![]() ![]() Power failures can affect systems covering a very large area. They often occur in places where our cables are older or have been stolen. Power failure: A national grid problem or an issue with the power supply’s backup system. Points are interlocked with signals, so you can’t tell a train to proceed if the points have failed. Points failure: A fault with the movable pieces of track or their operating equipment that enable trains to change tracks. Some of the most common causes of signalling failures These can cause failures that are difficult and time-consuming to resolve. Signalling systems are also vulnerable to a wide range of risks ranging from flooding to lightning strikes. Meanwhile, multiple trains will have been stopped by red signals and so it’s not necessarily a quick fix to get the things moving again. These failures require staff to physically access and repair the component, which all takes time. So, when a signalling system fails, is it possible to switch it off and turn it back on again? Sometimes, yes, but very often it is a component that needs to be located alongside the track which has failed. The loss of vital data, such as the exact position of trains or the status of the track ahead, results in delays because the system can only allow train movements when it knows it is safe to do so. When passengers hear an announcement regarding a signal failure, it’s usually a failure of the broader signalling system that means it no longer has all the information it requires. Our Digital Railway strategy goes further – it’s our programme to modernise the network with cab signalling to replace lineside signals, and new traffic management systems to improve the way the network is run. The concept of a digital railway hails from the 1980s when we began to use computers to control the signalling. Roughly half the network is controlled by electronic systems with the rest operated by electro-mechanical systems. Around half the network is still more than 30 years old. Our network is under growing pressure to meet capacity needs, making the modernisation of our ageing signalling system an essential part of our vision for a better railway for a better Britain. There are also still some traditional mechanical semaphore signals. We have about 40,000 signals across the whole network, mostly colour light signals and with many benefitting from LED technology. Modern signalling systems provide the necessary information to the driver on displays in the train cab. Many have additional indicators to show which route has been set up for the train and which way it must go. Most signalling systems use trackside signals to control the safe movement of trains and tell drivers what to do.Ī colour light signal shows different colours to authorise train movements. What do our signals look like and how are we improving signalling? Signalling systems are designed to fail to a safe state, so faulty components can often result in signals remaining at red, causing train delays. Other systems determine what movements are safe and train protection systems guard against mistakes by drivers. ![]() The broader signalling system also includes systems for determining the position of trains, controlling the railway and operating the timetable, and points that control the directions trains take. The signals themselves are the lineside pieces of equipment that tell train drivers when it is safe to proceed and what route their train will take. The complexities of moving trains around such a large network, keeping them safely apart, and allowing for their long stopping distances, means the signalling system is very complicated and comprises a great many parts. Signalling is essentially a sophisticated traffic light system for the railway. But how does it work and what role does it play in delays? Signalling is a crucial part of the railway infrastructure, enabling trains to move safely around the network. Upgrades to signalling and train control systems feature strongly in our improvement works and are part of our ongoing plans to install modern technology to improve services for passengers and freight operators. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |