GER Category 3 case studies
GER Category 3 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
GER Category 3 refers to a category of train driver competence within the German railway licensing framework (the "Grundsätzliche Eignung als Triebfahrzeugführer" scheme), where Category 3 typically covers shunting and low-speed operational driving rather than main-line passenger or freight working. Candidates are usually already employed by a railway undertaking or infrastructure manager and are being assessed for the duties they will actually perform. The GER Category 3 case studies are 5 cases and about 2,757 words.
1Descending a long grade with degraded dynamic braking
At 06:12, freight train 6M42 is standing at the crest of a 9 km descent. The train is 1,640 t, formed of 24 wagons and two locomotives.
603 words, about 3 min2Passing a signal at danger under verbal authority with a failed track circuit
At 07:20, the driver of suburban train 2A16, six cars and about 420 passengers, is stopped at signal S3 showing danger. The signaller reports that track circuit 3A has failed and is not detecting trains.
593 words, about 3 min3Route knowledge on an unplanned diversion
At 14:30, a driver is booked to work a four-car passenger service. The normal route is blocked by a failed bridge, and control has diverted the train over a 38 km single-line route the driver has not driven for three years.
553 words, about 3 min4Fitness to work after medication and poor sleep
A driver is due to book on at 21:40 for a 10-hour night shift. At 13:00, feeling hay fever symptoms, the driver took 50 mg of diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine.
474 words, about 2 min5Person on the line in a tunnel with no radio coverage
At 22:10, the driver of passenger train 2K18, eight cars and about 300 passengers, enters a 2.4 km tunnel. About 600 m inside, the driver sees a person lying beside the track.
534 words, about 3 min