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Demonstrate knowledge of railway signals infrastructure and signalling systems

Level / 2
Credits / 4

PurposePeople credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of: plug-in signalling relays; colour light signals; and mechanical signals.

Subfield / Rail Transport
Domain / Rail Infrastructure
Status / Registered
Status date / 21 November 2008
Date version published / 21 November 2008
Planned review date / 31 December 2013
Entry information / Open.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation by NZQA.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Competenz
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0013

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1Assessment against this unit standard is to be carried out within the context of an organisation operating under a current, valid, Rail Licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the Railways Act 2005. The organisation’s operating rules, codes, and instructions, referred to in this unit standard, are those the organisation has in place to meet the requirements of the Rail Licence.

2Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and Railways Act 2005.

3Definition

Organisational procedures refer to documents that include: worksite rules, codes, and practices; equipment operating instructions; documented quality management systems; and health and safety requirements.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Demonstrate knowledge of plug-in signalling relays.

Performance criteria

1.1Relay identification system is described in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangestandard, miniature.

1.2Relay components are identified and their purpose is explained.

Rangecontacts, contact spacers/keepers, armature, pivot, residual stud, coil, case, plugboard, seal, name plate, code pins.

1.3Contact points are identified and their purpose is explained.

Rangefront, back, armature/heel, polar.

1.4Voltage is explained in terms of correct and safe relay operation.

Rangepick-up, drop-away, working.

1.5Types of relays are described in terms of their operation and suitability for use, in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangemust include – track, latched, neutral line, biased line, time delay, non-vital;

may include but is not limited to – polar, AC immune, slow pick, slow release, double element AC vane, twin.

1.6Effect of silver migration on relays and relay components is described in terms of system integrity.

Element 2

Demonstrate knowledge of colour light signals.

Performance criteria

2.1Identification system used for signals is described in terms of controlled and automatic systems.

2.2Signal components are identified and their purpose is explained.

Rangebase, mast, head/s, ladder, name plate, marker light/disc, ‘A’ light, low-speed light, close view sector, wide-angle lens, lamp, LED light unit.

2.3Lamp voltage is explained in terms of correct and safe signal operation.

2.4Colour light signal systems are described in terms of their operation in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – double-line automatic, single-line automatic, centralised traffic control, track warrant control;

evidence of two is required.

2.5Effect of silver migration on signal components is described in terms of system integrity.

2.6Placement of signal is described in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangedistance from track centre, height above rail.

2.7Suitability of signal components is described in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangebase, mast, head/s, lens/es.

Element 3

Demonstrate knowledge of mechanical signals.

Performance criteria

3.1Identification system used for signal equipment is described in accordance with organisational procedures.

3.2Signal components are identified and their purpose is explained in terms of their function and operation.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – base, mast, arm/s, ladder, lamp, lens, shunting disc target, reflectorised switch stand indicator.

3.3Mechanical signals are described in terms of their operation in accordance with organisational procedures.

3.4Placement of signal is described in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangedistance from track centre, height above rail.

3.5Suitability of signal components is described in accordance with organisational procedures.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – base, mast, arm/s, lens/es, reflectorised tape.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018