APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING ROUTE:
Port of Melbourne Sidings
Introduction of Port of Melbourne Operating Protocols
- Covered in entirety by Standing Train Notices 2125 2126, 2127 and 2128/2023
- TN#1 of 4
Monday 21/08/2023 from 0001hrs
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Commencing 0001hrs 22 August 2023, the following operating protocols will be come into force for the operation of rail movements at the Port of Melbourne Sidings.
1. PORT OF MELBOURNE SIDINGS, RESPONSIBILITIES
All operations within the common user roads of the Port of Melbourne Common User sidings ARTC Manager track must be in accordance with ‘TA20 - ARTC Code of Practice for the Victorian Main Line Operations’.
Rail Operators and Siding owners are responsible for issuing this operating procedure qualified workers responsible for rail operations within the Melbourne Ports Precinct, and ensuring the qualified workers are trained to perform the tasks detailed in this operating procedure..
2. OVERVIEW OF PORT OF MELBOURNE SIDINGS PRECINCT
A. OVERVIEW:
The Port of Melbourne precinct consists of a combination of private Sidings and Port of Melbourne Common User sidings. ARTC provided rail operational and maintenance management of the Port of Melbourne Common Users Sidings and the track circuits that provide indication to the ARTC Signal Control (Phoenix) System in the private Sidings.
The Port of Melbourne precinct consists for the following sidings:
- Swanson Dock Sidings;
- Appleton Dock Sidings, and
- Victoria Dock Sidings.
B. SWANSON DOCK SIDINGS:
The Swanson Dock Sidings consists of the following tracks:
- Footscray Road Common User Sidings No. 1 and No. 2 track, managed and maintained by ARTC on behalf of Port of Melbourne;
- East Swanson Dock (Patrick) Sidings No. 1 and No. 2 track, managed and maintained by Patrick Stevedores, and
- West Swanson Dock Siding managed and maintained by West Swanson Dock (DP World).
The lead leading into the Swanson Dock Sidings from the North and South Dock Lines, and the lead between the Swanson Dock Sidings and Appleton Dock Sidings are managed and maintained by ARTC on behalf of the Port of Melbourne.
A Swanson Dock Safeworker manages train operations between Signal APD34 and the Stop Boards on the Footscray Rd and East Swanson Dock sidings.
C. APPLETON DOCK SIDINGS:
The Appleton Dock Sidings consists of the following tracks:
- Appleton Sidings No. 1 and No. 2 track, managed and maintained by Emerald Grain;
- Appleton Common User Sidings No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 tracks managed and maintained by ARTC on behalf of Port of Melbourne;
- Appleton Sidings No. 6 and No. 7 track, managed and maintained by ACFS Port Logistics, and
- Appleton Wharf Common User siding managed and maintained by ARTC on behalf of Port of Melbourne .
The two leads leading into the Appleton sidings, and the points leading to the siding owner sidings are managed and maintained by ARTC on behalf of the Port of Melbourne.
D. VICTORIA DOCK SIDINGS:
The Victoria Dock Sidings consists of three tracks, the tracks are managed and maintained by QUBE.
The lead leading to the Victoria Dock sidings is managed and maintained by ARTC on behalf of the Port of Melbourne.
E. SWANSON DOCK LINK LINE:
The Swanson Dock Link line connects Appleton Dock No. 4 track with the Swanson Dock sidings.
Points 5U are located on the Swanson Dock lead and points 5D are located on Appleton Dock No. 4 track. Midway along the Swanson Dock Link Line is a gauge transfer that transfers the common rail from one side to the other, the points are number 5BU and 5BD.
Points 5U and 5D are provided with dual control point machines. The Points are secured by point clips. The Point Clips and the Hand Throw Levers are locked with independent padlocks held by the Swanson Dock Safeworker.
The Swanson Dock Link Line may only be used for a rail movement provided a train notice is issued which will detail the required Safeworking arrangements to protect the rail movement.
F. ACCESS TO PORT OF MELBOURNE PRECINCT SIDINGS:
Rail operators requiring access into private sidings within the Port of Melbourne must first seek the authority of the siding owner prior to requesting passage from ARTC Network Control.
Access to the Port of Melbourne Common User sidings must be in compliance with these operating protocols.
G. RAIL MANAGEMENT:
The control of motorised points and signals leading into the Swanson and Appleton Dock sidings is controlled from the Signal Control (Phoenix) system by the ARTC Network Controller Network Control Centre West (NCCW) located in Mile End Adelaide.
All hand operated points at the South Dynon end of the Appleton sidings are provided with Point Detection and the position of the points is indicated in the Network Control (Phoenix System).
All tracks within the Appleton sidings are provided with Rail Vehicle Detection which ends at the Appleton Wharf Siding end of each track and are indicated on the Network Control (Phoenix System).
Cross over points 1, located at the Wharf end of the Appleton Dock sidings, and crossover points 3 located at the South Dynon end of the Appleton Dock Sidings provide access between No. 3 and No. 4 tracks.
To ensure separation between rail operations within the Emerald sidings and the No. 4 to 7 tracks, the points are provided with electric point locks and 5PSW key switches and are operated as detailed in this operating procedure.
H. POINT INDICATORS:
All hand operated points (except points 5D) at the South Dynon end of Appleton Dock Sidings, and crossover points 1 at the Wharf end of the Appleton Dock
Sidings are provided with Mechanical Siding Point Indicators as detailed in Clause I, Rule 18 of Section 27 of TA20.
- When the points are set for the straight track the point indicator displays a yellow circle.
- When the points are set for the diverge track the point indicator displays a white square.
Drivers of trains must observe the point indicators to ensure that the points are correctly set for the required route.
3. SWANSON DOCK SIDINGS
A. SWANSON DOCK SAFEWORKER
The Swanson Dock Safeworker must be in attendance for all trains entering or exiting the Swanson Dock Sidings and will be responsible for setting the required route and then authorising trains to proceed into or from the Swanson Dock Sidings at the South Dynon end of the sidings.
The Swanson Dock Safeworker does not require to be on duty when a train is stabled in the West Swanson Dock (DP World) or East Swanson Dock (Patrick) Sidings for lengthened periods.
The Swanson Dock Safeworker is provided with a local train radio and telephone.
The Swanson Dock Safeworker, when on duty, can be contacted on 0451 185 314.
B. SWANSON DOCK OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
The Swanson Dock Operations Coordinator is responsible for establishing what the planned train movements will be at the Swanson Dock Sidings and ensuring that the Swanson Dock Safeworker, and when required, Road Traffic Management are in position for the train movements.
The Operations Coordinator must email the ARTC Train Transit Manager the working hours of the Swanson Dock Safeworker and the Road Traffic Management team for the following week on the Friday of the previous week.
The Swanson Dock Coordinator can be contacted on 0418 530 903, and if no answer, 0408 828 520.
C. POINTS
Points equipped with dual control points machines are provided as follows:
- No.5D points: Located on Appleton Dock No. 4 track facing for departing movements.
Points 5D are provided with dual control point machines. The Points are secured by point clips. The Point Clips and the Hand Throw Levers are locked with independent padlocks held by the Swanson Dock Safeworker.
- Points 5BU and 5BD: Consisting of two point machines, transfers the common rail from one side of the track to the other. The hand throw lever on the point machines is not labelled N or R, but instead are labelled SG for Standard Gauge and BG for Broad Gauge, and
- Points 5U: Located on the Swanson Dock Lead facing for departing movements.
Points 5U are secured by point clips. The Point Clips and the Hand Throw Levers are locked with independent padlocks held by the Swanson Dock Safeworker.
Points 5D, 5BD, 5BU and 5U may only be operated, or used for a rail movement, provided a train notice is issued which will detail the required Safeworking arrangements to protect the work activities or rail movement.
- Points 53: Located on the Swanson Dock Lead facing for arriving movements. When set normal, trains may proceed to or from Footscray Rd Sidings. When set reverse, trains may proceed to or from East Swanson Dock Sidings;
- Points 55: Located in the East Swanson Dock (Patrick) Sidings facing for arriving movements. When set normal, trains may proceed to or from No. 1 track. When set reverse, trains may proceed to or from No. 2 track, and
- Points 59: Located in the Footscray Rd Siding facing for arriving movements.
When set normal, trains may proceed to or from No.1 track. When set reverse, trains may proceed to or from No.2 track.
Points 53, 55 and 59 are operated by the Swanson Dock Safeworker and the selector lever and hand throw lever are locked with independent padlocks; the key held by the Swanson Dock Safeworker.
When points 53, 55 and 59 are not in use, the Swanson Dock Safeworker must set the hand throw lever in the Normal Position and place the Selector Lever in the Motor Position and then place the independent padlocks on the Hand Throw Lever and the Selector Lever.
D. STOP BOARDS AND NOTICE BOARDS
Stop Boards with the following wording ‘STOP BOARD (NO.) OBTAIN AUTHORITY FROM THE SWANSON DOCK SIGNALLER PRIOR TO PROCEEDING’ are located as follows:
- STOP BOARD 1: On the Swanson Dock Lead in advance of Points 5u for arriving trains;
- STOP BOARD 2: At Footscray Road Siding No. 1 track for departing movements;
- STOP BOARD 3: At Footscray Road Siding No. 2 track for departing movements;
- STOP BOARD 4: At East Swanson Dock No. 1 track for departing movements, and
- STOP BOARD 5: At East Swanson Dock No. 2 track for departing movements.
Stops boards must not be passed unless authorised by the Swanson Dock Safeworker.
Below each Stop Board is a Notice Board with the following wording ‘CHECK POINTS ARE CORRECTLY SET PRIOR TO PROCEEDING’.
Notice boards are also located at Points 5D for both facing and trailing movements with the following wording ‘CHECK POINTS ARE CORRECTLY SET PRIOR TO PROCEEDING’.
In addition to the Swanson Dock Safeworker advising that a route has been set, train crews must ensure all points are set for the expected route prior to allowing the train proceeding over them in both a facing and trailing direction.
E. INTERMODAL WAY LEVEL CROSSING
Intermodal Way level crossing is located on the lead into the East Swanson Dock sidings.
The level crossing is provided with passive level crossing protection for road traffic consisting of Railway Signage with Give Way signs.
Traffic Management must be in position for all trains requiring to cross the level crossing.
F. ACCESS
When a train requires access to the Swanson Dock Sidings, seven days’ notice must be provided to the Swanson Dock Operations Coordinator.
The Swanson Dock Operations Coordinator will arrange the attendance of a Swanson Dock Safeworker, and if the train is to proceed into the East Swanson Dock Siding, Road Traffic Management to attend.
The rostered Swanson Dock Safeworker names and rostered times must also be provided to the ARTC Train Transit Manager who will issue to the ARTC Network Controller.
G. FOOTSCRAY RD SIDINGS
i. OVERVIEW
The Footscray Rd Sidings are Port of Melbourne Common User Sidings and consist of two 600 metre tracks, No. 1 Track and No. 2 Track. The sidings are only to be used for the staging of trains awaiting loading or departure, shunting and or rollover activities.
Trains or rail vehicles are not permitted to be stabled on Footscray Rd No. 1 or No. 2 tracks without authority of the ARTC Train Transit Manager and when stabled, may only be stabled for the period determined by the ARTC Train Transit Manager.
The points at the South Dynon End of the sidings are equipped with Dual Control Point machines which are operated by the Swanson Dock Safeworker and the points at the West Swanson Dock (DP World) end of the sidings are equipped with a WSA type hand throw lever which are operated by a qualified worker associated with a train.
ii. FOOTSCRAY RD SIDINGS TRAIN ARRIVING FROM SOUTH DYNON
The distance between Signal APD34 and Stop Board 1 is 440metres, and between Signal APD34 and DYN132 is 800metres.
When a train is required to proceed to the Footscray Rd sidings, the ARTC Network Controller must not allow the train to proceed toward the Swanson Dock Sidings within first ensuring that the Swanson Dock Safeworker is on duty and can accept the train.
The ARTC Network Controller must:
- Contact the Swanson Dock Safeworker and provide the train details, and
- Confirm that the train can be accepted.
The Swanson Dock Safeworker must:
- Note the train details, and
- Confirm with the ARTC Network Controller that the train can be accepted.
The ARTC Network Controller may then signal the train toward the Swanson Dock Sidings.
The Driver of the train as it is arriving must:
- Advise the Swanson Dock Safeworker of the trains approach and provide the proposed work details of the train.
The Swanson Dock Safeworker must:
- Establish from the Driver of the train the track the train is to enter;
- Confirm a clear route for the train to the required track;
- Check points 53 are set in the Normal position and the Selector lever and Hand Throw lever are locked with the independent padlocks;
- Check or set points 55 for the required track and ensure the Selector lever and Hand throw lever is locked with independent padlocks;
- Set points 59 for the required track the train is to enter;
- Lock the Hand Throw and Selector Lever with the independent padlock, and
- Provide authority to the Driver of the train to pass Stop Board 1 and proceed to the nominated track.
The Driver must:
- Acknowledge the authority issued by the Swanson Dock Safeworker to pass Stop Board 1, and
- Control the train at a speed confirming the points are correctly set to the required track.
When the train has cleared the points, the Swanson Dock Safeworker must:
- Advise the Driver that the train is in clear of the points;
- Advise the ARTC Network Controller that the train has arrived and the time;
- Set the Hand Throw lever on the points to the Normal position and the Selector lever to the Motor position, and
- Lock the Hand Throw and Selector Lever with the independent padlock.
The Driver or Qualified Worker will be responsible for operating the hand points at the West Swanson Dock (DP World) end of the Footscray Road Sidings.
Authorised by TTM Adelaide
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