The track sections "clear" and "occupied" information is essential for the correct function of an interlocking system, which uses the safe information from the axle counter system to confirm that a section is clear. Until now, interlocking systems mainly use relay and opto-coupler based interfaces to acquire the information sent by the Axle Counter System. Current developments show that new and upcoming interlocking systems tend to use a safe protocol interface to exchange information between the axle counter system and the interlocking.
Added value:
Compared to track circuits, axle counting systems offer several advantages making it the most promising track occupancy technology used nowadays.
- Much higher reliability than in track circuits, resulting from the lack of connection with rails (resistant to lightning damage)
- Axle counters are proved more reliable than track circuits (over 5 – 6 times, based on long time monitoring)
- Resistant to poor ballast and track conditions
- Resistant to climatic influence (track circuits are not reliable in wet conditions)
- Reduction of maintenance costs (one inspection every 12 months)
- Possibility of building long distance sections and more turnouts within one section
- More information for other systems (speed, number of axles, ...)
- Application of axle counter is much cheaper than track circuits
Wheel Sensors
Wheel sensors are used to detect the wheel passage of a train. Depending on the environmental factors and the requirements, voestalpine offers two different types of wheel sensors. Both types of wheel sensors work with both generations of the axle counting system.
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