Transport Operation Regulations for Cross-Border Movements in Tornio–Haaparanta Area

Introduction

Scope

The regulations are applicable to cross-border movements between Tornio and Haaparanta, and within the common zone.

Reference Documents

• TRI (BVF 900.3) (Safety Regulation / Traffic Safety Instructions)
• JT (Train Safety Regulation)
  
  

Definitions

• Common zone
  The area to be jointly reserved by the Swedish and Finnish traffic control operators and limited on the Swedish side by the 6/3 intermediate signal and on the Finnish side by the T 832 ground signal.
• Cross-border movement
  Movements entirely or partly operated within the movement common zone.
• Movement
  Refers to railway work and shunting.
• Permission
  Refers to permission to allow movement to begin.
• Swedish movement
  Shunting or railway work started in Sweden.
• Finnish movement
  Shunting or railway work started in Finland.
  
  

General

The regulations are drafted in Swedish and Finnish with an identical content.

No movement is allowed within the common zone without the Swedish and Finnish traffic control operators having reserved the relevant section of line.

More than one movement is allowed in the common zone only in irregular situations, such as engine failure or accident. In such cases, the work of several movements shall be agreed at the time.

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Tornio–Haaparanta Cross-border Movements

General

Movements are operated as specified in the Finnish JT, as ”shunting” operations, and as specified in the Swedish TRI (BVF 900.3), as ”shunting” or ”small-wagon shunting” operations.

Messages and Message Transmission

The Finnish staff shall be in contact with the Finnish traffic control operators, who will deliver message to the Swedish traffic control operators.

The Swedish staff shall be in contact with the Swedish traffic control operators, who will deliver the message to the Finnish traffic control operators.

Haaparanta–Tornio

Prior to the commencement of a Swedish cross-border shunting operation Haaparanta-Tornio direction, permission by the traffic control operators in Haaparanta is required.

Prior to the commencement of a Finnish cross-border shunting operation Haaparanta-Tornio direction, permission by the traffic control operators in Tornio is required.

The traffic control unit that granted a permission shall be notified of the completion of the movement.

Tornio–Haaparanta

Prior to the commencement of a Finnish cross-border shunting operation Tornio-Haaparanta direction, permission by the traffic control operators in Tornio is required.

Prior to the commencement of a Swedish cross-border shunting operation Tornio-Haaparanta direction, permission by the traffic control operators in Haaparanta is required.

The traffic control unit that granted permission shall be notified of the completion of the movement.

Railway Work within the Common Zone

General

The Finnish staff shall be in contact with the Finnish traffic control operators transmitting possible messages to and from the Swedish traffic control operators.

The Swedish staff shall be in contact with the Swedish traffic control operators transmitting possible messages to and from the Finnish traffic control operators.

Swedish Staff

The permission of the Haaparanta traffic control operators is required for work carried out by the Swedish staff within the common zone.

Prior to the granting permission, the Haaparanta and Tornio traffic control operators shall reserve the common zone.

The Haaparanta traffic control operators shall be notified of the completion of the work.

Finnish Staff

The permission of the Tornio traffic control operators is required for work carried out by the Finnish staff within the common zone.

Prior to granting permission, the Tornio and Haaparanta traffic control operators shall reserve common zone.

The Tornio traffic control operators shall be notified of the completion of the work.

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Safety Calls and Documentation

Safety Calls

The safety calls between the Swedish and Finnish traffic control operators shall be conducted either in Swedish or in Finnish.

There is a word list with translations in Appendix 5, while Appendix 6 includes examples of phrases to be used.

The safety calls shall be repeated.

Train Log

A train log shall be used according to the instructions and regulations of the traffic control.

Reservation of Common Zone

The reservation of the common zone shall be operated jointly by the Swedish and Finnish traffic control operators.

The clearance of the occupancy of the common zone shall be operated jointly by the Swedish and Finnish traffic control operators.

Maximum Permitted Speed

The maximum permitted speeds are specified in the speed signs, which are described in Appendix 2.

Accidents

Any accident or risk of accident shall be reported to traffic control operators.

Manual Signalling

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