Railway signals in the Netherlands

A historical form signal at the Railway Museum in Utrecht

The railway signals in the Netherlands are defined in the Regeling spoorverkeer ( German  rail traffic regulations ), which is published by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Milieu . All speed information on speed boards or with neon letters must be multiplied by a factor of 10.

history

In the Netherlands, the security system arose from a combination of English and German principles. As in Germany, the train station is usually viewed as a unit for train journeys and closed off from the route by means of entry and exit signals. After the Second World War, there was a radical simplification and standardization of the signals, with an orientation towards North American principles.

Light signals

Today's light signals were introduced in 1955 and have completely replaced all previously used light and form signals in regular rail traffic. There are still form signals in operation on museum railways such as the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij .

The light signal system in the Netherlands is very simple compared to other European systems. Light signals usually have three lamps, only one of which lights up, sometimes in combination with a glowing number under the actual signal screen. The driver's license and the permitted speed are signaled. The signals apply universally, there is no subdivision into train and shunting runs with their own signaling, as is common in German-speaking countries. Light signals are usually multi-section signals. Stand-alone pre-signals are very rare. In addition to the normal design light signals, there are also dwarf signals , which are installed in a low design next to the track. These can only be used at speeds up to 40 km / h.

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  Light signal in normal design

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  Dwarf signal

number	Signal pattern normal design	Signal image dwarf signal	description	meaning
201			Green light.	Free travel at the maximum locally permissible speed
202			Flashing green light with white luminous number.	Drive past at the maximum indicated speed in kilometers per hour .
206a / b			With normal design: Flashing green light. At the dwarf signal: green light.	Driving past at a maximum of 40 km / h.
209			Yellow light with white, flashing number.	Initiate braking that must not be aborted because the following signal will indicate a further reduction in speed. (The displayed speed must be reached by the next but one signal.)
210			Yellow light with white, luminous number.	The displayed speed must be reached by braking until the next signal.
212a / b			Yellow light	Wait for a stop (at the next signal). The speed is to be limited in such a way that when a subsequent signal indicating "Stop" is detected, it can be safely stopped in front of it.
214a / b			Flashing yellow light	Driving past at a maximum of 40 km / h. Stop on the route z. B. expect through occupied track (" drive on sight ").
215			Red light	Stop at the signal.

Speed ​​boards

Signal 314

In addition to the light signals, speed boards regulate the maximum permitted speed.

number	Illustration	description	meaning
313		Yellow, black-edged triangle on the tip with black numbers.	Announcement of a speed reduction to the specified value. The speed must be reached up to the following type 314 board.
314		White, black-edged square with black numbers.	The specified value is the maximum speed from this point on.
316		Green, black-edged triangle with the tip pointing upwards with black numbers.	Acceleration to the specified value allowed.

Signals for rail vehicles with pantographs

These signals only apply to rail vehicles with pantographs and are very similar to the contact line signals in Germany and Austria.

number	Illustration	meaning
306a		Switch off traction current.
307a		Switch on traction current. If an additional sign is attached, the following applies: For pulled trains, the number of electric locomotives may not exceed the number on the sign below. For all other trains: When driving under power, the length of the train must not exceed the specified length.
308a		Expect pantograph to lower.
309a		Lower pantograph.
310a		Raise pantograph.
311		Stop for vehicles with raised pantographs.

Other fixed signals

number	Illustration	meaning
318a		Announcement of a technically secured level crossing . The number indicates the location of the transition as a route kilometer .
304a		Marking of the stopping place of the Zugspitze when trains stop as scheduled. Usually stands at the end of the platform.
304b		Marking of the stopping place of the Zugspitze for trains with scheduled stops for trains with the specified number of cars.

literature

• Jörn Pachl : Special features of foreign railway operating procedures: Basic terms - interlocking functions - signaling systems . 1st edition. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden 2016, ISBN 978-3-658-13481-5 .

Web links

Commons : Railway signs in the Netherlands  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Regeling spoorverkeer. Geldend van 01-10-2016 t / m heden. Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu , accessed June 20, 2017 (Dutch). 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Wilhelm Cauer: Safety systems in railway operations, based on joint preliminary work with Dr.-Ing. M Or . Julius Springer, Berlin 1922, p. 300 .