Some Important Definitions Used In The Operation Of Indian Railways

Definitions – In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires- 

(1) Act – means The RailwayAct, 1989 (24 of 1989)

(2) Adequate distance” means the distance sufficient to ensure safety.

(3) Approach lighting” means an arrangement in which the lighting of signals is controlled automatically by the approach of a train.

 (4) Approved special instruction” means special instructions approved of or prescribed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety

(5) “Authorized officer” means the person who is duly empowered by general or special order of the Railway Administration, either by name or by virtue of his office, to issue instructions or to do any other thing.

(6) “Authority to proceed” means the authority given to the Loco Pilot of a train, under the system of working, to enter the block section with his train.

(7) “Axle Counter” means an electrical device which, when provided at two given points on the track, proves by counting axles in and counting axles out, whether the section of the track between the said two Points is clear or occupied.

(8) Block Back means to dispatch a message from a block station intimating to the block station immediately in rear on a double line, or to the next block station on either side on a single line, that the block section is obstructed or is to be obstructed.

(9)  “Block Forward” means to dispatch a message from a block station on a double line intimating to the block station immediately in advance the fact that the block section in advance is obstructed or is to be obstructed.

(10) “Block Section” means that portion of the running line between two block stations on to which no running train may enter until Line Clear has been received from the block station at the other end of the block section.

(11)  “Centralised Traffic Control” means a system by which the working of the trains over a route, to which the system applies, is governed by fixed signals remotely controlled from a designated place.

(12) “Centralised Traffic Control Operator – means to the person on duty who may be in charge of train operations on the Centralised Traffic Control system for the time being. 

(13) ” Commissioner of Railway Safety“- means a Commissioner of Railway Safety appointed to excercise any functions under theAct and includes the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety.

(14) “Competent Railway Servant” -means a railway servant duly qualified to under take and perform the duties entrusted to him.

(15) “Connections” -when used with reference to a running line, means the points and crossings or other appliances used to connect such line with other lines or to cross it.

(16) “Controller“- means a railway servant on duty who may for the time being be responsible for regulating the working of traffic on a section of a railway provided with the system of speech communication.

(17) “Day” means from sunrise to sunset.

(18) “Direction of traffic” means: 

                                                               (a) on a double line, the direction for which the line is signalled.

                                                                (b) on a single line, the direction for the time being established, under the system of working, to allow trains to move in that direction.

(19) “Electrical Communication Instrument” means either a telephone or a morse telegraph instrument.

(20) “Facing and Trailling Points” are facing and trailling in accordance with the direction a train or vehicle moves over them. Points are said to be facing points when by their operation a train approaching them can be directly diverted from the line upon which it is running.

(21) “Fixed Signal” means a signal of fixed location indicating a condition affecting the movement of a train and includes a semaphore arm or disc or fixed light for use by day and fixed light for use by night.

(22) “Fouling Mark” means the mark at which the infringement of fixed Standard Dimensions occurs, where two lines cross or Join one another.

(23) “Gangman” means a railway servant employed on permanent way or work connected therewith.

(24) “Gangmate” means the person in charge of a gang of workmen employed on permanent way or work connected there with.

(25) “Gateman” means a competent railway servant posted at a level crossing for working the gates.

(26) A “Goods Train” is a train (as opposed to a material train) that is mostly or exclusively used for transporting products or animals.

(27) “Guard” –  means the railway servant in charge of a train and includes aAssistant Guard or any other railway servant who may for the time being be performing the duties of a Guard.

(28) “Inspector of Way or Works” means any Inspector or Assistant Inspector responsible for the construction or maintenance of permanent way, points and signals, bridges or other works connected their with.

(29) “interlocking” means an arrangement of signals, points and other appliances, operated from a panel or lever frame, so interconnected by mechanical locking or electrical locking or both that their operation must take place in proper sequence to ensure safety.

(30) “Intermediate Block Post” means a Class “C” station on a double line, remotely controlled from the block station in rear.

(31) “Intermediate Block Signaling” means an arrangement of signalling on double line in which a long block section is split into two portions each constituting a separate block section by providing an Intermediate Block Post.

(32) “Isolation” means an arrangement, secured by the setting of points or other approved means, to protect the line so isolated from the danger of obstruction from other connected line or lines.

(33) “Last Stop Signal” means the fixed Stop Signal of a station controlling the entry of trains into the next block section.

(34) “Level Crossing” means the intersection of road with railway track at the same level; (35) “Level Crossing Gate” means any form of moveable barrier, including a chain, capable of being closed across the road at the level crossing, but does not include a wicket or a turnstile for the use of pedestrains.

(36) “Line Clear” means the permission given from a block station to a block station in rear for a train to leave the latter and approach the former; or the permission obtained by a block station from a block station in advance for a train to leave the former and proceed towards the latter.

(37) “Loco Pilot” means the engine Loco Pilot or any other competent railway servant for the time being incharge of driving a train.

(38) “Main Line” means the line ordinarily used for runing trains through and between stations.

(39) “Material Train” means a departmental train intended solely or mainly for carriage of railway material when picked up or put down or for execution of works, either between stations or within station limits.

40) “Mixed Train” means a train intended for the carriage of passengers and goods, or of passengers, animals and goods.

(41) “Multiple–Aspect Signalling” means a signalling arrangement in which signals display at any one time any one of the three or more aspects and in which the aspect of every signal is pre-warned by the aspect of the previous signal or signals.

(42) “Night”  – means from sunset to sunrise.

(43) “Obstruction” and its cognate expressions includes a train, vehicle or obstacle on or fouling a line, or a stop signal at “ON” or any condition which is dangerous to trains.

(44) “Overhead Equipment”  –  means the electrical conductors over the tracks together with their associated fittings, insulators and other attachments, by means of which they are suspended and registered in position for the purpose of electric traction.

(45) “Passenger Train”  – means a train intended solely or mainly for the carriage of passengers and other coaching traffic, and includes a troop train.

(46) “Point and Trap Indicators” –  are not signals, but are appliances fitted to and working with points to indicate by day or by night the position in which the points are set.

(47) A “Running Line” is a line that is controlled by one or more signals and includes any connections that a train may use to enter or exit a station, pass through a station, or travel between stations.

(48) “Running Train” –  means that a train which has started under an authority to proceed and has not completed its journey.

(49) “Shunting” –  means the movement of a vehicle or vehicles with or without an engine or of any engine or any other self-propelled vehicle, for the purpose of attaching, detaching or transfer or for any other purpose.

(50) “Special Instructions” –  means instructions issued from time to time by the authorised officer in respect to particular cases or special circumstances.

(51) “Station” –  means any place on a line of railway at which traffic is dealt with, or at which an authority to proceed is given under the system of working.

(52) “Station Limits” – refers to the area of a line that is governed by a station master and is located between the station’s outermost signals, or as may be specifically instructed.

(53) “Station Master” –

  refers to the person on duty who is currently in charge of managing traffic within the station’s boundaries. This includes any individual who is currently in charge of independently managing any signals and overseeing train operations under the current working system.

(55) “Subsidiary Rule” –  means that a special instruction which is subservient to the General Rule to which it relates and shall not be at variance with any General Rule.

(56) “System of Working” –  means tht the system adopted for the time being for the working of trains on any portion of a railway;.

(57) “Track Circuit” – means tht an electrical circuit provided to detect the presence of a vehicle on a portion of track, the rails of the track forming part of the circuit.

(58) “Train” – means tht an engine with or without vehicles attached, or any self-propelled vehicle with or without a trailer, which cannot be readily lifted off the track.

(59) “Train Examiner” –  means a railway servant duly qualified to examine trains and certify their fitness for safe running and includes any other railway servant who may for the time being be performing the duties of a Train Examiner.

(60) “Two–Aspect Signalling” –  means a signalling arrangement in which each signal displays at any one time either of the two aspects.