2007 Q7 - new rolling stock

[PJW]

Only just home so yet to read, but as an overview glance it looks broadly of suitable length (but at the upper limit of achievability). Diagrams on the first page are useful; however it looks as if the answer got too "wordy prose" later on and a more economic form of presentation of ideas may have helped you get as many marks using less time.

I'll try to respond tomorrow evening unless someone else beats me to it.

An attempt at Q7 from 2007:

It is proposed to introduce a new type of train onto an existing line. The new train differs from those already on the line in the following ways:
* Its wheelbase is longer.
* The distance from the front of the train to the leading axle is longer.
* The overall length of the train is longer.
* Its acceleration rate is higher.
* Its braking distance is higher.
Discuss what factors the signal engineer must assess, and what changes may have to be made to the signalling infrastructure, before the train is permitted to use the line.

I have done this untimed and suspect my answer is longer than I would have time for in the exam. Your comments please?