A self-detecting shunt bar for creating a short-circuit bridge between or across two rails of a section of a railway track includes a first connection which is configured to be brought into electrical contact with a first of the two rails, a second connection which is configured to be brought into electrical contact with a second of the two rails, and a signal generator for providing a test signal across the short-circuit bridge. The self-detecting shunt bar includes a detection device configured to measure and monitor a short-circuit resistance of the short-circuit bridge created, during operation, by measuring the test signal and signalling means which are configured to signal the measured short-circuit resistance to a user of the shunt bar, characterized in that the shunt bar is integrated into a railway switch.

A remotely activated rail switch system is disclosed herein that is configured to permit the remote control of a railroad switch. The rail switch system may include at least a connecting clamp configured to removably attach to any standard size rail switch throw arm, a motor, an interconnect member between the connecting clamp and the motor, and a transceiver. In various embodiments, the remotely activated rail switch system may be installed without making any modifications to the existing rail infrastructure. For example, the rail switch system may be installed without any welding, digging, and/or other civil construction. Rather, the remotely activated rail switch system may be installed by simply (or only) clamping a frame or body of remotely activated rail switch system to wooden ties adjacent a rail switch and attaching the connecting clamp of the remotely activated rail switch to the throw handle of the switch.