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Procedures

NPR 721 Spoken and written communication

This document describes the procedure for spoken and written communication.

Version 5.0, 29 April 2017

Description

This document describes the procedure for spoken and written communication.

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Introduction

Effective written, radio and telephone communication is essential for safety in the Network.

Spoken numbers

Qualified Worker
  1. Use the spoken numbers in the following table.
  2. Stress the syllables in capital letters.
  3. For a decimal point, say “point”.
For digitSayFor digitSay

0

ZEE-roh

5

FI-yiv

1

WUN

6

SIX

2

TOO

7

SEV-en

3

thuh-REE

8

ATE

4

FO-wer

9

NINE-uh

Phonetic alphabet (spoken letter names)

Qualified Worker
  1. If it is necessary to spell words, use the spoken letter names in the following table.
  2. Stress the syllables in capital letters.
ForLetter nameSayForLetter nameSay

A

ALPHA

AL-fah

N

NOVEMBER

no-VEM-ber

B

BRAVO

BRAH-voh

O

OSCAR

OSS-cah

C

CHARLIE

CHAR-lee

P

PAPA

pah-PAH

D

DELTA

DELL-tah

Q

QUEBEC

keh-BECK

E

ECHO

ECK-oh

R

ROMEO

ROW-me-oh

F

FOXTROT

FOKS-trot

S

SIERRA

see-AIR-rah

G

GOLF

GOLF

T

TANGO

TANG-go

H

HOTEL

hoh-TEL

U

UNIFORM

YOU-nee-form

I

INDIA

IN-dee-ah

V

VICTOR

VIC-tah

J

JULIET

JEW-lee-ETT

W

WHISKY

WISS-key

K

KILO

KEY-loh

X

X-RAY

ECKS-ray

L

LIMA

LEE-mah

Y

YANKEE

YANG-key

M

MIKE

MIKE

Z

ZULU

ZOO-loo

Standard terms

Use only these standard terms to convey these meanings:

TermMeaning

Emergency, emergency, emergency

This is an emergency

Correct

Yes. You are right

I read back

I am going to repeat all, or part, of your statement exactly as I received it

I say again

I am going to repeat all, or part, of my last statement

I spell

I am going to use the phonetic alphabet

Loud and clear

Your signal is strong, and every word is understood

Message received

I clearly received and understand your message

Negative

No. Not correct

Out

My transmission is complete

Over

I have finished speaking, and I am waiting for a reply

Read back

Repeat all, or a specified part, of my message back to me exactly as you received it

Receiving

I acknowledge your call. Proceed with the message

Roger

All your last statement is received and understood

Say again

Please repeat your last statement

Speak slower

Repeat what you said, speaking more slowly. It is hard to understand you

Stand by

Wait. I will be back soon

Open-channel communications

Qualified Worker
  1. Except in an emergency, make sure that no‑one else is speaking before you begin to use an open‑channel radio.
Sender
  1. Start your message with the Safeworking designation, location, and/or train number or track vehicle number, as appropriate, of the person you are calling.

    Say: “(Receiver) this is (Sender), over”.

    Identify yourself by Safeworking designation, location, and/or train or track vehicle number as appropriate.
Receiver
  1. Start your reply with the Safeworking designation, location, and/or train or track vehicle number, as appropriate, of the person calling you.

    Say: “(Sender) this is (Receiver), over”.

    Identify yourself by Safeworking designation, location, and/or train or track vehicle number as appropriate.
Sender
  1. Make your statement, ending with “Over”.
Receiver
  1. Reply, ending with “Over”.
Sender and Receiver
  1. Use standard terms as required in the communication.
Sender or Receiver
  1. At the end of the communication, say “Out”.

Emergency radio communications

Use whatever communication method is available.

If an emergency button is fitted:

Qualified Worker
  1. Press the emergency button.
  2. If there is no immediate answer, pause.
  3. Repeat Step 1 until you are answered. If you are not answered, follow the steps for ‘If an emergency button is not fitted’.
  4. When the Receiver answers, give your location and the emergency message.
  5. Exchange necessary information and directions.

If an emergency button is not fitted:

Qualified Worker
  1. Say: “Emergency, emergency, emergency, this is (your identification)”.
  2. If the radio is open‑channel, give brief details about the emergency.
  3. If the radio is open‑channel, users other than the Sender and Receiver must immediately cease transmission.
  4. If there is no immediate answer, pause.
  5. Repeat Step 1, and Step 2 if necessary, until you are answered.
  6. When a Receiver answers, give your location and the emergency message.
  7. Exchange necessary information and directions.

Written communication abbreviations

Qualified Worker
  1. Use the standard abbreviations listed below in written Safeworking communications:
AbbreviationMeaning

BF

blocking facility

CP

clearance post

CAN

Condition Affecting the Network

ASB

Absolute Signal Blocking

X/over

crossover

ESR

Eastern Suburbs Railway

Frame

groundframe

hr

hours (time of day by 24hr clock)

IBA

Infrastructure Booking Authority

Illa

Illawarra

Inst

instrument

Jct

junction

km

kilometre

km/h

kilometres per hour

kP

kilometre post

L/Xing

level crossing

LE

light locomotive

LPA

Local Possession Authority

Loco

locomotive

metro

metropolitan

min

minutes

NIN

Network Incident Notice

NSR

New Southern Railway

Nth

North

No.

number

PSN

Pilot Staff Notice

PSW

pilot staff working

pts

points

Sig

signal

SPA

Special Proceed Authority

Sth

South

STN

Special Train Notice

Subn

Suburban

TOA

Track Occupancy Authority

TOC

Train Operating Conditions manual

TWA

Track Work Authority

WOLO

hot weather speed restriction

YLS

yard limit sign