When can trains be run without brake vans or without guards?
Normally, all trains are required to have a brake van or guard’s van and a guard on board. However, in a few cases the brake van and the services of the guard can be dispensed with, especially in sections where block sections are completely track-circuited, which reduces the possibility of undetected train parting. Brake vans can also be dispensed with on specially designated short sections (typically, less than 30km, as with Northern Railway) even without track circuiting; however in this case a guard must usually accompany the train.
