Main track
As Streckengleis is in the railway , the track of the free section called.
In the case of a double-track railway line , the track provided for the corresponding direction of travel is referred to as the regular track , the other as the opposite track . From the point of view of the regulations, there are only single and double-track lines in Germany . Multi-track lines are operationally divided into individual parallel sections, each with one or two tracks. Different rules apply to track use in the stations themselves.
Normal direction of travel
The normal direction of travel denotes the journey on the regular track. The driving regulations of individual countries and railway companies provide for different normal driving directions . For example, in Germany the left track in the direction of travel is usually the opposite track (comparable to the opposite lane of a street), the right track is the regular track (comparable to the normal lane in motor vehicle traffic), in Switzerland it is the other way round.
See also: Driving regulations in the individual countries .
Wrong driving
The opposite track used to be called the wrong track because (at least on routes with conventional signaling equipment ) it is not normally used in this direction. But there are cases in which it has to be driven on, for example if there is a construction site on the regular track or it is occupied by a defective train . In Germany, the term driving on the opposite track has now been established for this. This are branch-off and crossovers used on the free section or train stations. In order to safeguard such journeys, an auxiliary signaling is set up (especially if the case can be planned - for example at construction sites) or guaranteed by means of a substitute signal on the opposite track . In other cases, the train driver is given a written driving order or driving order. Trains that run on the opposite track are sometimes only allowed to travel at a significantly lower speed than would be the case on the same route section on the regular track. In many cases, construction sites are secured by gang warning systems in order to warn line workers of the approaching train.
Track change operation
Two-track lines are increasingly being equipped for signaling so that both tracks can be used equally in both directions in the so-called Gleiswechselbetrieb (GWB). This means that the concept of standard track and opposite track loses its importance to a large extent, even if the conventional track allocation is usually used. Even on routes with track changing operation, only the regular track with block signals is usually divided into block sections.
Web links
literature
- BahnPraxis Issue 4/2003 (PDF; 3.8 MB) - Driving on the opposite track
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jörn Pachl : Standard track in the glossary of system technology for rail traffic, accessed on October 24, 2011
- ↑ Jörn Pachl : Opposite track in the glossary of system technology for rail traffic, accessed on October 24, 2011