When protecting an unforeseen restriction, what should the dispatcher create?

• A. A track bulletin
• B. Protective Track Tag (PTT) or Track Restriction Protection (TRP)
• C. A signaling order
• D. A new track warrant

Answer: (B)

When an unforeseen restriction appears, the priority is to establish immediate, explicit protection for the affected track and trains operating in that area. The dispatcher should create Protective Track Tag (PTT) or Track Restriction Protection (TRP). This puts a clear safety boundary around the restricted segment and tells crews how to proceed—slow, stop, or proceed with caution—as specified, while other trains are held or warned away from the area. This approach is faster and more targeted than a track bulletin, which typically communicates conditions for broader usage and isn’t designed to provide real-time protection for an unexpected obstruction. A signaling order or a new track warrant involves more formal authority and broader scope, which isn't as well suited to rapidly safeguarding a short-term, unforeseen restriction.