Network
Rail


has
made
a
bid
to
improve
communications
between
signal
panels
and
boxes
within
each
region
by
devising
new
phonetic
alphabets
which
draw
on
local
culture
and
language.

A
notice
sent
to
signallers
and
seen
by
Railnews
says:
‘Following
consultation
it
has
been
agreed
that
the
London
and
South
East
Region
(LaSER)
Region
Specific
Phonetic
Alphabet
(RSPA)
will
become
active
from
0001hrs
Saturday
1st
April
2023.
The
RSPA
will
work
concurrently
with
standardised
Alphabet
as
per
Rule
Book
Section
G1.

‘The
introduction
of
the
LaSER
RSPA
is
a
culmination
of
many
hours
of
work
to
bring
forward
a
tangible
legacy
to
“2023,
British
Year
of
the
Dialect”.
This
RSPA
embraces
local
dialectic
idiosyncrasies.

‘As
I’m
sure
your
teams
are
aware,
Network
Rail
have
been
embracing
dialect
and
local
customs
in
our
bid
to
remain
Diversity
Relevant
in
the
modern
era.
The
homogenization
of
language,
while
ensuring
clarity,
is
diluting
cultures
nationally
and
internationally.

‘Network
Rail’s
policy
of
multiple
RSPAs
should
go
live
following
a
successful
trial
of
LaSER.’

The
new
alphabet
for
the
London
area
draws
inspiration
from
the
classic
BBC
comedy
series,
‘Only
Fools
and
Horses’,
and
reads:

A
=
Arfur;
B
=
Boycie;
C
=
Cushty;
D
=
Denzel;
E
=
Earner;F
=
Freddie;
G
=
Geezer;
H
=
Hooky;
I
=
Incometax;
J
=
Jubbly;
K
=
Khazi;
L
=
Liquor;
M
=
Marlene;
N
=
Nagshead;
O
=
Occhetti;
P
=
Plonker;
Q
=
Quack;
R
=
Rodney;
S
=
Sullivan;
T
=
Tea;
U
=
Uncle;
V
=
VAT;
W
=
Wally;
X
=
Xwife;
Y
=
Yuppy;
Z
=
Zebedee.

Network
Rail
added:
‘It
is
important
to
note
this
can
only
be
used
for
rail
communications
wholly
encompassed
within
LaSER.
In
ALL
other
circumstances
users
must
apply
G1
SA.’