SIGNAL+DRAHT | Ausgabe 11/2012
Customer-specific solution for level crossings based on wheel detection with relay outputs
It is estimated that there are more than 250,000 level crossings throughout the world. Despite the construction of new at-grade rail and road crossings having been prohibited for years in many countries due to the hazards they pose, more level crossings are still springing up every day. Many countries do not have any technical systems in place to protect crossings. Even existing level crossing protection systems offer considerable potential to increase availability and above all to ensure a high level of safety, thanks to technological advancements. There are multiple types and varieties of technical solutions for level crossing safety. Level crossings protected by technical systems are switched on and off by including them in signal dependency and by train movements. In the latter case, track circuit and track loop technology is still widespread, but is increasingly losing importance in this regard. These days, the focus is on wheel detection, which is often combined with axle counting technology for synergistic effects.