Departure signal
The departure signal (often incorrectly called "Abfahr t signal") is a railway signal meaning "departure" or "drive through". With him, a train is instructed to depart at the beginning of the journey or after an intermediate stop on the way or to pass through an operating point instead of a designated stop.
The signal is primarily used at passenger stations as an order for passenger trains to depart, but it also applies to other trains. In Germany it is described in the Railway Signaling Regulations applicable to all public transport railways , which as signal book (Ril 301) of Deutsche Bahn AG also contain the text of this ordinance. The signal is called "Zp 9" (abbreviation: Zp = train crew signal ).
Giving the departure order is the task of the train supervisor , which is usually the train driver , at large passenger stations the local supervision .
The departure signal is used in Germany in the following variants:
- as a hand signal with the so-called command stick : A round white disc with a green border or - especially in the dark - a green light; in the case of non-federal railways (NE), holding up a hand or is sufficient as a hand signal
- as a light signal : a green ring formed from several points of light (area of the former Federal Railroad) or vertical green light strips (area of the former Reichsbahn ) or
- verbally or by telephone with the shouting "Departure" to the driver .
Before the departure order is given, a warning whistle is given, which gives the order to close the door with the help of the pneumatic door locking system and at the same time draws the attention of everyone involved - employees of the railway as well as the people on the train and on the platform - to the imminent departure (see also Train supervision ).
As part of an attempt to accelerate operations, the use of the light signal has no longer been common at DB Fernverkehr since October 17, 2016 and only the hand signal is to be used. This does not apply to areas with local supervision.
gallery
Hand signal
Light signal Zp 9 (green ring)
Light signal Zp 9 (green stripe) on an HI signal
Symbol on control pillars for Zp 9 light signal
Control column for the train crew with Zp 9 signal
Control panel ZP9 at Wilhelmshöhe station
swell
- Railway signal regulations / signal book, Ril 301 of the DB
- Trains run and shunt, Ril 408 of the DB