Fundamental of Train

Signalling System

Evolution of Signalling System

21 March 2020

Edwin Pramudita Wikanta

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History

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Communications and Signals : Then and Now

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INNOVATIVE PRODUCTIVE

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sow8O1_ZNA
Classification

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Classification
• Future:
Smart System

• Electrical -
Electronic
• Electro-Mechanical
• Electrical

• Mechanical

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Future Railway Signaling: A Scenario for 2033

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1iYUnm0yuE
Anyway……
We are back to basic !

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SIGNALING OPERATIONS
IN RAILWAY SYSTEM
21 March 2020

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OUTLINE

⚫ Signal
⚫ Mechanical signals
⚫ Electrical signals
⚫ Signaling systems
⚫ Block signaling
⚫ Problems areas in signaling system
⚫ E-rostering/scheduling and rostering
⚫ Crossings and switches

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SIGNAL

⚫ A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a

railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line
ahead to train/engine drivers
⚫ The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly.
⚫ Types of signals are:
— Mechanical signals

— Electrical signals

— Cab signals

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MECHANICAL SIGNALS
• Semaphore signal is an example of mechanical signals
• Semaphore signals use coloured and shaped arms which
are usually mechanically operated by wires connected to
levers in a lever frame
• Semaphore signal can be:
• Stop signal – It’s a signal used to stop a train

• Distance signal – A distance signal arm gives an advance warning to

a driver about the state of any STOP signals ahead

• Subsidiary Signal – It’s a stop signal which when CLEAR, gives

permission for a train to proceed at low speed into a section of track
that may be occupied by another train

• Ground signal-A ground signal is referred to as shunt signals

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Electrical SIGNALS (CONT’D)

• Colour light signals is an example of

electrical signals
• The signal head is the portion of a colour
light signal which displays the aspects.
• To display a larger number of indications,
a single signal might have multiple signal
heads.

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Electrical SIGNALS

⚫ Colour light signals has different aspects such as:

— Two aspects

— Three aspects

— Four aspects or more

— Others

• Junction indicators

• Route indicators

• Flashing yellow aspects

• Position-light signals

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• Colour light not in use
COLOURLIGHT SIGNALS

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COLOURLIGHT SIGNALS

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COLOURLIGHT SIGNALS

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COLOURRLIGHT SIGNALS

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SIGNALLING SYSTEM

Signals are grouped into:

⚫ Operating devices
— Mechanical – Levers
— Electrical – Rotary switches, push and buttons, mouse and VDU
⚫ Operating equipments
— Mechanical – Points, facing point locks, lock bars and level crossing gate boom lock
— Hybrid – Electrical motor driven points, electric motor driven semaphore signals and colour
light signals are electrically operated by levers connected through cables
— Electrical – Colour light signals, electric motor operated points are controlled by rotary
switches, push buttons or mouse and keyboard

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SIGNALLING SYSTEM

Transmission media
• Mechanical – Signals are operated through single wire and points are operated
through rod

• Signals and points are operated through wire in terms of double wire.

• Electrical – Transmission media in case of electrical and electronic system of

interlocking is cable and this cable can be:

1. Quad cable

2. Signalling cable

3. Power cable

4. Optical Fibre cable

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QUAD CABLE

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OPTIC FIBRE CABLE

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SIGNALLING SYSTEM

— Monitoring devices

• To monitor correspondence between operating devices and • Monitoring track vacancy/occupancy

operated equipment
— Track circuits of different types – DC, AC, High
• To monitor status of the yard such as clearance in occupation voltage uneven impulse and Audio frequency track
of tracks, status of level crossing gates circuit

• Point and lock detectors are used to monitor setting of points — Axle counters – devices are used depending upon
for its correct housing with the stock rail, setting for normal or specific requirement
reverse, as locking the point with full travel of the lock plunger
— Protection against sliding collision is achieved through
• To monitor the status of signals, the status of signals is a flank protection
checked by a circuit breaker attached to the arm in case of a
semaphore signals and by lamp checking relays in case of
colour light signals

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SIGNALLING SYSTEM

⚫ Power Supply
—Performance of an electrical signaling system is dependent on efficient
and reliable power supply
—The efficiency of the power supply is dependent on accurate
assessment and planning of the power supply system
—Reliability in the element of source of supply
—Power supply for electrical system of signaling is based upon operating
voltages of different equipment

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SIGNALLING SYSTEM

⚫ Safety devices
—Automatic Warning System: a link is created between the signal by
providing a track device communicating with device provided in the loco
through electromagnetic coupling. Action is taken by the device in
conforming to the signal aspect, to control the loco if needed as if timely
action is not taken by the loco pilot.
—Anti Collision Device: used to safeguard against the situation where
another train enters into the block section, the loco pilot/driver shall get
intimation of such situation as the suitable action shall be taken by the
system through GPS to protect the trains from colliding.

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BLOCK SIGNALLING

⚫ Block signaling
— In block signaling, the line is divided into two block sections
— Types of block signaling
—Fixed Block: a lightly used line might have blocks many kilometers long,
but a busy committer line might have blocks few hundred meters up
— Moving Block
—Computers calculate a “safe zone” around moving train

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MAN MACHINE INTERFACE

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PROBLEMS AREAS IN SIGNALING SYSTEM

⚫ (A) Specific Problems to signal components/apparatus/Equipment

⚫ (1)Anti-Collision Device (ACD)
— ACD is not fail safe system and feature of system/components resulting in an unsafe collision.
— Large number of accident scenario still uncovered
— There are large number of safety, operational and maintenance issues such as failure of any
onboard equipment in locomotive withdraw the safety cover for other trains, also, failure of repeater
withdraws the safety cover in the area, collision of main line is possible during station anti-collision
device failure, large number of unnecessary braking and booting of the system takes place, highly
maintenance intensive system with no redundancy.
— Dependence on Global Positioning System (GPS) only
— No consideration to the cost of maintenance, environmental conditions like power supply
availability, law and order situation.

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PROBLEMS AREAS IN SIGNALLING SYSTEM
(CONT’D)

⚫ (2) Signal Failure

—Broken crimp
—Lamp missing
—Damage by lightening
—Low resistance to earth
—Signal obscure by sun light behind
—Incorrect identity
—Damage by rodent
—Damage by rodent
—Damage by staff
—Ladder failed
—Human error or computer network error
—Track circuit failure
—Points not properly set

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PROMBLEMS AREAS IN SIGNALLING SYSTEM
(CONT’D)

⚫ (3) Digital Axle Counters

— Software instability causing hangs and no response to action
— Non-robust design of track devices
— Non-protection of digital axle counters against surge and lightening
— Non-provision of component reliability enhancement
— Unavailability of fault diagnostic flow charts and robust error logger

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AXLE COUNTER

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Problems areas in signaling system
(CONT’D)
⚫ (B) General/Major Problems
— Incompetency development in design, production, verification, and validation of
application logic is a key issue. Most company depends on the vendors for
design, whereas verification and approval process is controlled in-house.
— Damage occurred to the equipment from lightening and surge
—Non-availability of user-friendly diagnostic tools, flow charts and event/error logs
makes it extremely difficult to reduce the down time of failed signaling equipment
by the maintenance staff.

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E-ROSTERING/SCHEDULING AND ROSTERING

⚫ The aim of e-rostering/scheduling is to improve rostering processes for rails-signaling and

maintenance workers by optimizing which employ works when, and on what part of the
rail network, factoring in compliance requirements, job priority and employee preference.
⚫ The e-rostering is also aimed at improving processes for rail schedulers, supervisors and
managers.
⚫ The e-rostering system replaces the current mixture of earlier – generation IT, paper
based and local spreadsheet – based processes and is designed to increase productivity
while further improvement safety standards by incorporating comprehensive traceability
facilities.
⚫ The e-rostering straighten the ability to resource the signaling operations and
maintenance activities effectively. This will allow companies to deploy the right thing to the
right place at the right time.
⚫ It will therefore enable companies to make optimum use of their work-force and their
skills, and to maximize the availability of track to the train operators, thereby helping rail
passengers by minimizing delays and disruption to services.

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CROSSINGS AND SWITCHES

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TLM

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APPLICATION IN SOCIETY, ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY

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 Thank you for your attention

LETS BEGIN !

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