This article does not voice my position about the topic, but is a rough translation of a Dutch news article.
The new rules of communication for all Dutch train service leaders and engineers are resulting in unsafe situations, claim those on which the new rules apply.
The train service leaders (something tells me I am using the wrong translation for that word) in the city of Utrecht have all signed a letter send to ProRail, the organization responsible for maintaining and managing most of the Dutch tracks.
ProRail setup these new rules last year to enhance the communication.
So... What are the main difference between how it used to be and how it is today?
1: Previously, track 12c was pronounced "track twelve C" (well, the Dutch equivalent of course). The new rules state that track 12c now has to be pronounced "track one two Charly"; in other words: Call the numbers individually and use the NATO alphabet for letters.
2: The end of every part of the communication has to be finished with "over". Remember the good old walky-talky days? Today they all use telephones, but still the "one at a time" broadcasting standard has been re-introduced.
So far the difference is just silly and getting used to, but apparently not everyone is getting used to the new standard of communication at the same speed.
The article mentions a specific situation in which an ambulance was called in and positioned themselves between track 1 and 2 (one and two), waiting for the train to arrive, but they should have been send to track 12 (twelve).
The NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, "Dutch Railways") and ProRail reject the criticism. "These rules follow the European guidelines for clear communication with and between trains." Mainly the older employees seems to be having problems getting used to the new formal way of communicating.
Source: Article in newspaper "de Volkskrant" (in Dutch, sorry)
The new rules of communication for all Dutch train service leaders and engineers are resulting in unsafe situations, claim those on which the new rules apply.
The train service leaders (something tells me I am using the wrong translation for that word) in the city of Utrecht have all signed a letter send to ProRail, the organization responsible for maintaining and managing most of the Dutch tracks.
ProRail setup these new rules last year to enhance the communication.
So... What are the main difference between how it used to be and how it is today?
1: Previously, track 12c was pronounced "track twelve C" (well, the Dutch equivalent of course). The new rules state that track 12c now has to be pronounced "track one two Charly"; in other words: Call the numbers individually and use the NATO alphabet for letters.
2: The end of every part of the communication has to be finished with "over". Remember the good old walky-talky days? Today they all use telephones, but still the "one at a time" broadcasting standard has been re-introduced.
So far the difference is just silly and getting used to, but apparently not everyone is getting used to the new standard of communication at the same speed.
The article mentions a specific situation in which an ambulance was called in and positioned themselves between track 1 and 2 (one and two), waiting for the train to arrive, but they should have been send to track 12 (twelve).
The NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, "Dutch Railways") and ProRail reject the criticism. "These rules follow the European guidelines for clear communication with and between trains." Mainly the older employees seems to be having problems getting used to the new formal way of communicating.
Source: Article in newspaper "de Volkskrant" (in Dutch, sorry)