Railway indication

The railway indication is whole of the means used to in full safety communicate to the driver the necessary informations with circulation on the railways. It is generally specific to each company of Railroad, and its harmonization is an important issue of the Interopérabilité railway networks in Europe and North America where the presence of hundreds of private companies very early imposed a great effort of standardization.

Objective

Indication is a means of giving orders to the driver of a vehicle and aims to avoid:
  • inherent risks with railway circulation:
    • “nose with nose”, when two Train S are found face to face on same the way,
    • “correction”, when the following train catches up with that which precedes it,
    • the “catch in scarf”, when a train arrives on a Aiguillage already occupied by a train coming from another direction.
  • risks of derailment (speed limit in the curves, the zones of shunting and work),
  • inherent risks with the crossings level, intersections with the highway network.

The risk of nez-à-nez is dealt with by the Enclenchement S of direction;

The risk of correction is dealt with by quartering;

The risk of catch in scarf is dealt with by the Enclenchement S interns at the signal box (Enclenchement of routes, Enclenchement of transit…) ;

The risks of derailment are dealt with by the speed limits, of the monitoring systems of the loadings and of the temperature of limp of Essieu X;

The risks with the level crossings are dealt with by devices of advertisement of the trains.

Presentation of the signals

The signals can be fixed or mobile, luminous or mécanique.
The mechanical signals are done now increasingly rare, and are replaced by the luminous ones.

One says of a signal that it is in “closed” position lorqu' it presents its most restrictive aspect ( for example impose the stop); it will be said that it is “open” when it presents a less restrictive aspect ( for example authorize the passage).

Traditional or side indication

Traditional indication consists of signals established (or presented) along the way (it is thus also called side indication).

A mobile and/or temporary indication (building site for example), can come to supplement permanent fixed indication.

Indication comprises different type of signals:

  • light signals,
  • mechanical signals (in the process of disappearance),
  • mobile signals with hand/(lamps, flags),
  • acoustic signals (detonators, blows of horn).

The respect of the signals is imperative, condition sine qua non of safety.

Indication in cabin

See also: Indication in cabin

With the advent of the trains at high speed, side indication in full safety did not allow any more circulation, because beyond a certain speed, information which it gives cannot be perceived by the driver any more. One thus had to invent systems where this same information is posted directly in the driver's cab. One can even combine both, i.e. a system of indication in cabin and a side indication if the first weakens, like for the convoys not equipped.

The ETCS

See also: European System of control of the trains, ETCS

With an aim of standardization, to support interworking, the European railroads will be gradually equipped with a system of indication in cabin and control single speed.

Indication of the trams

The indication of the Tramway S is not standardized and changes according to the network. Nevertheless, there are certain constants, like the system of crossing with the streets. One will often find there a bar vertical, meaning that the passage of the tram is authorized or horizontal prohibiting it.

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