Norwegian railway signalling

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The signaling system used on the rail transport in Norway is regulated by the Regulations of December 4, 2001 no. 1336 about signals and signs on the state's railway network and connected private tracks.

The first signalling system on the Norwegian railway system was a mechanically operated semaphore system introduced at Drammen station in 1893. The first electrically operated light signal system was delivered by AEG in 1924. Today, only electrically operated light signals are used.

Contents

[edit] Signalling remedies

The following signalling remedies are used:

  • Signal flags
  • Hand-held signal lamps
  • Signal whistle
  • The signal giver's arms
  • Fixed light signals
  • Fixed sound signals
  • Signal signs
  • Orientation poles
  • Locomotive whistle
  • Locomotive and train signal lamps

[edit] The fundamental meaning of the signal colors

  • Red does always indicate "stop".
  • Violet indicates that the appurtenant level crossing signal shows "Stop short of the level crossing".
  • Yellow indicates "caution".
  • Green indicates "permission to run".
  • White indicates "clear line".

[edit] Light signals

The regular light signals show one of these signals:

[edit] Main signals

Image Signal Meaning Used in
Image:Signal20A.gif Signal 20A - Stop - flashes The train must stop short of the signal. Home signals, block signals.
Image:Signal20B.gif Image:Signal20B-enkel.gif Signal 20B - Stop The train must stop short of the signal. Departure signals, inner signals.
Image:Signal21.gif Image:Signal21-enkel.gif Signal 21 - Proceed (in different track) The train can proceed, usually via one or more deviant switches. Home signals, departure signals, inner signals, block signals.
Image:Signal22.gif Signal 22 - Proceed The train can proceed, not via deviant switches. Home signals, departure signals, inner signals, block signals.

[edit] Fail Safe

If one of the green lights in signal 22 fails, the indication becomes the lower speed signal 21 - this is fail-safe. Other nearby countries reverse the role of the single green aspect and double green aspect.

[edit] Distant signals

Image Signal Meaning
Image:Signal23.gif Signal 23 - Expect stop - flashes The appurtenant main signal shows signal 20A or 20B.
Image:Signal24.gif Signal 24 - Expect to proceed (in different track) - flashes The appurtenant main signal shows signal 21.
Image:Signal25.gif Signal 25 - Expect to proceed - flashes The appurtenant main signal shows signal 22.

[edit] Wrong side failure

If the yellow light in signal 24 fails, the signal displays a higher speed indication, which would be a wrong side failure. To prevent this, the yellow light would be proved to be operating before the green light is displayed (That is, the yellow is shown before the green, if the yellow fails, the green isn't shown and the signal stays totally dark).

[edit] Warning systems

Norway uses the Ericsson ATP warning system, also used on Perth's suburban railway network.

[edit] See also