GB2457276A

GB2457276A - Railway level crossing warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2457276A
Application number: GB0802357A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Hymas
Original assignee: Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co Ltd; Westinghouse Brake and Signal Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Siemens Mobility Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-08
Filing date: 2008-02-08
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: GB0802357D0

Abstract

A system use in connection with a railway level crossing comprises: a warning system (8, 9, 10, 11) at the level crossing for warning of an approaching train; detecting means (14, 15) for detecting an approaching train to operate the warning system; and a system for checking operation of the warning system. The system provides feedback to the train that the warning system is operating, the feedback resulting in an indication to the train driver not to cause an audible warning from the train. The warning system could provide a local visual and an audible warning. A display is change by the feedback to produce a visual indication for the train driver. The display can be provided by a LED array.

Description

RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING WARNING SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to railway level crossing warning systems.

Referring to Fig. 1, this shows schematically a conventional arrangement for operating a railway level crossing warning system. Reference numerals I and 2 designate a pair of railway tracks for trains travelling in opposite directions A and B respectively. Reference numeral 3 designates a level crossing across the pair of tracks I and 2 for vehicles and/or for pedestrians. Reference numerals 4 and 5 designate warning boards on opposite sides of the level crossing 3. For each direction of travel, there is located alongside the track before the crossing 3 a respective one of so-called "whistle boards" 6 and 7. As a train approaches the crossing 3, sighting of the respective one of whistle boards 6 and 7 prompts the driver of the train to sound the horn of the train as a warning to those on or approaching the crossing 3.

However, the warning horns of modern railway stock can produce unwanted noise disturbance. A solution to this could be to replace the crossing with an over-or an under-bridge or perhaps upgrade the method of protection but either of these could be prohibitively expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to at least mitigate the above problem.

According to the present invention from one aspect, there is provided an arrangement for use in connection with a railway level crossing comprising: a warning system at the level crossing for warning of an approaching train; detecting means for detecting an approaching train to operate the warning system; and means for checking operation of the warning system and providing feedback to the train that the warning system is operating, the feedback resulting in an indication to the train driver not to cause an audible warning from the train.

The warning system could provide a local visual and/or an audible warning.

The warning system could operate for a predetermined time.

There could be second detecting means, for detecting arrival of the train at the level crossing. In this case the warning system could operate until the second detecting means detects arrival of the train at the level crossing.

There could be means for location at a given point for receiving information from said feedback to provide said indication to the train. The means for location at said given point could provide said indication to the train as a visual indication. Said means for location at said given point could comprise display means (such as a "whistle board") whose display is changed by said feedback to produce said visual indication (for example via an LED array of said means for location at said given point).

Said feedback and/or the operation of said warning system via the first detecting means could be provided via a conductive communication link, an optical fibre communication link or by a wireless communication link.

According to the present invention from another aspect, there is provided a method of operating a warning system at a railway level crossing, comprising: detecting an approaching train; sending an indication to operate the warning system in response to detecting the train; checking that the warning system is operating; and providing feedback to the train that the warning system is operating, the feedback resulting in an indication to the train driver not to cause an audible warning from the train.

According to the present invention from a further aspect there is provided communication means for communicating information to a train information point from a railway level crossing, comprising a conductive communication link, a fibre optic communication link or a wireless communication link.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows schematically a conventional arrangement for operating a railway level crossing warning system; and Fig. 2 shows schematically an example of an arrangement according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 2, in which items which are the same as in Fig.1 have the same references as in Fig. 1, on each side of the level crossing 3 there is a respective one of warning boards 8 and 9 which can be operated to produce visual warning indicia of the kinds shown. Also, on each side of the level crossing 3 there Is a respective one of horns 10 and 11 for producing a low level audible warning. The warning system comprising boards 8 and 9 and horns 10 and 11 is provided with checking means for proving that it is operating correctly. Alongside each of tracks I and 2 and before the level crossing 3 in the direction of travel and at a given point, there is a respective one of "whistle boards" 12 and 13 which may be operated to provide a visual indication to the driver of a train that the horn of the train need not be operated. At or before the point at which each of "whistle boards" 12 and 13 would be sighted, there is respective means 14 or 15 (for example a track circuit or an axle counter) for detecting the arrival of a train. For detecting when a train has arrived at the level crossing 3, each of tracks 1 and 2 is provided with respective ones of such detecting means 16 and 17 at the crossing.

The above described arrangement operates as follows. A train travelling on one of tracks I and 2 is detected by the respective one of detecting means 14 and 15 and this causes an indication to be sent to operate the warning system to provide a localised visual and low level audible warning respectively at the level crossing that the train is approaching. Such an Indication could be sent via copper, optical fibre or radio. If the checking means proves that the warning system is operating correctly, a feedback message is sent as confirmation of this to cause the respective one of "whistle boards" 12 and 13 to indicate that the driver is not to sound the horn of the train. This message could be sent by copper, optical fibre or radio, the confirmation being displayed on the "whistle board" via an LED array of the latter. If no such message is received because the warning system is not operating correctly, then the driver would sound the horn of the train.

The localised visual and low level audible warning at the level crossing 3 is made instead of the sounding of a train horn and would be continuous during the approaching of the train and continue where a second train may be approaching in the opposite direction. The audible alarm could be muted during the night by a timer or a light dependent cell. The localised visual and low level audible warning at the level crossing 3 lasts at the crossing until the train arrives as detected by the respective one of detecting means 16 and 17 or a time interval has elapsed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An arrangement for use in connection with a railway level crossing comprising: a warning system at the level crossing for warning of an approaching train; detecting means for detecting an approaching train to operate the warning system; and means for checking operation of the warning system and providing feedback to the train that the warnin9 system is operating, the feedback resulting in an indication to the train driver not to cause an audible warning from the train.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the warning system provides a local visual and/or an audible warning.
3. An arrangement according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the warning system operates for a predetermined time.
4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, including second detecting means, for detecting arrival of the train at the level crossing.
5. An arrangement according to claim 4 as dependent on claim I or 2, wherein the warning system operates until the second detecting means detects arrival of the train at the level crossing.
6. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, including means for location at said given point for receiving information from said feedback to provide said indication to the train.
7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said means for location at said given point provides said indication to the train as a visual indication.
8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said means for location at said given point comprises a display means whose display is changed by said feedback to produce said visual indication.
9. An arrangement according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein said visual indication is provided by an LED array of said means for location at said given point.
10. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein said feedback is provided via a conductive communication link, an optical fibre communication link or by a wireless communication link.
II. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein operation of said warning system via the first detecting means is provided via a conductive communication link, a fibre optic communication link or a wireless communication link.
12. A method of operating a warning system at a railway level crossing, comprising: detecting an approaching train; sending an indication to operate the warning system in response to detecting the train; checking that the warning system is operating; and providing feedback to the train that the warning system is operating, the feedback resulting in an indication to the train driver not to cause an audible warning from the train.
13. Communication means for communicating information to a train information point from a railway level crossing, comprising a conductive communication link, a fibre optic communication link or a wireless communication link.