as a call centre, then call queuing, recording and additional trunk lines may be required.

This is a good answer which identifies the key factors and differences between a telephony system for
a large control centre and a business office environment. Human factors with the operator interface
have also been identified, although the answer could have been supplemented with a comparison
between movable key and touchscreen operator interfaces. The answer could have also been
improved by including; power supply arrangements and need for uninterruptable power supply (UPS),
remote diagnostics / alarm and faulting and maintenance facility, space requirements (for both the
equipment and operator interface) and expansion requirements.

For the voice concentrator system for a large signalling control area it could have been explicated
stated that; only one call should be established between the signaller and a remote party at any one
time, that no interruption by a third party shall be possible under normal working conditions, the level
of overhearing shall be sufficiently low so as to eliminate the possibility of confusion with other calls,
and the unique identity of each calling telephone shall be presented to the signaller when an incoming
call is received (and shall be maintained for the duration of the call).

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Question
An existing railway network is to be electrified with a 25kV ac overhead traction system. You have
been appointed as the lead telecoms project engineer to implement all of the telecoms requirements.
Describe what impact the electrification scheme will have on the existing telecoms systems, and what
new telecoms systems may be required to support the electrification programme.
[25 marks]

Candidates answer;

The types of overhead electrification traction system are;

· Return Rail (Single Rail Return and Double Rail Return)

· Return Overhead Conductor
· Return Conductor with Booster Transformer
· Auto-Transformer System

Items to be considered are;

· Location / Runs of Electric Feeder Cables

· Location of feeder stations
· Location of Mid Point TSC and Boundary TSC
· Electrification control telephones
· Location of railway network in underground
· Emergency Telephones
· SCADA for railway control
· Location of existing telecoms equipment and line side cabling
· Location of line side cabinets and telephones
· Immunisation – length, separation, cables (self screening, separate screen) Testing
· Location and types of telecoms cable
· Earthing and bonding of telecoms equipment and cables
· Location of Overhead Line Equipment intervals
· Location of mid-point electric connections
· Location of electrification transformers and high voltage transmission cabling and routes

The exact type of OHLE system will impact differently on the existing telecoms equipment. In this
situation, where there is no previous electrification, a return rail system would greatly interfere with the
existing “non-electrified” telecoms cabling and equipment. It would be recommended to install the
electric traction system as either Return Conductor with Booster Transformer, or an Auto-Transformer
System. Although depending on the separation / space between the telecoms cabling and the rail
track, and also the number of telecoms cabling, a OHLE with return conductor could be considered.
This would be determined on costs, the location of electrification stations and equipment and runs of
feeder cables.

Consideration could be given to use a separate sacrificial telecoms cable along the telecoms cable
runs to reduce the electrical interference effects. The telecoms cabling would be tested to check that
the longitudinal and transverse voltages are still within the acceptable levels.

A cable carrying and AC current will produce a magnetic field around it which induces a current in any
other conductor running parallel. The inducted current will be proportional to the current in the original
conductor (the OHLE 25kV in this case), and also to the length of exposure of the conductor being
induced (the length of parallel runs). If the telecoms cable being induced is not adequately protected,
the induced current may reach levels where there would be a risk of electric shock to any person
coming into contact with the telecoms cabling and equipment connected to the cable. It could also
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potentially damage the telecoms equipment. The induced current could also cause noise in the
telecoms cabling equipment and interfere with the signals being carried by the telecoms cabling.
These could be safety related signals for the control and communications of the operational railway
and it must be demonstrated that the immunisation arrangements are safe. A high transient voltage
or short circuit in the electrification system may also present the risk of potentially hazardous voltages
being induced in the telecoms system.

This is a comprehensive answer, in the time available, which demonstrates that the candidate
understands the principles of immunisation of railway telecoms systems and equipment. The answer
could be improved by stating the limits of induced longitudinal and transverse voltages (Vl and Vt). It
could have discussed the merits of either immunising the existing telecoms cable and equipment, or
replacing them with a fibre based solution. The answer could have also described the new telecoms
services which would be required to control the new electrification system. This would require a
diverse and high availability data service to control and monitor the electrification supply, and an
emergency voice communications system and strategy, both for engineering and operational staff.

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