There has been a huge increase in the number of line blockages since red zone working was banned on the network. And consequential to that the rumoured job cuts which are to come to reduce the number and size of S&T/ Pway teams, plus a railway desperate to save cash (reduction on overtime/ sunday working) has seen the number of contractors on the railway noticeably increase - and these contractors are undertaking work (point heater maintenance) which NR staff undertook.
Whilst prima facie there is no underlying reason why casual staff cannot undertake work - it is alarming that in an industry which is reliant on communication the quality of spoken English is difficult to follow on occasions - it is even more alarming that the basic tenets of the rule book https://www.rssb.co.uk/en/standards/understanding-and-applying-standards/national-operations-publications - are now becoming grey areas. For example is it really a good idea to give up a line blockage with handsignaller protection without cancelling the authority number first?
The pressure to run a railway around line blockages in the current COVID degraded environment is getting oppressive - and where the emphasis on protection has basically shifted from those on the ground (especially the hierarchy) to those in the 'box. At some stage when dealing with or even in one case 30th line block request in a shift (remember that each separate line block can be granted up to 6 times per the 3180) a mistake is going to be made. You get tired, you get fatigued and the process can become rote. Yes, there maybe a local instruction that only 2 line blocks on one panel can be granted - however when the Pway can't gain access and start signing infrastructure out of use because of a) no access as that has been refused due to b) the ban on red zone working then the spotlight falls on the poor bloody infantry. Again.
