Signals Guide

The virtual Ril 301 - how German railway signals work

Introduction

In order to describe the operational processes of railway traffic, it is necessary to move away from comparisons with road transport. Due to the long braking distance of the trains, it is not possible for them to travel with the same sight distance as on the road. They therefore need an instance that gives them a stop or run order at a sufficient distance: a signal.

In Germany, various railway signals have been developed for the safe operation of the railways. A signal is defined as a stationary or mobile device that transmits information about the next section of track to the driver. All signals and their signal aspects - all available display options for a signal - in the German railway network are set out in Regulation Ril 301, the so-called Signal Book.

Classification

Despite their different appearance, the same signal terms for shape and light signals always have the same operational meaning. Although the combination of different signal systems at one train station should be avoided, there are many deviations from this practice, particularly in eastern Germany, especially with very long setting distances.

Classification according to function

• Main signals (Hauptsignale): These are used to indicate to the driver whether and at what speed he may pass the next section of track
• Distant signals (Vorsignale): These announce to the train driver the term of the main signal in the braking distance
• Multi-section signals (Mehrabschnittssignale): combine the function of the main and distant signal at one signal and already announce the position of the next signal
• Additional and other signals: supplement the information of the main signals and fulfill other tasks. Thes
• Visual and acoustic signals (Handzeichen, akustische Signale): these are given by whistles, horns or movable signal boards by the railroad personnel and are used, for example, for stopping trains in an emergency

Classification according to appearance

• Semaphore signal (Formsignal): displays the signal aspect with up to two movable signal arms or signal disks.
• Color light signal (Lichtsignal): uses various multicolored illuminated optics to display the signal terms
• Additional signals (Zusatzsignale): these are located at main signals and distant signals and provide additional information to the signal term, for example a speed indication.
• Other stationary signals: this particularly large group of signals includes all signals - usually reflective signal boards - that are not assignable to main signals or distant signals on the open track
• Visual and acoustic signals (Handzeichen, akustische Signale): these are given by whistles, horns or movable signal boards by the railroad personnel and are used, for example, for stopping trains in an emergency

Despite their different appearance, the same signal terms for shape and light signals always have the same operational meaning.

Signal systems in Germany

Over the past 150 years, a wide variety of signaling systems have been developed in Germany on the basis of the above classifications. These are listed in the following table. It is important to understand that many signaling systems cannot be assigned to just one category, overlap to some extent or are barely present or no longer present at all.

In addition, different signalling systems have also developed in the GDR and FRG, which have not yet been fully standardized. Ambiguous cases are listed and explained below the table

Note: detailed articles are only available in the wiki for the signaling systems that are implemented in the game (underlined).

Short name	Full name	Type	Aspects	Description	Application
H/V	Haupt-, und Vorsignale Main signals and distant signals	Main-, & distant signals Early semaphores, later color light signals	Hp 0-2 Vr 0-2	First all-German signal system, semaphore signals Light signals from night signals of semaphore signals, widespread in West Germany, only isolated cases in the East after being replaced by the Hl system	Semaphores: all of Germany Light signals: almost only West Germany
Hl	Hauptlichtsignale Main light signals	Main-, & distant signals, multi-section signals	Hp0, Hl 1-12b	Implementation of the common traffic light system of all Eastern Bloc countries in East Germany Widespread usage of multi-section signals, 4 speed levels with 16 signal aspects	Only East Germany
Ks	Kombinationssignale Combination signals	Main-, & distant signals, multi-section signals	Hp0 Ks 1-2	All-German color light system after reunification, further development of the Sk and Hl systems Widespread usage of multi-section signals, only three signal terms, all speed information via Zs signals	All of Germany
Sk	Signalkombinationen Signal combinations	Main-, & distant signals, multi-section signals	Hp0 Sk 1-2	Operational trial by the West German railroads to introduce multi-section signalization on the Augsburg-Donauwörth line Further projects never implemented, but basis for the development of the Ks system	Only on the track Augsburg - Donauwörth (West Germany)
Sv	Signalverbindungen Connected signals	Only multi-section signals	Hp0, Sv 0-6	Early multi-section signaling for closely timed city rail lines (S-Bahn) in Berlin and Hamburg based on the H/V system Introduced in Berlin in the late 1920s, taken out of service until 2006. Widely used in Hamburg since around 1950	Only at the S-Bahn Hamburg
Zs	Zusatzsignale Additional signals	Positionable additional signals on main, distant or multi-section signals	Zs 1-3 Zs 6-10 Zs 12-13 Zs 103	Light signals or signal boards to supplement main signal terms, for example for speed signaling Often integrated into the signal in question, in rare cases stand-alone	All of Germany
Ts	Signale für Schiebelokomotiven und Sperrfahrten Signals for banking locomotives and blocking movements	Positionable signals	Ts 1-3	Signals for banking locomotives and movements on closed tracks against the usual direction of travel on a line Only installed on routes with regular banking traffic, signals Ts 2 and 3 no longer exist due to more modern operating procedures	All of Germany - hardly used, Ts2/3 practically already non-existent
Lf	Langsamfahrsignale Slow speed signals	Non-positionable, non-movable signal boards	Lf 1-7	Signaling and announcement of speed changes on the open track	All of Germany, Lf 4/5 in East and West Germany different
Sh	Schutzhaltesignale Protective stop signals	Positionable, non-movable signals, Manual and acoustic signals	Sh 0-2 Sh 3, 5	Signaling of driving bans for trains and shunting movements and lifting of these Signaling of track closures and emergency stop signals from station staff to trains	All of Germany, signal aspect Sh1 mainly in West Germany
Ra	Rangiersignale Shunting signals	Positionable, non-movable signals, Non-positionable, non-movable signal boards, Manual and acoustic signals	Ra 6-9 Ra12*, Ra 10-13 Ra12*, Ra 1-5	Signals that only apply to shunting movements, including hand signals for shunting coordination, signals for hump yard operations, aspects and non-movable signals for shunting operation	All of Germany, signal aspect Ra12 just in West Germany
Wn	Weichensignale Switch signals	Positionable, non-movable signals at switches	Wn 1-7	Position of the corresponding switch	All of Germany
Zp	Signale des Zugpersonals Signals of the railway personnel	Manual and acoustic signals	Zp 1-12	Signals of the railway personnel, e.g. to warn passengers, test the brakes and dispatch trains	All of Germany
El	Fahrleitungssignale Signals for electric trains	Non-positionable, non-movable signal boards	El 1-6	Signaling of overhead line separations and tracks without overhead lines for electric locomotives	All of Germany
Zg	Signale an Zügen Signals on trains	Movable signal boards on trains	Zg 1-2	Marking the head and tail of the train, especially for signal box personnel	All of Germany
Fz	Signale an einzelnen Fahrzeugen Signals on individual vehicles	Movable signal boards on individual vehicles and carriages	Fz 1-2	Marking during the stabling of occupied vehicles and shunting locomotives	All of Germany
Ro	Rottenwarnsignale Signals to warn track workers	Acoustic signals	Ro 1-4	Acoustic signals to warn track workers working during active train operation	All of Germany
Ne / So	Nebensignale / Sonstige Signale Other signals	Non-positionable, non-movable signal boards	Ne 1-7, Ne 12-14, (So 1, 19, 106)	Signal boards for various purposes that cannot be classified in the above categories	So signals only in eastern Germany
Bü	Signale für Bahnübergange Signals for level crossings	Positionable, non-movable signals, Non-positionable, non-movable signal boards	Bü 1-5, Pf 2, So 13-14	Signals for announcing level crossings, orders for acoustic signals by the train driver, signals for level crossing closure confirmation	So signals and Pf 2 only in eastern Germany

* The Sh1 signal for shunting movements is called Ra12 in eastern Germany. The switch border signal, which is also called Ra12 in the west, is called So12 in the former GDR.