Signaling and Interlocking

Objectives of Signaling
◼ To regular the movement of trains at max. permissible speed.
◼ To maintain a safe distance between trains
◼ To provide facilities for safe and efficient shunting
◼ To regulate the arrival and departure of trains from the station
yard.
◼ To guide the trains to run at restricted speeds
◼ To ensure the safety of the train when it comes in contact with
road traffic at level crossings.

2
Classification of Signals based on different
characteristics
Classification of Signals
 Audible Signals

▪ Audible signals such as detonators used in cloudy and foggy

weather when hand or fixed signals are not visible.
▪ Detonators contain explosive material and are fixed to the rail
(about 90 m ahead of a signal in thick foggy weather) by means
of clips.
▪ Once the train passes over the detonators, explode it and the
driver becomes alert at keeps a lookout for the signal
 Visible Signals
Hand signals:
◼ Flags (red or green) fixed to wooden handles are used during the day
◼ Hand lamps with movable green and red slides are used during night
Fixed signal:
◼ These are firmly fixed on the ground by the side of the track and further
subdivided as-
◼ Caution indicators:
Provided for communicating to the driver that the track ahead is not fit
for the running the train at normal speed and shifted from one place to
another depending upon requirement
◼ Stop signals:
Normally do not change their position and used on railway as
semaphore signals, coloured light signals for informing the drivers
about the condition of the railway line lying ahead.
 Fixed signals

Semaphore signals:
◼ The word ‘semaphore’ was first used by a Greek
historian. ‘Sema’ means sign and ‘phor’ means to
bear. A semaphore signal consists of a movable
arm pivoted on a vertical post through a
horizontal pin.
◼ The arm of the this signal on the side facing the
driver is painted red with a vertical white stripe
near the end. The other side is printed white
with a black vertical stripe. The arm is square-
ended.
◼ The complete mechanical assembly - an arm, a
pivot, a counterweight spring stop, etc., and is
housed on the top of a tubular post.
◼ In order to visible at night, a kerosene oil or
electric lamp, operated through a twilight switch,
is fixed to the post.
 Contd.
◼ A spectacle is also attached to the moving single arm, which
contains green and red coloured glasses. So when the arm is
horizontal, then the red light is visible to the driver and when the
arm is lowered the green light is visible. The semaphore signal can
be used as a stop signal as well as a warner signal
◼ The signals are designed to be fail-safe so that if there is any failure
in the working of the equipment, they will always be in the stop
position.
◼ These signals are operated by hand levers or buttons located in a
central cabin, provided nearby the station master’s office.
◼ Semaphore signals are normally provided as outer signals, home
signals, starter signals, advanced starter signals, and warner signals.
Shunt Signal
 Coloured light signals
◼ These signals use coloured lights to indicate track
conditions both during the day and the night.
◼ In order to ensure good visibility, particularly
during daytime, the light emission of an electric
12-V,33-W lamp is passed through a combination
of lenses in such a way that a parallel beam of
focused light is emitted out. This light is
protected by special lenses and hoods and can be
distinctly seen even in the brightest sunlight.
◼ The lights are fixed on a vertical post in such a
way that are in line with the driver’s eye level.
The system of interlocking is so arranged that
only one aspect is displayed at a time. Coloured
light signals are normally used in suburban
sections and sections with a high traffic density.
 Contd.

Coloured light signals can be of the following types.

i. Two-aspect, namely, green and red
ii. Three –aspect, namely, green, yellow, and red

iii. Four-aspect, namely, green, yellow (twice), and red.

In India, mostly three-aspect or four-aspect coloured light

signaling is used. In the case of three-aspect signaling, green,
yellow, and red lights are used.
◼ Green indicates ‘proceed’
◼ Yellow indicates ‘proceed with caution’ and
◼ Red indicates ‘stop’
 Contd.
◼ In the case of four-
aspect coloured light
signaling, the
interpretations of the
colours are given in
the following table

Colour of signal Interpretation

Red Stop dead, danger ahead
Yellow Pass the signal cautiously and be prepared to stop at the next signal
Two yellow lights displayed Pass the signal at full speed but be prepared to pass the next signal, which
together is likely to be yellow, at a cautious speed
Green Pass the signal at full speed, next signal is also off
Calling – on signal
This consists of a small arm fixed on
a home signal post below the main
semaphore arm. When the main
home signal is in the horizontal (on)
position and the calling-on signal is
in on inclined (off) position, it
indicates that the train is permitted to
proceed cautiously on the line till it
comes across the next stop signal.
Thus the calling-on signal is meant to
‘call’ the train, which is waiting
beyond the home signal.
 Repeater signal

In cases where a signal is not visible

to the driver /guard from an adequate
distance due to sharp curvature or any
other reason, a repeater signal is
provided at a suitable position with an
R marker at the rear of the main
signal. A repeater signal can be of the
following types.
•A square-ended semaphore arm with
a yellow background and a black
vertical band.
•A coloured light repeater signal
•A rotary or disc banner type signal
 Shunt signals

These are miniature signals and are mostly used for regulating
the shunting of vehicles in station yards. These are small in
size and are placed on an independent post.
In semaphore signaling areas, the shunt signals are of the
disc type. It consists of a circular disc with a red band on a
white background. The disc revolves a round a pivot and is
provided with two holes, one for the red lamp and other for
green lamp, for the purpose of night indication. At night, the
‘on’ position of the signal is indicated by the horizontal red
band and the red light, indicating danger. During the day the
red band inclined to the horizontal plane and during the night
the green light indicates that the signal is ‘off’
In colour light signaling areas, the shunt signal on an
independent post consists of two white lights forming a line
parallel to the horizontal plane. This indicates that the signal is
‘on’ or that there is danger ahead whereas two white lights
forming a line inclined to the horizontal plane indicate ‘off’ or
that the train can proceed
 Outer signal
◼ This is the first stop signal at a station, indicates the entry of a train from a block-
section into the station limits. This signal is provided at an adequate distance (about
580m from the home signal) beyond the station limits.
◼ When the outer signal is in the ‘on’ (or stop) position, it indicates that the driver
must bring the train to a stop at a distance of about 9 m from the signal and then
proceed with caution towards the home signal.
◼ If the outer signal is in the ‘off’ (or proceed) position, it indicates that the driver does
not need to reduce the speed of the train if the home signal is also in the ‘off’ (or
proceed) position, which is indicated by the ‘off’ position of the warner.
 Home signal

◼ A home signal is the first stop signal. It

is provided right at the entrance of the
station for the protection of the station
limits. The arms provided on a home
signal are generally as many as the
number of reception lines in the station
yard.
◼ When a home signal is in the ‘on’ (or
stop) position it indicates that the train
must come to a halt short of the signal.
In the ‘off’ (or proceed) position, it
indicates that the particular line is free
and the train is permitted to enter
cautiously.
 Starter signal
▪ The starter signal shows a 'Proceed' indication (green signal)
to indicate that a train may leave the station, but in some
cases an 'Attention' or 'Caution' indication (double yellow /
yellow) may be used to allow the train to leave the station
but at a reduced speed.
▪ This signal marks the limit up to which a particular line can
be occupied without infringing on other lines.
▪ A separate starter signal is provided for each line.
▪ As this signal controls the departure of a train, it is also
called the departure signals.
Advanced starter signal

▪ This is a stop signal provided ahead of the starter signal,

and therefore it is the last stop signal on departing station
limits.
▪ This signal is provided about 180 m beyond the outermost
points or switches and marks the end of the station limits.
▪ A block section lies between the advanced starter signal of
one station and the outer signal of the next station.