2025: the year of the RABYTS
Why the Red Aspect Approaches to Signals toolkit (RAATS), is being revised, to become the Red Aspect Approaches by Train Service (RABYTS).
SPADs still pose a significant risk on the network. The SPAD Risk Subgroup have said the annual moving total of SPADs nationwide at the end of December was 294. This means SPAD risk is rising. It stands to reason, then, that SPADs remain a major focal point for RSSB and the wider industry.
To fully understand the SPAD risk landscape, we need to know how often trains approach signals displaying red aspects. This is where the Red Aspect Approaches to Signals (RAATS) toolkit comes in. Developed by RSSB and the University of Huddersfield under their strategic partnership, it uses signal status and train movement information from Network Rail’s operational data sources to estimate how often trains approach signals at red. This provides insights into the opportunity for a SPAD at different signals.
RAATS also allows users to identify signal approach trends by operator and train type. By using the interactive graphic interface, you can explore the data on your own and pull out what might be useful for your organisation. You can even export the data for further analysis.
Having access to information like this helps put the overall risk from SPADs into context. These insights can help refine safety risk models and can be used to develop new initiatives, allowing decision makers to implement targeted improvement measures to help reduce SPADs
Work is about to start on enhancing RAATS. Right now, RAATS covers around one-third of the signals on the rail network, and one key part of the work is to broaden and increase this coverage. Linking RAATS to more industry performance data will improve the information within the toolkit. This is what the Red Approaches by Train Service (RABYTS) extension will enable.
RABYTS will combine RAATS data and performance information to allow users to view and investigate red aspect approaches for specific train journeys. The tool will also allow for easy integration with other industry tools and processes that will benefit from the rich information that RAATS provides.
RABYTS will be released in 2025. It will help the industry understand how many trains approach signals at red and how these instances might be influenced by delay or contribute to it. This will help to identify ways to prevent these disruptions, provide further insights on SPADs, and reduce associated risks.
To see how RAATS can support your organisation, view the toolkit here.
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