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A train protection system is a railway technical installation to ensure safe operation in the event of
human error Human error refers to something having been done that was "unintended consequences, not intended by the actor; not desired by a set of rules or an external observer; or that led the task or system outside its acceptable limits".Senders, J.W. and M ...
.


Development


Train stops

The earliest systems were train stops, as still used by the New York City Subway, the Toronto subway, the
London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The U ...
, the
Moscow Subway The Moscow Metro) is a metro system serving the Russian capital of Moscow as well as the neighbouring cities of Krasnogorsk, Reutov, Lyubertsy and Kotelniki in Moscow Oblast. Opened in 1935 with one line and 13 stations, it was the first und ...
(only on the older lines) and the
Berlin S-Bahn The Berlin S-Bahn () is a rapid transit railway system in and around Berlin, the capital city of Germany. It has been in operation under this name since December 1930, having been previously called the special tariff area ''Berliner Stadt-, Ring ...
. Beside every
signal In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The '' IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing' ...
is a moveable arm. If the signal is red, levers connected to valves on any passing train hit the arm, opening the
brake line A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of friction. Background ...
, applying the emergency brake, If the signal shows green, the arm is turned away from the levers and there is no contact. The
Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company that linked London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 mill ...
in the UK introduced its '
automatic train control Automatic train control (ATC) is a general class of train protection systems for railways that involves a speed control mechanism in response to external inputs. For example, a system could effect an emergency brake application if the driver ...
' system in the early years of the 20th century. Each distant signal had before it a ramp between the running rails. If the signal showed green, the ramp was energised with a low voltage current which was passed to the locomotive when a shoe came into contact with the ramp. A bell rang in the locomotive's cab to confirm the clear aspect, and the electric current kept the brakes from being applied. If the signal showed yellow (meaning the next signal would show red) the ramp was dead and a siren sounded in the cab. If the siren was not cancelled, the brakes would automatically be applied. After the nationalisation of the railways in the UK in 1948, this system was later replaced by the magnetic induction " automatic warning system".


Inductive systems

In this system, data is transmitted magnetically between the track and locomotive by
magnet A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, steel, nic ...
s mounted beside the rails and on the locomotive. In the Integra-Signum system the trains are influenced 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. Additionally, they often require the driver to confirm distant signals (e.g. CAWS) that show stop or caution – failure to do so results in the train stopping. 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. More advanced systems (e.g., PZB, and ZUB) calculate a braking curve that determines if the train can stop before the next red signal, and if not they brake the train. They require that the train driver enter 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 it 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 is continuous (e.g., LZB).


Radio-based

Prior to the development of a standard train protection system in Europe, there were several incompatible systems in use. Locomotives that crossed national borders had to be equipped with multiple systems. In cases where this wasn't possible or practical, the locomotives themselves had to be changed. To overcome these problems, the
European Train Control System The European Train Control System (ETCS) is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). It is a replacement for legacy train protection systems and designed to replace the many incompatible ...
standard was developed. It offers different levels of functionality, ranging from simple to complex. This model allows adopters to meet the cost and performance requirements of disparate solutions, from the smallest to the largest. The European system has been in operation since 2002 and uses GSM digital radio with continuous connectivity.


Cab signaling

The newer systems use cab signalling, where the trains constantly receive information regarding their relative positions to other trains. The computer shows the driver how fast they may drive, instead of them relying on exterior signals. Systems of this kind are in common use in
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
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. These systems are usually far more than automatic train protection systems; not only do they prevent accidents, they also actively support the train driver and detect blind spots around trains. Some systems are able to drive the train nearly automatically.


Variants


International standards

*
European Train Control System The European Train Control System (ETCS) is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). It is a replacement for legacy train protection systems and designed to replace the many incompatible ...
(Heavy rail) *
Communications-based train control Communications-based train control (CBTC) is a railway signaling system that uses telecommunications between the train and track equipment for traffic management and infrastructure control. CBTC allows a train's position to be known more accura ...
(Rapid Transit)


Country-specific systems

*By System ** ACSES (United States of America) ** ALSN (Russian Federation, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine) ** ASFA (Spain) ** ATB (Netherlands) ** ATC (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Australia (Queensland), United Kingdom) ** ATCS (United States of America) **
ATP ATP may refer to: Companies and organizations * Association of Tennis Professionals, men's professional tennis governing body * American Technical Publishers, employee-owned publishing company * ', a Danish pension * Armenia Tree Project, non ...
(United Kingdom, United States of America, Brazil, Australia (Queensland), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Dominican Republic, Denmark) **
AWS Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis. These cloud computing web services provide di ...
(United Kingdom, Queensland, South Australia) ** BACC- RS4 Codici / -SCMT (Italy) ** CAWS (Ireland) ** CBTC (Brazil, United States of America, Canada, Singapore, Spain, Gabon, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Denmark, United Kingdom) ** CONVEL (Portugal) ** Crocodile/Memor (Belgium, France) **
CTCS The Chinese Train Control System (CTCS, ''simpl.chinese:'' 中国列车控制系统) is a train control system used on railway lines in People's Republic of China. CTCS is similar to the European Train Control System (ETCS). It has two subsystems ...
(China) ** EBICAB (Bulgaria, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) ** EVM 120 (Hungary) ** HKT (Denmark) **I-ETMS (United States of America) ** Integra-Signum (Switzerland) ** ITARUS-ATC (Russian Federation) **ITCS (United States of America) **
KLUB Potetball (also known as ball, klubb, kumle, komle, kompe, raspeball) is a traditional Norwegian potato dumpling. A similar German dish is called '' Kartoffelklöße''. The main ingredient is peeled potatoes, which are grated or ground up and ...
(Russian Federation) ** KVB (France) ** LZB (Germany, Austria, Spain) ** LS (Czech republic, Slovakia) **LKJ 2000 (China, Ethiopia) ** PZB Indusi (Germany, Indonesia, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Israel) ** SACEM (France, Hong Kong) ** SHP (Poland) ** TASC (Japan) ** TBL (Belgium, Hong Kong) ** TPWS (United Kingdom, Victoria) ** TVM (High speed lines in: France, Belgium, United Kingdom,
Channel Tunnel The Channel Tunnel (french: Tunnel sous la Manche), also known as the Chunnel, is a railway tunnel that connects Folkestone ( Kent, England, UK) with Coquelles (Hauts-de-France, France) beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dove ...
, South Korea) ** VEPS (Estonia) ** ZUB 123 (Denmark) ** ZUB 262 (Switzerland) *By country ** Australia - Queensland (
AWS Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis. These cloud computing web services provide di ...
and EBICAB) ** Australia - South Australia (
AWS Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis. These cloud computing web services provide di ...
) ** Australia - Western Australia ( EBICAB) **Austria ( Indusi / PZB, ZUB 262, LZB) **Belarus (ALSN) **Belgium ( MEMOR, TBL, TVM),
ETCS The European Train Control System (ETCS) is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). It is a replacement for legacy train protection systems and designed to replace the many incompatible ...
) **Brazil (
ATP ATP may refer to: Companies and organizations * Association of Tennis Professionals, men's professional tennis governing body * American Technical Publishers, employee-owned publishing company * ', a Danish pension * Armenia Tree Project, non ...
, ATC) **Bulgaria ( EBICAB 700) **Croatia ( Indusi) **Czech Republic (LS) **China (LKJ 2000,
CTCS The Chinese Train Control System (CTCS, ''simpl.chinese:'' 中国列车控制系统) is a train control system used on railway lines in People's Republic of China. CTCS is similar to the European Train Control System (ETCS). It has two subsystems ...
) **Denmark (ATC, ATC-t, ATP, HKT, ZUB 123) **Dominican Republic (ATP) **Estonia (ALSN) **Ethiopia (LKJ 2000) **Finland ( EBICAB 900) **France ( Le Crocodile, KVB, SACEM, TVM) **Germany ( Indusi / PZB, ZUB 262, LZB) **Hong Kong (
ATP ATP may refer to: Companies and organizations * Association of Tennis Professionals, men's professional tennis governing body * American Technical Publishers, employee-owned publishing company * ', a Danish pension * Armenia Tree Project, non ...
, SACEM, TBL) **Hungary (EVM) **India (
AWS Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis. These cloud computing web services provide di ...
, TPWS, Anti Collision Device, Vigilance Control System) **Indonesia (
ATP ATP may refer to: Companies and organizations * Association of Tennis Professionals, men's professional tennis governing body * American Technical Publishers, employee-owned publishing company * ', a Danish pension * Armenia Tree Project, non ...
, PZB) **Ireland ( CAWS and ATP) **Israel (PZB) **Italy (
SCMT Sistema di Controllo della Marcia del Treno (SCMT) is a discontinuous train cab signalling system used in Italy. It shares many features with the Ripetizione Segnali (RS) system, the two systems co-existing and working together. The main pur ...
, Blocco Automatico a Correnti Codificate) **Japan ( TASC, ATC, ATS) **Latvia (ALSN) **Lithuania (ALSN) **Netherlands ( ATB) **Norway ( EBICAB 700) **Poland ( SHP) **Portugal ( EBICAB 700, named on the Portuguese Railways as CONVEL) **Romania ( Indusi / PZB) **Russian Federation (ALSN) **Slovak Republic (LS) **Spain ( ASFA, LZB, EBICAB 900) **Sweden ( EBICAB 700, Ansaldo L10000) **Switzerland ( ZUB 121, ZUB 262, Integra-Signum) **Turkey (Tren Denetim Sistemi (TDS)) **Ukraine (ALSN) **United Kingdom (
ATP ATP may refer to: Companies and organizations * Association of Tennis Professionals, men's professional tennis governing body * American Technical Publishers, employee-owned publishing company * ', a Danish pension * Armenia Tree Project, non ...
, TPWS,
AWS Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis. These cloud computing web services provide di ...
),
High Speed 1 High Speed 1 (HS1), legally the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), is a high-speed railway linking London with the Channel Tunnel. It is part of a line carrying international passenger traffic between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe; ...
( TVM, KVB) **United States of America ( ACSES, ATCS, I-ETMS, ITCS)


See also

* Anti Collision Device * Cab signalling *
Dead man's switch A dead man's switch (see alternative names) is a switch that is designed to be activated or deactivated if the human operator becomes incapacitated, such as through death, loss of consciousness, or being bodily removed from control. Originally ...
* Linienzugbeeinflussung *
Platform screen doors Platform screen doors (PSDs), also known as platform edge doors (PEDs), are used at some train, rapid transit and people mover stations to separate the platform from train tracks, as well as on some bus rapid transit, tram and light rail syste ...
*
Positive Train Control Positive train control (PTC) is a family of automatic train protection systems deployed in the United States. Most of the United States' national rail network mileage has a form of PTC. These systems are generally designed to check that trains ...
* Train speed optimization * Trap point *
Vehicle blind spot A blind spot in a vehicle or vehicle blind spot is an area around the vehicle that cannot be directly seen by the driver while at the controls, under existing circumstances. In transport, driver visibility is the maximum distance at which the dr ...


Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Train Protection System *