NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Automatic train protection system

An automatic train protection system (ATPS) is a technical installation on railway lines and trains to ensure safe operation in presence of human failures.

Development

Mechanical locks

The earliest systems were mechanical locks, like the one still used by the Berlin S-Bahn. Alongside every signal is a moveable clamp, which, if the signal is red, touches a valve on a passing train which opens the brake line. That way the emergency brake is activated. If the signal shows green, the clamp is turned away. Berlins S-Bahn network The Berlin S-Bahn is a metro system operated by S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, a subsidiary of the Deutsche Bahn. ... Piping diagram from 1920 of a Westinghouse E-T Air Brake system. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x800, 318 KB) Summary Description: Trackside magnets used for automatic train protection (the two older ones are Integra/Signum, the two newer ones ZUB) Source: http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x800, 318 KB) Summary Description: Trackside magnets used for automatic train protection (the two older ones are Integra/Signum, the two newer ones ZUB) Source: http://www. ...

Inductive systems

Automatic train protection systems that transmit data via magnetic fields, emitted and received by magnets mounted beside the rails and on locomotives, come in various forms. Simple systems may influence trains only at given locations, for instance whenever a train ignores a red signal, the emergency brakes are applied and the locomotive's motors are shut down. Systems like Integra-Signum work this way; additionally, they often ask the train driver to confirm distant signals (e.g. CAWS) that show stop or caution - if he does not confirm within a few seconds, the train is stopped. This gives sufficient braking distance for trains following each other, however it cannot always prevent accidents in stations where trains cross paths, because the distance from the red signal to the next obstacle may be too short for the train to brake to a halt. Electromagnetic induction is the production of an electrical potential difference (or voltage) across a conductor situated in a changing magnetic flux. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Iron filings in a magnetic field generated by a bar magnet A magnet is an object that has a magnetic field. ... Overview In railway signalling, a distant signal (British English) or approach signal (US English) is a signal that repeats the aspects of a signal some distance ahead. ...

More advanced systems (e.g. PZB, ZUB) calculate a braking curve, that is they constantly calculate if the train will be able to stop before the next red signal, and if not they brake the train. They require that the train driver enters the weight and the type of brakes into the onboard computer. One disadvantage of this kind of system is that the train cannot speed up before the signal if the signal has switched to green, because the onboard computer's information can only be updated at the next magnet. To overcome that problem, some systems allow additional magnets to be placed between distant and home signals, or data transfer from the signalling system to the onboard computer has to be made continuous (e.g. LZB). In railway signalling, a home signal (British English and sometimes in American English as well) or absolute signal (US English) is a signal that protects junctions, points (switches in American terminology), movable bridges platforms, or block sections. ...

Cab signalling

The newest systems use cab signalling, where the trains constantly get information about their and other's positions and the computer shows the driver how fast he may drive, instead of exterior signals. Systems of this kind have been common for a long time in France, Germany and Japan, where the high speeds of the trains made it impossible for the train driver to read exterior signals, and distances between distant and home signals are too short for the train to brake. Cab signalling is any communication system used by modern trains to send track status information to the train cab. ...

These systems are usually far more than automatic train protection systems, because they not only prevent accidents, but also support the train driver actively. This goes as far as some systems being able to drive the train nearly automatically.

Future

Because of the many incompatible automatic train protection systems used in Europe and the resulting changes of locomotives at borders (or equipping locomotives with many different systems), efforts have been made to create one modern, universally usable system with different stages of implementation, the European Train Control System. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a signalling and control system designed to replace the 14 incompatible safety systems currently used by European Railways, especially on high-speed lines. ...

Variants

International standards

The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a signalling and control system designed to replace the 14 incompatible safety systems currently used by European Railways, especially on high-speed lines. ...

Country specific legacy systems

The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) is a public, partially residential high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Automatic Train Control (ATC) is a safety system for railways, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines. ... Automatic train protection is speed and distance supervision, usually intervening (usually deploying emergency brake, as a last measure) when the driver of a train omits to react on optical signals given from the wayside system. ... Automatic train protection is speed and distance supervision, usually intervening (usually deploying emergency brake, as a last measure) when the driver of a train omits to react on optical signals given from the wayside system. ... The Automatic Warning System (AWS) refers to the specific form of limited cab signalling introduced in 1948 in the United Kingdom to help train drivers observe and obey warning signals, yellow or green. ... Automatische TreinBeÃ¯nvloeding or ATB is a Dutch system of Automatic Train Protection developed in the 1950s. ... The French Railways (SNCF) use an alert system more or less equal to the British Automatic Warning System (AWS), called the RÃ©pÃ©tition du Signal en Cabine (French for Signal Repetition in Drivers Cab). Crocodile The signal repetition is done by the crocodile, an electrical contact placed between... The PunktfÃ¶rmige Zugbeeinflussung, abbreviated to PZB, is a train safety system used in Germany and Austria. ... The PunktfÃ¶rmige Zugbeeinflussung, abbreviated to PZB, is a train safety system used in Germany and Austria. ... Integra-Signum trackside magnets Integra-Signum is a swiss automatic train protection system introduced in 1933. ... Track equipped with LZB loops. ... The Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) has been deployed across the entire UK railway network. ... LGV signalling, or in-cab signalling on lignes Ã grande vitesse (high-speed railway lines based on the French TGV system), differs considerably from signalling on conventional railway lines. ... The PunktfÃ¶rmige Zugbeeinflussung, abbreviated to PZB, is a train safety system used in Germany and Austria. ... Track equipped with LZB loops. ... The French Railways (SNCF) use an alert system more or less equal to the British Automatic Warning System (AWS), called the RÃ©pÃ©tition du Signal en Cabine (French for Signal Repetition in Drivers Cab). Crocodile The signal repetition is done by the crocodile, an electrical contact placed between... LGV signalling, or in-cab signalling on lignes Ã grande vitesse (high-speed railway lines based on the French TGV system), differs considerably from signalling on conventional railway lines. ... The French Railways (SNCF) use an alert system more or less equal to the British Automatic Warning System (AWS), called the RÃ©pÃ©tition du Signal en Cabine (French for Signal Repetition in Drivers Cab). Crocodile The signal repetition is done by the crocodile, an electrical contact placed between... LGV signalling, or in-cab signalling on lignes Ã grande vitesse (high-speed railway lines based on the French TGV system), differs considerably from signalling on conventional railway lines. ... The PunktfÃ¶rmige Zugbeeinflussung, abbreviated to PZB, is a train safety system used in Germany and Austria. ... Track equipped with LZB loops. ... The French Railways (SNCF) use an alert system more or less equal to the British Automatic Warning System (AWS), called the RÃ©pÃ©tition du Signal en Cabine (French for Signal Repetition in Drivers Cab). Crocodile The signal repetition is done by the crocodile, an electrical contact placed between... ATB is: AndrÃ© Tanneberger is a German DJ Active Time Battle system is a feature of role-playing games All Terrain Bike is a human powered vehicle Alberta Treasury Branches or ATB Financial is an Albertan crown corporation specializing in financial services Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) consists of a tank... Track equipped with LZB loops. ... Integra-Signum trackside magnets Integra-Signum is a swiss automatic train protection system introduced in 1933. ... The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a signalling and control system designed to replace the 14 incompatible safety systems currently used by European Railways, especially on high-speed lines. ... Automatic train protection is speed and distance supervision, usually intervening (usually deploying emergency brake, as a last measure) when the driver of a train omits to react on optical signals given from the wayside system. ... Radio Electronic Token Block is a system of railway signalling used in the United Kingdom The Signaller issues an electronic token by radio which is received and displayed by special equipment in the trains cab. ... The Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) has been deployed across the entire UK railway network. ... The Automatic Warning System (AWS) refers to the specific form of limited cab signalling introduced in 1948 in the United Kingdom to help train drivers observe and obey warning signals, yellow or green. ... LGV signalling, or in-cab signalling on lignes Ã grande vitesse (high-speed railway lines based on the French TGV system), differs considerably from signalling on conventional railway lines. ...

Contents

Development

Mechanical locks

Inductive systems

Cab signalling

Future

Variants

International standards

Country specific legacy systems

See also

Contents

Development GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Mechanical locks

Inductive systems

Cab signalling

Future

Variants

International standards

Country specific legacy systems

See also

Development