Exam prep · UK
PTS Reporting practice questions
Accidents, near misses, Close Calls, CIRAS, fires, flooding and trains in distress.
Updated 8 November 2026 for the latest Rule Book
Key rules
Card holders must always report any accidents, incidents or safety concerns straight away.
RT3170 Iss 11 (2024) §2.3
If someone is acting dangerously, get them to stop if you can; otherwise report them to your supervisor or the Signaller, whichever is quickest.
RT3170 Iss 11 (2024) §8.4
A lineside fire must be reported immediately to the person in charge, the signaller or Operations Control.
GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.4
Flowing or pooling water that might affect structures or earthworks must be reported immediately to the signaller or Operations Control.
GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.5
You must tell the signaller or Operations Control if the water appears to be displacing any material.
GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.5
Report anything that looks unsafe on a train (e.g. door not closed, insecure load, fire, hot axle box, headlight not lit, tail lamp missing or unlit) to the person in charge, signaller or Operations Control.
GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.6
The train in distress warning is a continuous series of long blasts on the high/loud tone of the horn, and must be reported.
GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.6
A driver or guard showing a red handsignal, or the hazard warning indicator (flashing headlights), must be reported as something wrong with a train.
GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.6
Sample questions
1. You see a worker some distance away acting dangerously near the line. You cannot get close enough to speak to them. What should you do?
- Phone the CIRAS hotline so it is handled confidentially
- Tell your sponsor about it at the end of the shift
- Report it to your supervisor or the signaller, whichever is quicker
- Raise a Close Call on the app before your next shift
Answer: C. Report it to your supervisor or the signaller, whichever is quicker
If you can speak to someone acting dangerously, get them to stop. If you cannot, report them to your supervisor or the signaller, whichever is quickest. Danger is happening now, so the quickest route matters.
- Phone the CIRAS hotline so it is handled confidentially: CIRAS is for raising concerns, not stopping immediate danger.
- Tell your sponsor about it at the end of the shift: Waiting until the end of the shift leaves the danger in place.
- Raise a Close Call on the app before your next shift: A Close Call is a later report and does not stop the danger now.
Source: RT3170 Iss 11 (2024) §8.4
2. You spot a fire burning beside the line. Who must you report it to, and when?
- Your sponsor, by the end of the day
- The person in charge, the signaller or Operations Control, immediately
- The CIRAS hotline, within 24 hours
- Only the emergency services, once you have left site
Answer: B. The person in charge, the signaller or Operations Control, immediately
A lineside fire must be reported immediately to the person in charge, the signaller or Operations Control. Fire can spread quickly and affect trains and staff.
- Your sponsor, by the end of the day: Your sponsor cannot act on a live fire and the report must be immediate.
- The CIRAS hotline, within 24 hours: CIRAS is a confidential hotline for concerns, not for live incidents.
- Only the emergency services, once you have left site: The rule requires an immediate report to the person in charge, signaller or Operations Control.
Source: GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.4
3. Walking in the cess, you notice an unusual amount of water pooling next to the track near an embankment. What should you do?
- Mention it at the next briefing
- Report it only if the water reaches the rails
- Raise a Close Call at the end of your shift
- Report it immediately to the signaller or Operations Control
Answer: D. Report it immediately to the signaller or Operations Control
Unusual pooling next to the track or in the cess is a listed example of water to report. Water that might affect structures or earthworks must be reported immediately to the signaller or Operations Control, because it can weaken embankments and cuttings.
- Mention it at the next briefing: A briefing could be hours away; the report must be immediate.
- Report it only if the water reaches the rails: There is no requirement for water to reach the rails before reporting.
- Raise a Close Call at the end of your shift: A Close Call later does not meet the need to report immediately.
Source: GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.5
4. True or false: if water appears to be washing material away from an embankment, you only need to tell the signaller if trains are already being delayed.
- True
- False
Answer: B. False
You must tell the signaller or Operations Control whenever water appears to be displacing any material. Delays are not a condition; moving material can quickly make the line unsafe.
Source: GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.5
5. What does the train in distress warning sound like?
- A continuous series of long blasts on the high/loud tone of the horn
- A continuous series of short blasts on the low tone of the horn
- One long blast on the high tone followed by one on the low tone
- Repeated short blasts alternating between both horn tones
Answer: A. A continuous series of long blasts on the high/loud tone of the horn
The train in distress warning is a continuous series of long blasts on the high/loud tone of the horn. If you hear it, it must be reported because the train needs help.
- A continuous series of short blasts on the low tone of the horn: The blasts are long and on the high/loud tone, not short and low.
- One long blast on the high tone followed by one on the low tone: It is a continuous series, not a single two-tone sequence.
- Repeated short blasts alternating between both horn tones: It uses long blasts on the high/loud tone only, not alternating short blasts.
Source: GERT8000-HB1 Iss 9 §7.6