Moving blockIn railway signalling, a moving block is a signalling block system under which the "blocks", or safe zones around trains, are defined in real time by computers. That requires both the knowledge of the exact location and the speed of all trains at any given time, as well as continual communication between the central signalling system and the signalling system in the train cab.
Automatic train operationAutomatic train operation (ATO) is a method of operating trainsautomatically where the driver is not required or is required for supervision at most. Alternatively, ATO can be defined as a subsystem within the automatic train control, which performs any or all of functions like programmed stopping, speed adjusting, door operation, and similar otherwise assigned to the train operator.Track circuitA track circuit is an electrical device used to prove the absence of a train on a block of rail tracks to control railway signals. An alternative to track circuits are axle counters. Principles and operationThe basic principle behind the track circuit lies in the connection of the two rails by the wheels and axle of locomotives and rolling stock to short an electrical circuit. This circuit is monitored by electrical equipment to detect the absence of the trains.
Automatic train controlAutomatic 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 does not react to a signal at danger.
Automatic train protectionAutomatic train protection (ATP) is the generic term for train protection systems that continually check that the speed of a train is compatible with the permitted speed allowed by signalling, including automatic stop at certain signal aspects. If it is not, ATP activates an emergency brake to stop the train.
HeadwayHeadway is the distance or duration between vehicles in a transportation system. The minimum headway is the shortest such distance or time achievable by a system without a reduction in the speed of vehicles. The precise definition varies depending on the application, but it is most commonly measured as the distance from the tip (front end) of one vehicle to the tip of the next one behind it.
Railway signallingRailway signalling (British English), or railroad signaling (American English), is a system used to control the movement of railway traffic. Trains move on fixed rails, making them uniquely susceptible to collision. This susceptibility is exacerbated by the enormous weight and inertia of a train, which makes it difficult to quickly stop when encountering an obstacle.
TrainA train (from Old Frenchtrahiner, from Latintrahere, "to pull, to draw") is a series of connected vehicles that run along a railway track and transport people or freight. Trains are typically pulled or pushed by locomotives (often known simply as "engines"), though some are self-propelled, such as multiple units or railcars. Passengers and cargo are carried in railroad cars, also known as wagons or carriages. Trains are designed to a certain gauge, or distance between rails.
Rapid transitHigh-capacity public transportA Seoul Metro Class 2000 series 10-car EMU set 2x09 leaving Hanyang University StationA R211A train at 80th Street station of the New York City SubwayA test train of London Underground2024 Stock at Turnham Green on the Piccadilly lineA Sydney Metro Metropolis Stock approaching Kellyville.A Paris MetroMP 14 train at Châtelet on Line 14A S Train on the South Island Line on the Hong Kong MTR approaching Ocean ParkRapid transit, mass rapid transit (MRT) or rail rapid transit (RRT) and commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas.
TelecommunicationsTransmission of information electromagneticallyEarth station at the satellite communication facility Raisting Earth Station in Raisting, Weilheim-Schongau, Bavaria, GermanyTelecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electrical or electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies.Processor (computing)In computing and computer science, a processor or processing unit is an electrical component (digital circuit) that performs operations on an external data source, usually memory or some other data stream. The term is frequently used to refer to the central processing unit (CPU), the main processor in a system. It can also refer to other specialized processors such as graphics processing units (GPU), quantum processing units (QPU), and digital signal processors (DSP).
Institute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersThe Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is an American 501(c)(3)charitable professional organization for electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and related disciplines. The IEEE has a corporate office in New York City and an operations center in Piscataway, New Jersey. The IEEE was formed in 1963 as an amalgamation of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.