Low-cost radio network based system for monitoring mechanical and electromechanical rail interlocking equipment

This paper describes an innovative implementation of digital solutions for rail infrastructure aiming at enhancing the traditional electromechanical rail interlocking equipment. The research sources from the outputs of the NeTIRail-INFRA European project that gravitates around the continental trend to move the majority of passenger and merchandise transport to rail. Growing train traffic leads to the increased use of secondary rail lines that, in various countries in Europe, are still equipped with old mechanical and electromechanical interlocking systems having inappropriate safety levels. This paper presents the principle, general structure and early tests of a new digital system, based on current electronic and computer technologies, that is able to increase the utility and safety of existing mechanical and electromechanical rail interlocking equipment by using low-cost wireless control of two-position elements. Tests conducted thus far validated the system’s features and indicated that possible further developments and upgrades will have additional beneficial effect.