THE PROPOSED AUTOMATIC TRAIN PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR THE SUBURBAN SERVICES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSPORT SERVICES

The paper deals with the use of block signalling amongst others to ensure the safe distance between consecutive trains. These signals are fully interlocked with preceding and advance signals as well as with turnouts and crossings to ensure a fail-safe control system. However no fail-safe link exists between the lineside signal and the train on S.A. Transport Services. The safety of the whole system rests with the driver who must at all times interpret the signals correctly. With the ever increasing drive to improve the capacity and level of service on the commuter networks of transport services, headways are being reduced to 180 seconds whilst speeds are generally being held at 90-100 km/h. This places exacting demands not only on the system as a whole but on the driver as well and for this reason it has been decided to introduce a safety system to aid the driver. Typical safety devices used elsewhere are discussed, as is the system chosen by S.A. Transport Services, and the reasons for its choice. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD no 288720. (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Annual Transportation Convention held at Milner Park Showgrounds, Johannesburg 25-29 July 1983, Volume 2.
• Corporate Authors:

  Council for Scientific & Industrial Res S Africa

  P.O. Box 395
  Pretoria,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • van der Voort, JJP
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 132-147
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Council for Scientific & Industrial Res S Africa
  • Publisher: Council for Scientific & Industrial Res S Africa

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic train protection; Fail safe systems; Headways; Locomotive engineers; Railroad commuter service; Railroad facility operations; Signaling
• Identifier Terms: Spoornet
• Uncontrolled Terms: Line capacity
• Old TRIS Terms: Fail safe
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 8525: Conference; 3874: Control; 1772: Driver; 5911: Efficiency; 3674: Equipment; 685: Headway; 1665: Safety; 5408: Speed; 304: Suburbs; 565: Traffic signal; 1268: Train
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458738
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: S316
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1987 12:00AM