Swedish railway signalling

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The signalling system used on the standard-gauge railway network in Sweden is based on that of the traditional mechanical semaphore signals. Currently only colour-light signals are used, together with the Ansaldo L10000 Automatic Train Control system.

Contents

Main signals

The main signals (huvudsignaler) display the following aspects:

SignalMeaningComment
Svenska signal 5 stopp.svg StopThe signal must not be passed without permission from the traffic control. [1]
During shunting operations permission to pass a home signal displaying stop may be given with a radio or with a dwarf signal. [2] 		Permission to pass a red signal is given during signal system faults and must be documented by both driver and traffic control, and the max speed is then 40 km/h (25 mph).
Svenska signal kor.svg Proceed 80Authorises the driver to pass the signal at 80 km/h (50 mph) or at a higher speed given by the ATC system. [3] Signs can give a lower or (if no ATC) higher speed.The signal changes to red when the train passes the track circuit limit a few metres in front of the signal, so passengers might see the signal showing red.
Svenska signal 5 kor 40 varsamhet.svg Proceed 40, cautionAuthorises the driver to pass the signal at 40 km/h (25 mph) or at a higher speed given by the ATC system.
The next signal might be displaying stop if it is farther away than 450 metres (1,480 ft), so the driver must approach the next signal cautiously and be prepared to stop short of it. [3]
Svenska signal 5 kor vanta stopp-anim.gif Proceed 80,
expect stop		Authorises the driver to pass the signal at 80 km/h or at a higher speed given by the ATC system.
The next signal is displaying stop, so the driver must decrease speed and approach the next signal prepared to stop short of it.
Svenska signal 2 kor vanta stopp.gif
[3]

Block signals on the Iron Ore Line between Peuravaara  [ sv ] (near Kiruna) and the Norwegian border can show Proceed 80, expect stop with only one flashing green light (right image). [4] [5] 		The next signal is between 800 and 3,000 metres (2,600 and 9,800 ft) away. [2]
If the distance to the next signal is more than 3,000 metres, a separate free-standing distant signal is used to govern the approach to that signal.
Svenska signal 5 kor vanta kor-anim.gif Proceed 80,
expect
proceed 80		Authorises the driver to pass the signal at 80 km/h or at a higher speed given by the ATC system.
The next signal is displaying a proceed 80 aspect. [2]
Svenska signal 5 kor vanta kor 40-anim.gif Proceed 80,
expect
proceed 40		Authorises the driver to pass the signal at 80 km/h or at a higher speed given by the ATC system.
The next signal is displaying proceed 40, so the driver must decrease speed and approach the next signal prepared to pass it at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h (25 mph) or the speed shown on the ATC driver's display. [3]
Svenska signal 5 kor 40 kort vag.svg Proceed 40,
short route		Authorises the driver to pass the signal at a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph).
The next signal is showing "stop" and is closer than 450 metres. [3] 		The next signal could also be a stop light at the end of the line, or an End Board (S-tavla). [3]

The aspects may seem a little inverted, since a single green light means proceed 80, two green lights Proceed 40, caution and three green lights stands for Proceed 40, short route. In other words: more green means more cautiously. Some other countries e.g. Norway have opposite. If there is a sign saying lower speed limit than 80, of course that is valid. The speed limits apply to trains without Automatic Train Control (ATC) equipment. ATC signalling typically allow higher speeds, up to 200 km/h (120 mph). If there is no ATC, signs can show higher speed, but rarely above 110 km/h. If there is ATC there can be even higher signs which are valid only with ATC.

Two light signalling (Malmö and Stockholm city tunnels)

On some urban lines, such as the City Tunnel in Malmö and the Stockholm City Line, a simpler signal system is in use until ERTMS is fully implemented. The interpretation of the signals follow the ERTMS level 1 standard, but the actual look is national.
This system uses two light signals with blue number signs (instead of yellow/white in normal signalling) and can show the following aspects:

SignalMeaning
Svenska signal 2 stopp.png StopThe signal must not be passed without permission from the traffic control. During shunting operations permission to pass a home signal displaying stop may be given with a radio or with a dwarf signal. [6]
Svenska signal 2 kor.png Proceed 40
expect proceed 40		Authorises the driver to pass the signal at 40 km/h (25 mph) or at a higher speed given by the ATC or ERTMS system.
The next signal is displaying a proceed 40 or proceed 40 caution aspect. [6]
Svenska signal 2 kor vanta stopp.gif Proceed 40
caution		Authorises the driver to pass the signal at 40 km/h (25 mph) or at a higher speed given by the ATC or ERTMS system.
The next signal is showing "stop" [6] and is closer than 450 metres (1,480 ft).

These signals should not be confused with normal main signals with two lights, which have yellow number signs, while the "Two light signals" shown here have blue ones. [6] The meaning is different to normal meanings of the signals, but if combined with a speed limit 40 (not valid for ATC) sign, the meanings are essentially the same.

Distant signals

Distant signals (försignaler) are informational signals used to give an advance warning about the next home signal. Distant signal are typically located 800 to 1,200 metres (2,600 to 3,900 ft) in advance of the home signal in question. [7]
The aspects a free-standing distant signal can display are:

SignalMeaning
Svenska signal vanta stopp-anim.gif Expect stopThe next signal is displaying stop, so the driver must decrease speed and approach the next signal prepared to stop short of it. [8]
Svenska signal vanta kor-anim.gif Expect
Proceed 80		The next signal is displaying Proceed 80. [8]
Svenska signal vanta kor 40-anim.gif Expect
Proceed 40		The next signal is displaying proceed 40, [8] so the driver must decrease speed and approach the next signal prepared to pass it at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h (25 mph) or the speed shown on the ATC driver's display.

The signal indication is the same as for the combined aspects in the main signals.

Dwarf signals

Dwarf signals (dvärgsignaler) are used as shunting signals and can show the following aspects:

SignalMeaning
Raideopaste seis vanha.svg StopThe signal must not be passed without permission from the traffic control. [9]
Raideopaste aja vanha.svg Movement allowedShunting allowed.
Points and derailers are in the right position. The track is free. [9]
Raideopaste aja varovasti.svg Movement allowed
Track not clear		Shunting allowed
Points and derailers are in the right position. The track is not free, or caution is needed. [9]
Raideopaste ei opasteita vanha.svg Movement allowed
Check points and clearance		Shunting allowed
The driver must manually check the position of points and derailers, and the track clearance. Points and derailers are often manual or put in shunting mode. [9]
A huvuddvargsignal at Stockholm Central Station displaying "stop" Dvarjhuvudsignal.JPG
A huvuddvärgsignal at Stockholm Central Station displaying "stop"

There are also types of dwarf signals, called "Main Dwarf signals" (Huvuddvärgsignal) used as stand-ins for home signals in stations with lot of shunting or where there are a lot of switches that needs a signal. In addition to the dwarf signal aspects given above, these signals also have a red light and two green ones (one for "proceed 40", the other for "proceed 80"). [10]

Road crossing signals

Road crossing signals (Vägkorsningssignaler (V-signaler)) are used at road crossings. They tell the driver if the crossing is clear (lights flashing, bells ringing or, if available, gates are closed) They can show the following aspects

SignalMeaning
V-signal stopp 2.svg Stop before crossing
(Crossing not clear)		The road crossing is not secured. The train must stop before the crossing if possible. [11]
V-signal rorelse tillaten 2.svg Pass
(Crossing clear)		The road crossing is secured. [11]

The same aspects are also used at moveable bridges, but with another sign under the signal. [12]

Distant road crossing signal

Some road crossing signals have a distant signal (Vägkorsningsförsignal (V-försignal)), placed at a distance (usually not braking distance) from the road crossing signal.

SignalMeaning
V-forsignal stopp 2-anim.gif Expect Stop before crossing
(Crossing not clear)		The road crossing is not secured. The train must stop before the crossing if possible. [13]
V-forsignal rorelse tillaten 2.svg Expect Pass
(Crossing clear)		The road crossing is secured. [13]

The distant road crossing signal is nicknamed "skull" (döskalle).

Fail safe

Because the aspects are in reverse with more green lights meaning slower the aspects are not fail safe, so lamp proving is needed to prevent lamp failure giving a faster aspect.

Single and Double Green signals work the other way with Norwegian railway signalling and Danish railway signalling  [ da ] and it would be unsafe for drivers to cross the border, unless ATP were fitted. It is not permitted for Swedish drivers to drive into Norway and opposite where there is no ATC, unless extra education is taken (and before ATC was introduced everywhere in the other country except for a few kilometers from the border where crew change stations were located). This meant that freight trains Oslo–Narvik passed Hallsberg southeast of Oslo until the shortcut Kil–Ställdalen was upgraded to ATC in 2017.

ERTMS

European Rail Traffic Management System(ERTMS/ETCS) has been introduced on a few railways in Sweden such as Botniabanan where it is actively being used. Mainly ERTMS level 2 is used, in which basically no light signals exist and all messages are shown on a display in the driver's compartment of the train.

Two railways, Citybanan and Citytunneln use signalling according to ERTMS level 1, although ATC is still used there, not ERTMS (for now).

Rules on violation

An unauthorized stop signal passage (OSPA), ie the passage without permission of a signal or sign meaning stop (red main signal, vertical dwarf signal, ERTMS arrow sign and more) is considered a serious incident. They are divided into three categories, A where the signal showed stop even before the process, which may be due to the driver, failure of the train brakes, slipping and more, category B, where the signal was inadvertently set to stop due to technical error or mistake of the signalman, and category C, where the signal was intentionally stopped, for example due to a sudden danger such as a car at a level crossing. [14] If it is suspected to be due to the driver, he may not drive any more until the investigation has been completed, and another driver may drive the train after an investigator has collected information about the train's route, usually causing a multiple hour delay. A driver who has caused several OSPAs permanently loses the license.

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Trafikverket 2017, p. 17.
  2. 1 2 3 Trafikverket 2017, p. 19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trafikverket 2017, p. 18.
  4. ↑ Trafikverket 2017, p. 118.
  5. ↑ "Allmänna riktlinjer" (PDF). Bodens linjebok (in Swedish). Swedish Transport Administration. 30 July 2018. p. F1. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Trafikverket 2017, p. 113.
  7. ↑ Trafikverket 2017, p. 25.
  8. 1 2 3 Trafikverket 2017, p. 26.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Trafikverket 2017, p. 34.
  10. ↑ Trafikverket 2017, pp. 22–23.
  11. 1 2 Trafikverket 2017, p. 52.
  12. ↑ Trafikverket 2017, p. 58.
  13. 1 2 Trafikverket 2017, p. 53.
  14. ↑ Kategorisering av obehöriga stoppsignalpassager (OSPA)
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