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A lineside sign or signal may be supplemented by a sign showing an arrow (or an alternative pointing figure), which principally serves one of two purposes. The first is to indicate that the signal or sign applies to a specific line, especially when situated between two parallel tracks where confusion might otherwise arise. The second is to denote that the sign only applies to trains travelling in the indicated direction at a divergence ahead; these signs do not apply to trains proceeding in a direction for which no arrow is exhibited. Arrows associated with permanent or temporary speed restriction signs mostly fall into the second category and are covered in Section 13 and Section 14, respectively. See Section 11 for arrow signs fitted to points indicators.
Shunting signals (see Section 3) are frequently supplemented by a pointing figure that shows which line they apply to. In earlier times, a directing hand was used, either exhibited directly on the face of the signal [27.1] or on a sign affixed to the signal [27.2]. Directing hands gave way to simple arrows in later usage [27.3 & 27.4].
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[27.1] Directing hand on face of shunting signal (e.g. disc type; applies to the line on the right).
Area: Various Usage: High Status: Historical |
[27.2] Directing hand sign fitted to shunting signal (e.g. miniature semaphore type; applies to the line on the right).
Area: Various Usage: Unknown Status: Historical |
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[27.3] Arrow on face of shunting signal (e.g. banner type; applies to the line on the right).
Area: Various Usage: Low Status: Historical |
[27.4] Arrow sign fitted to shunting signal (e.g. disc type; applies to the line on the left).
Area: All Areas Usage: High Status: Current |
Identification plates (see Section 9) for shunting signals often incorporate an arrow as standard [27.5]. In the unusual situation where a shunting signal is applicable to the lines on either side of it, arrows may point both ways [27.6].
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[27.5] Shunting Signal Identification Plate with Arrow (e.g. position light signal; applies to the line on the right).
Area: All Areas Usage: High Status: Current |
[27.6] Shunting Signal Identification Plate with Arrows pointing left and right (e.g. position light signal).
Area: All Areas Usage: Medium Status: Current |
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Normally when an arrow sign is fitted to a sign (not a signal) it means that it only applies to trains travelling in the direction indicated at a divergence. Examples are shown in [27.7] and [27.8].
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[27.7] Notice board indicating that Token Working applies ahead on the line diverging to the left.
Area: All Areas Usage: High Status: Current |
[27.8] Radio channel indicator applicable to trains taking the left-hand divergence.
Area: All Areas Usage: High Status: Current |
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On some other European railways, it is common practice to attach a supplementary arrow sign to the post of every main signal that is not positioned on the usual side of the line. The arrow points towards the line to which the signal applies. Although this is not done on Britain's railways as a general rule, arrow signs have occasionally been fitted to main signals in cases where special circumstances apply. Three colour light signals that stood side by side at Doncaster North (numbers DN41, DN43 and DN45), each situated on the right-hand side of the line to which it applied, were fitted with supplementary arrow signs in 1951. Each sign, which was floodlit at night, had a black arrow pointing left [27.9]. |
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Birmingham New Street station (London Midland Region) was remodelled and resignalled in stages between 1964 and 1966. Restricted clearances at the platform ends necessitated the provision of several colour light signals of unusual form, which combined the main and shunting signal aspects for the lines on either side into a single head. Both signals in each pair were able to share a common route indicator (see Section 6) and "R" indication (see [20.5]) as the track layout dictated that only one signal out of the two could display a 'proceed' aspect at a time. To minimise the risk of misreading, illuminated arrows were provided alongside each main aspect [27.10]. For consistency, all the non-combined signals at the station had illuminated arrows as well as the combined examples. The first signals with these arrows came into use on Platform 12 in November 1964. Each arrow was originally lit continuously, but from early 1965 they were only illuminated when the associated signal (either main or shunting) was displaying a 'proceed' aspect, as were all the arrows subsequently brought into use. The illuminated arrows ceased being displayed at the intermediate platform signals in May 1967, and they were removed from most of the combined signals in 1972, concurrent with the provision of separate route indicators and "right away" indicators for each signal in the pair. |
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In 1966, various colour light signals in the London Victoria area (Southern Region) were provided with an illuminated directional arrow during staged layout alterations that temporarily resulted in these signals being located on the right-hand side of the line to which they applied. The illuminated arrow pointed to the left.
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The two signals at the west end of the international platforms at Ashford (numbers AD672 and AD674), which were situated on the right-hand side of drivers, were fitted with supplementary arrow signs. Each sign comprised a black arrow inclined downwards on a white circular background with a black border [27.11]. When (by 2001) signal AD674 was repositioned to the left-hand side of the line, it retained the arrow sign, but it pointed the opposite way. Similar arrow signs have subsequently been fitted to some additional signals at Ashford and also at various other locations. |
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When Glasgow Queen Street High Level station (Scotland Zone) was resignalled in 1998, the new signals at the end of Platforms 5 and 6 had limited clearance on either side. The two signals, numbered CQ62 and CQ64, were mounted on a common 'T' bracket structure, and their associated position light shunting signals were, unusually, ground mounted. The two signal identification plates were fitted to the post, one above the other, and incorporated vertical double-headed arrows to indicate which one belonged to which signal [27.12]. Subsequently, the position light signals were removed, and the lower halves of the arrows were obliterated. The main signals were removed in 2016. |
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A position light shunting signal at Wimbledon, number W1124, was fitted with an enhanced identification plate incorporating an arrow [27.13] to increase its conspicuity. This signal was moved to the left-hand side of the line in September 2000. |
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In a few places where a ground position light shunting signal is situated on the right-hand side of the line, a sign has been positioned opposite the signal, on the left-hand side, bearing the signal number and an arrow pointing right [27.14]. |
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From October 2001, a number of main signals in the Scotland Zone were fitted with a supplementary arrow sign [27.15] to indicate to which line the signal applies. Most of the affected signals were located on the left of drivers, but the presence of another track immediately to the left of the signal was a potential source of confusion. |
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A main signal or a banner repeater may have an arrow incorporated on its identification plate [27.16], especially if it is located on the right-hand side of drivers. Exceptionally, a double-headed arrow may be provided if the signal applies to two converging lines [27.17].
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[27.16] Signal Identification Plate with Arrow.
Area: Various Usage: Medium Status: Uncertain |
[27.17] Signal Identification Plate with Double-Headed Arrow.
Area: Various Usage: Low Status: Uncertain |
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In June 2002, signal N270 at Severn Tunnel Junction was fitted with a line identification sign bearing the letters "UT" and a left-hand arrow [27.18]. The signal was situated on the right-hand side of the Up Tunnel Line, to which it applies, but there was a risk that drivers could be misled into thinking that the signal applied to the Goods Loop to the right of the signal. |
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New platform starting signals were provided at London St. Pancras in August 2002. The signals for Platforms 3 and 5 (numbers WH501 and WH10) were located on the right-hand side of the line, and each was fitted with a supplementary sign bearing an arrow inside a red circular border [27.19]. |
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Signal L460 at Blackheath Junction applies to the Up Line but is mounted to the right of the Down Line on a gantry to improve its sighting through Kidbrooke Tunnel. To signify that the signal applies to the Up Line, a sign was fitted to the gantry in October 2002 [27.20]. |
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A number of main signals situated on the right-hand side of drivers have been fitted with supplementary arrow signs of different designs [27.21 - 27.23].
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[27.21] Supplementary Arrow Sign fitted to main signal.
Area: Various Usage: Low Status: Uncertain |
[27.22] Supplementary Arrow Sign fitted to main signal.
Area: Various Usage: Low Status: Uncertain |
[27.23] Supplementary Arrow Sign fitted to main signal.
Area: Various Usage: Medium Status: Current |
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