A method for requesting a closure of a track section and a closure revocation by way of a closure signal sent by a communication device, having a monitor on the track section, to a signal box and by way of a sent closure revocation signal. In order to render such a method more secure, the sent signals are secured by way of a secure computer module that can be optically coupled to the monitor, and a signal box is used which is expanded in such a way that the signal box detects the sent and secured signals and sends confirmation signals to the secure computer module. There is also provided an assembly with a communication device having a monitor on a track section.

A travelling vehicle system includes an intermediate track; first tracks; second tracks; a first switching track which connects the intermediate track and one of the first tracks to an other one track; and a second switching track which connects the intermediate track and one of the second tracks to the other one track. When a travelling vehicle travels on the intermediate track, a travelling vehicle controller determines before the travelling vehicle enters the first switching track that the travelling vehicle can enter both the first and second switching tracks in the case of determining that the first track on which the travelling vehicle is currently travelling is connected to the intermediate track and determining that the intermediate track is connected to the second track selected by the travelling vehicle.

A travelling vehicle system includes an intermediate track; first tracks; second tracks; a first switching track which connects the intermediate track and one of the first tracks to an other one track; and a second switching track which connects the intermediate track and one of the second tracks to the other one track. When a travelling vehicle travels on the intermediate track, a travelling vehicle controller determines before the travelling vehicle enters the first switching track that the travelling vehicle can enter both the first and second switching tracks in the case of determining that the first track on which the travelling vehicle is currently travelling is connected to the intermediate track and determining that the intermediate track is connected to the second track selected by the travelling vehicle.

A monitoring unit for monitoring a railway track is provided. The monitoring unit may include a processing unit, at least one wheel sensor connectable to a rail of the railway track, and a sensor arrangement connectable to a railway switch of the railway track. The wheel sensor and the sensor arrangement may be connected with the processing unit, and the processing unit may include an output that is connectable to a signaling system. Furthermore, a method for monitoring a railway track is provided.

A method and system for managing traffic of guided vehicles over a railway network include a first ATS system for regulating traffic of guided vehicles over a first regulation domain of the network and a second ATS system configured for regulating traffic of guided vehicles over a second regulation domain. The regulation domains have a common boundary and at least one track connects a first position within the first regulation domain to a second position within the second regulation domain. The second ATS system detects limited traffic capacity at the second position and automatically computes, as a function of the detected limited traffic capacity, a target headway between two successive guided vehicles crossing the common boundary for entering the second regulation domain. The first ATS system automatically determines, from the received target headway, a reference timetable, complying with the received target headway, for the first regulation domain.

A distributed interlocking device, architecture and process are disclosed, and are based on segregating vital logic for a signal installation by type of signal equipment. A plurality of intelligent signal devices is disclosed, wherein each intelligent signal device is used to control a basic signal unit. A signal unit includes a set of signal apparatuses that are geographically and logically interrelated. An intelligent signal device receives data related to the states of other signal devices, determines and controls its own operational states, and communicates its own operational states to other devices. A generic intelligent signal device is also disclosed. Further, a plurality of new concepts, and signal control functions are provided, and include a vital change management process, and a failure recovery scheme based on dynamic reconfiguration of home and distant control functions.

A distributed interlocking device, architecture and process are disclosed, and are based on segregating vital logic for a signal installation by type of signal equipment. A plurality of intelligent signal devices is disclosed, wherein each intelligent signal device is used to control a basic signal unit. A signal unit includes a set of signal apparatuses that are geographically and logically interrelated. An intelligent signal device receives data related to the states of other signal devices, determines and controls its own operational states, and communicates its own operational states to other devices. A generic intelligent signal device is also disclosed. Further, a plurality of new concepts, and signal control functions are provided, and include a vital change management process, and a failure recovery scheme based on dynamic reconfiguration of home and distant control functions.

A train traffic control inspection device includes an information acquiring unit configured to acquire railroad topology information indicating a configuration of a railroad network in which a plurality of blocks are connected and which includes one or more branches, travel path information specifying a path of a train which travels in the railroad network on a combination of one or more routes for each train, route setting information in which conditions to be satisfied when a route request for reserving a path on which a train will travel is given are defined for each route, and interlock system operation information in which safe operation logics of the interlock system are defined.

A train traffic control inspection device includes an information acquiring unit configured to acquire railroad topology information indicating a configuration of a railroad network in which a plurality of blocks are connected and which includes one or more branches, travel path information specifying a path of a train which travels in the railroad network on a combination of one or more routes for each train, route setting information in which conditions to be satisfied when a route request for reserving a path on which a train will travel is given are defined for each route, and interlock system operation information in which safe operation logics of the interlock system are defined.

An interlocking device performs route control for trains based on: first operation diagram information as train operation diagram information on a train which runs between stations; second operation diagram information as train operation diagram information on a train which moves in a station yard; and on-track position information on the trains. The interlocking device changes an order of the route control according to whether a predetermined condition is satisfied.