Railway Communications and Signals

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. describe the basic concepts, structures, operation approaches, working principles; 2. analyse and explain the processing methods for their usual problems in the following aspects: railway communications equipment, GSM-R, railway signals facilities, railway station signals control system, railway section signals control system, hump signal equipment, Train dispatching and controlling system, railway dispatching supervision and train operation control system; and 3. explain the functions, development and prospects of railway communications and signals and lays the foundation for further study of railway transportation engineer professional courses.

Brief Introduction: Composition and characteristics of modern railway communication and signal system; Development trend and characteristics of railway communication and signal system. Railway communications: Overview about railway dedicated communications; Delicate communication equipment; Dispatching communication; GSM-Railway. Railway signals: Overview about railway signals; Color-light signal; Setting and displays of the signal. Railway signal fundamental equipment: Railway signal relay; Point switch; Railway track circuits and other train positioning facilities. Railway station signal control system: Basic concepts of station signal control system; Electric interlocking; Microcomputer-based interlocking. Railway section signal control system: Concepts and classification of railway block system; Semi-automatic block system; Automatic block between railway station; Automatic block system; Crossing signal. Marshalling shunting control system: Fundamental equipment for marshalling station control system; Automatic hump yard; Synthetic automation of marshalling yard. Train operation dispatching command system: Development of train operation dispatching command system; Train dispatching command system (TDCS); Centralized Traffic Control System (CTC); High-speed railway dispatching command system. Train operation control system: Overview about train operation control system; Cab signaling and train running monitor and record device; Nigerian train control system (CTCS) 300 Level