Blackout

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dark-switched Ks signal system - main signal in the Allersberg (Rothsee) station on the new Nuremberg – Ingolstadt line
Modular driver's cab display (MFA) of the ICE 2 in LZB operation. With the values ​​always displayed in the driver's field of vision, it is usually no longer necessary to observe light signals along the route.

Blackout mode is used in rail operations in Germany to signal train heading sections in order to avoid contradictions between stationary and driver's cab signaling . Since a train guided by a display (via route control or ETCS Level 2 ) does not usually need any main light signals , these signals can be switched to dark for such trains.

Such a signaling contradiction can arise in particular when

  • a train route section ( route , whole block) is still occupied until the next main light signal or is not yet passable for signal-controlled trains for other reasons, but a partial block or a partial route may already be used for display-controlled trains. This means that a display-guided train should pass a light signal (with a red light) indicating a “stop”, as the driver's cab display has priority over the signal.
  • a speed indicator (eg. due to only far beyond the signal lying applies to a main signal for the entire following portion (until the next main signal or speed indicator), but a display owned train may pass more quickly at the signal switch or a short slip path )
  • the speed permitted at an exit signal per se must be maintained up to the end of the subsequent turnout area , while a display-guided train is allowed to accelerate if the location of the other turnout layers allows this.

In addition to main signals, associated pre-signals , pre-signal repeaters and additional displays (e.g. speed indicators ) are switched off. The dark signal circuit is specific within the interlocking configured and during subsequent operation by the LZB-center or the radio block center (2-operating ETCS level for) triggered via an interface at the switchboard.

While in LZB operation the blackout mostly only occurs when necessary to avoid contradictions in signaling and only when the train approaches, in ETCS operation all signals are usually darkened immediately.

The dark switching can be triggered by a dark switching trigger, which takes about one second. A darkened signal does not show a positive signal image, similar to extinguished, operationally deactivated and invalid signals. While in such a case the driver has to accept the most restrictive signal aspect with a signal- guided train, the driver's cab display has priority in a display-guided train.

history

The corresponding operating procedure LZB guidance with priority of the driver's cab signals over the signals on the route and the timetable was introduced in May 1988 for the commissioning of the Fulda – Würzburg section of the Hanover – Würzburg high-speed line . As a rule, display-guided trains no longer had to pay attention to light signals.

Blackout became more widespread with the full commissioning of the new Hanover – Würzburg and Mannheim – Stuttgart lines in 1991. Since the trains running on these lines are usually equipped with LZB, usually only train followers ( operating points with switches: stations , transfer and branch points ) equipped with light signals therebetween was block flag in place of block signals constructed.

To increase performance in the course of the CIR-ELKE program, the Rhine Valley Railway was equipped with LZB from the second half of the 1990s . Dark switching was planned for many sections between the existing main light signals in order to avoid a. to enable a closer train sequence with LZB in the entrance and exit areas of the stations by means of block indicators.

The access security signal on the connecting curve Dörfles-Esbach in the direction of Erfurt is switched off for a display-guided train (traveling with ETCS) in the direction of Erfurt.

With the first widespread use of ETCS Level 2, for the commissioning of the new Erfurt – Leipzig / Halle line in 2015, a new form of main signals that can be darkened was introduced with the access control signals. These signals can only show "Stop" or be darkened and thus prevent trains that are not in ETCS from entering areas in which ETCS is used as the only train control system.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ulrich Maschek: Securing rail traffic . 4th edition. Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden 2018, ISBN 978-3-658-22877-4 , p. 105, 203, 213 .
  2. ↑ a b Study on the introduction of ETCS in the core network of the Stuttgart S-Bahn. (PDF) Final report. WSP Infrastructure Engineering, NEXTRAIL, quattron management consulting, VIA Consulting & Development GmbH, Railistics, January 30, 2019, pp. 255, 285, 386 , accessed on April 22, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Bernhard Buszinsky: control of rail traffic on high-speed lines . In: The Federal Railroad . tape 67 , no. 6 , 1991, ISSN  0007-5876 , pp. 689-694 .
  4. ^ Karl-Heinz Suwe: "Cab signaling with the LZB". In: Railway technical review. 38, issue 7/8, 1989, pp. 445-451.