WO2020239372A1

WO2020239372A1 - Method for operating a rail vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2020239372A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/062442
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lothar Becke; Christian Bode; Steffen Ueckert
Original assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
Priority date: 2019-05-29
Filing date: 2020-05-05
Publication date: 2020-12-03
Also published as: CN114080342B; DE102019207948A1; CN114080342A; EP3956194A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a rail vehicle. A first (1) and a second (2) rail vehicle travel on a rail (4) subdivided into n blocks (40). The method comprises: A) providing a first item of information, which represents that the first rail vehicle crosses a block boundary (41) between an i-th block and an i+1-th block at a first time (t1), B) providing a second item of information, which represents that the second rail vehicle crosses a block boundary between a j-th block and a j+1-th block at a second time (t2), C) determining a third item of information, which represents whether a block between the i+1-th and the j-th block is occupied by a further rail vehicle before and/or between the two times, D) releasing a first operating state for the first rail vehicle subject to the third item of information, if the third item of information represents that no block is occupied, the first operating state being travelling at a moving spatial distance.

Description

description

Method for operating a rail vehicle

A method for operating a rail vehicle is specified. In addition, a device will be a

Computer program, a computer-readable storage medium and a system are specified.

One problem to be solved consists in specifying a method for operating a rail vehicle with which safely between driving in a fixed spatial distance (English Fixed-Block-System) and driving in a moving one

Spatial spacing (English moving block system) can be changed. Other tasks to be solved are to create a

Device, a computer program, a computer readable

Specify storage medium and a system for carrying out such a method.

According to at least one embodiment of the method for operating a first rail vehicle, the method is carried out while the first rail vehicle is traveling on a rail in a first direction of travel that is divided into n blocks, where n> 2 applies. Every two adjacent blocks are separated by a block boundary. A second rail vehicle is also traveling on the rails, the second being

Rail vehicle travels in front of the first rail vehicle, seen along the first direction of travel. The second

Rail vehicle can go in the same direction or in

drive in the opposite direction to the first rail vehicle.

The rail vehicles preferably travel on one track with two rails. The first and second rail vehicles are for Example of each rail vehicle of a train. For example, the first rail vehicle is one in the first

Front rail vehicle in a first train viewed in the direction of travel. The second rail vehicle is, for example, a rear rail vehicle in a second train, seen in the first direction of travel. The trains can be passenger and / or freight trains. The first and the second

Rail vehicles are not related, so they are

in particular not assigned to a common train.

The blocks are preferably each longer than the first and / or second rail vehicle or than the lengths of the associated trains, so that the first and / or second rail vehicle or the first and / or second train fit completely into one block. The rail is divided into at least five or at least ten blocks, for example.

The block boundaries are, for example, virtual boundaries that are not visually perceptible and on which the

do not change the physical properties of the rail.

Alternatively, the block boundaries can be perceived optically, for example by optically perceptible signal transmitters, such as signals, at block boundaries. Alternatively or additionally, the physical properties of the rail change on one

Block boundary. For example, a circuit in the rail is interrupted at a block boundary.

The first and / or second rail vehicle is controlled, for example, by means of an automatic one

Train control system, English Communication-Based Train Control, CBTC for short. The control of the first and / or second Rail vehicle is carried out using ETCS Level 3 Hybrid, for example.

According to at least one embodiment, the method comprises a step A) in which a first piece of information

provided. The first information is representative of the fact that at a first point in time a front end of the first with respect to the first direction of travel

Rail vehicle has crossed a block boundary between an i-th block and an i + l-th block following in the first direction of travel. The first information is determined, for example, as a function of first measurement signals and then made available. The front end of the first

Rail vehicle is the front end seen in the first direction of travel.

According to at least one embodiment, the method comprises a step B) in which a second piece of information

provided. The second information is representative of the fact that at a second point in time a rear end of the second with respect to the first direction of travel

Rail vehicle has crossed a block boundary between a j-th block and a j + l-th block following in the first direction of travel. The second information is determined, for example, as a function of second measurement signals and then made available. The back end of the second

Rail vehicle is the rear end seen in the first direction of travel.

"In front of" and "behind" as well as "front (s)" and "rear (s)" refer, as far as spatial arrangements are meant, here and in the following to arrangements relating to the first direction of travel. The first point in time is before or after the second point in time, for example.

According to at least one embodiment, the method comprises a step C) in which a third piece of information in

Is determined depending on the first and second information. The third information is representative of whether a block between and including the i + l-th and the j-th block is occupied by a further rail vehicle before and / or between the first and second points in time. The first and second points in time are included between the first and second points in time. Before the first and second point in time means before both points in time.

The third information is determined, for example, as a function of third measurement signals. For example, the third piece of information is determined and made available with the aid of a track vacancy detection system. The track vacancy detection system is based, for example, on at least one track circuit and / or on at least one audio frequency track circuit and / or on at least one axle counting circuit in order to determine the occupancy of a block, also called vacancy detection section.

The further rail vehicle is a rail vehicle that is different from the first and second rail vehicle and is not related to the first and second rail vehicles. The other rail vehicle is, for example, a

Component vehicle.

The third information is, for example, representative of whether at a third point in time a block between and including the i + l-th and the j-th block is occupied by another rail vehicle. The third point in time is for example at most 10 s or at most 5 s or at most 1 s before the earlier of the first and second

Point in time.

Whether for the third information point in time before and / or

between the first and second point in time can also be viewed depending on the directions of travel of the two

Rail vehicles are selected.

For example, if the first point in time is before the second

Time and both rail vehicles are driving in the same first direction of travel, at least part of the first rail vehicle is already on the i + l-th block, while the second rail vehicle is at least partially still on the j-th block. The third information is then preferably representative of whether before or at the first point in time another rail vehicle is on one of the blocks between and including the i + l-th and jl-th blocks, and whether at the second point in time another rail vehicle is on one of the blocks between including the i + 2-th block and the j-th block.

If the first point in time is after the second point in time and both rail vehicles travel in the same first time

In the direction of travel, the first rail vehicle is not yet partially on the i + l-th block, while the second rail vehicle has already left the j-th block. The third information is then, for example, representative of whether there is another rail vehicle on one of the blocks between the i + l-th block and the j block at the second point in time. If both rail vehicles are driving towards one another, the third piece of information is preferably representative of whether another rail vehicle is present before the first and second point in time.

It is possible that j = i + l.

In other words, in step C) a third piece of information is determined which is representative of whether any block between the first and second rail vehicle, which is neither from the first nor from the second rail vehicle, before and / or between the first and second points in time

is partially or fully occupied, is occupied by another rail vehicle.

According to at least one embodiment, the method comprises a step D), in which a first operating state for the first rail vehicle as a function of the third

Information if the third information is representative of that before and / or between the first and second

Time no block between and including the i + l-th and the j-th block is occupied by a further rail vehicle, is released, the first operating state being driving in a moving spatial distance.

In other words, it is the first operating state

released when the third information is available and when the third information is representative of the fact that before and / or between the first and second times no block between and including the i + l-th and j-th blocks is occupied by another rail vehicle. Releasing the first operating state means that the first operating state is permitted. For example, the first operating mode is switched on so that the first

Rail vehicle moves with changing spatial distance.

In particular, in step D) another

Operating state changed to the first operating state or the first operating state is retained.

In the railway signaling technology is an operating state of driving in the moving distance, English moving block system, a signal block system in which in real time

Safety zones can be defined around each rail vehicle. The rear / first rail vehicle must be a specified minimum distance from the next front / second

Comply with the rail vehicle. So there is a space between the rear rail vehicle and the front one

Rail vehicle. This spatial distance moves with the first and second rail vehicles. In this case, several rail vehicles are allowed in one block of the rail. In order to ensure a safe spatial distance between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle, the positions and preferably also the speeds of both rail vehicles should be determined continuously.

The first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle can each have several block boundaries during travel

cross. In the process, several first

Information with first points in time and / or a plurality of second pieces of information each with second points in time

provided. The third information is then preferably determined as a function of such first and second information in which the associated first and second

Time are closest to each other. In dependence of this third information is then step D)

executed.

In at least one embodiment of the method for

Operating a first rail vehicle, wherein

- the first rail vehicle travels on a rail in a first direction of travel,

- the rail is divided into n blocks with n> 2,

- every two neighboring blocks are separated by a block boundary,

- a second rail vehicle is traveling on the rail,

- the second rail vehicle along the first

Seen in the direction of travel before the first rail vehicle travels, the following steps are carried out in the method:

A) Providing a first piece of information which is representative of the fact that at a first point in time a with respect to the first direction of travel an end of the first

Rail vehicle has crossed a block boundary between an i-th block and an i + l-th block following in the first direction of travel,

B) providing a second piece of information which is representative of the fact that at a second point in time a rear end of the second with respect to the first direction of travel

Rail vehicle has crossed a block boundary between a j-th block and a j + l-th block following in the first direction of travel,

C) determining a third piece of information as a function of the first and second pieces of information, the third

Information is representative of whether before and / or between the two points in time a block between including the i + l-th and the j-th block of another

Rail vehicle is occupied, D) Enabling a first operating state for the first rail vehicle as a function of the third information item if the third information item is representative of the fact that before and / or between the two points in time there was no block between and including the i + l-th and the j-th block is occupied by another rail vehicle, the first operating state being driving in a moving spatial distance.

The present invention is based inter alia on

Realization that the operation of rail vehicles in

Operating mode of the moving spatial distance is possible if the positions of the rail vehicles and thus the distance between them are known and monitored. Such rail vehicles are called communicating

Rail vehicles referred to. However, it can be on one

Rail also give non-communicating vehicles whose positions on the rail cannot be monitored. In order to switch to the first operating mode of the moving space distance, it must be ensured that between two communicating units traveling one behind the other

Rail vehicles is not another, non-communicating rail vehicle.

This can be ensured, for example, by removing all non-communicating rail vehicles from the rail or an entire rail network before the first operating state is released.

Would you like removing all non-communicating

Avoid rail vehicles, one must determine whether the

The route between two successive, communicating rail vehicles is free. The blocks between the first and the second rail vehicle can be monitored, for example, by means of an existing track vacancy detection system.

Track vacancy detection systems react to both communicating and non-communicating rail vehicles. However, track vacancy detection systems can usually only determine whether a block is occupied by a rail vehicle or not, but not how many rail vehicles are on a block. The problem therefore arises of how to find out whether there is a non-communicating rail vehicle immediately in front of the first rail vehicle on the same block or whether there is a non-communicating rail vehicle immediately behind the second rail vehicle on the same block.

One possibility of determining this by the track vacancy detection system alone is to drive the front end of the first rail vehicle so close to the next block boundary that the shortest rail vehicle is no longer

would fit between the front end and the block boundary. It is then ensured that no further rail vehicle can be arranged completely on the same block in front of the first rail vehicle. In an analogous manner, the rear end of the second rail vehicle can be brought as close to the block boundary behind it or at most as far from the block boundary behind it

be driven away that between the rear end of the second rail vehicle and the one behind it

Block border the shortest rail vehicle would no longer fit. If the track vacancy detection system then also indicates that all blocks between the first and second rail vehicles are free, it can be assumed that there are no other blocks between the first and second rail vehicles

is available. This method generally requires the first and second rail vehicles to slowly approach the corresponding block boundaries are approximated because the

Signals from track vacancy detection systems can have considerable time delays.

In the present invention, use is made of the idea of not focusing on one or only one

To leave the track vacancy detection system, but also to use the knowledge of operational processes, such as the applicable rules for approaching a block boundary. The front end of a rail vehicle will only cross a block boundary if between the front end and the

Block boundary is not another rail vehicle. The

Crossing a block boundary between an i-th and i + l-th block by the front end of the first rail vehicle is therefore a sure indicator that at this point in time

(first point in time) on the i-th block before the first

Rail vehicle is not another rail vehicle.

Likewise, at the point in time (second point in time) when the block boundary is crossed between the jth or j + lth by the rear end of the second rail vehicle, it can be assumed that at this point in time no further

Rail vehicle can be on the j + l-th block behind the second rail vehicle. Are now also the blocks between the first and second rail vehicles

occupied blocks free of further rail vehicles, which can be determined for example by the track vacancy detection system, it can be assumed that there is no further rail vehicle between the first and second rail vehicle. A release of the first operating state for the first rail vehicle is then certain. The first and second rail vehicles do not have to be moved extra slowly for this. According to at least one embodiment, in step D) a second operating state is dependent on the third

Information released if the third information

it is representative of the fact that before and / or between the first and second point in time a block between

including the i + l-th and the j-th block is occupied by another rail vehicle, the second

The operating state is driving at a fixed distance.

Alternatively or additionally, the first operating state is blocked under these conditions in step D).

The second operating state is referred to in English as the fixed block system. There is only one at a time

Rail vehicle allowed per block. The cast of a

Blocks is recognized, for example, by means of a track vacancy detection system. If an i-th block is occupied by a rail vehicle, a rail vehicle behind it must not enter this i-th block. For example, the rear rail vehicle is shown a stop signal (red signal) at or in front of the block boundary to the i-th block. If the i-th block is not occupied, the rail vehicle closest to the i-th block may drive onto the i-th block, whatever it is

is indicated, for example, by a clear signal (green signal).

According to at least one embodiment, the first and the second information are each dependent on

Position information determined and provided. The position information is representative of the positions of the first and second rail vehicles on the rail. The position information is preferably also representative of the speeds of the first and second

Rail vehicle. In other words, they are Rail vehicles to communicating rail vehicles. The positions and possibly the speeds of the first and second rail vehicles are determined, for example, at regular time intervals of, for example, a maximum of 1 second or a maximum of 0.1 seconds.

According to at least one embodiment, the

Position information using a

Position detection system provided. In which

Position detection system is, for example, a GPS system that the positions of the first and second

Can detect rail vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the position detection system is a balise system. For example, several balises in the form of transponders, for example RFID transponders, are arranged along the rail. The first and second

Rail vehicles each have an antenna that can communicate with the transponders. Happened one

Rail vehicle has a transponder, information is exchanged about which transponder has just passed. This information then becomes

for example, the position information is determined and provided.

According to at least one embodiment, this provides

Position detection system an accuracy for the positions of the rail vehicles of better than 30 m. In other words, the position resolution of the position detection system is better than 30 m. This can be achieved using a GPS system. Such an accuracy can also be achieved by arranging balises along the rail with a distance between each two balises of at most 30 m. According to at least one embodiment, the method is carried out on a computer. In particular, steps A), B), C) and D) can only be carried out using a computer. The step of determining and providing the first and second information in

Depending on position information can be on a

Computer. The first, second and third information as well as the position information are therefore preferably data on a computer.

In addition, a device for operating a first rail vehicle is specified. The device comprises a processor which is set up here

described method for controlling a first

Run rail vehicle.

Furthermore, a computer program for operating a first rail vehicle is specified. The computer program comprises instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer with a processor, cause the latter, the method described here for controlling a first

Run rail vehicle.

It also becomes a computer readable storage medium

on which the computer program described here is stored.

A system is also specified. The system is set up in particular to implement a system described here

Execute method for controlling a first rail vehicle. All disclosed in connection with the method for controlling a first rail vehicle Features are therefore also disclosed for the system and

vice versa .

According to at least one embodiment, the system comprises a first rail vehicle, a second rail vehicle, a rail that is divided into n blocks with n> 2, and a position detection system for determining the position of the first and second rail vehicles. Every two adjacent blocks are separated from one another by a block boundary. The system is set up to carry out a method described here for controlling a first rail vehicle.

For example, the system also includes a device as described here. The device is for example part of the first rail vehicle or is, for example, an external device outside of the first and second rail vehicle.

The system preferably also includes a track vacancy detection system with which it can be determined during operation whether a block is occupied by a rail vehicle or not.

The above properties, features and advantages of the invention and the manner in which they are achieved will be apparent from the following description of the

Embodiments of the invention explained in more detail in conjunction with the corresponding figures. Identical, identical or identically acting elements are in the

Figures are provided with the same reference numerals. The figures and the proportions of the elements shown in the figures are not to be considered to be true to scale

consider. Rather, individual elements can be used for the better Can be represented and / or shown in exaggerated size for better understanding.

Show it:

Figures 1 to 4 embodiments of a system and a method for operating a first

Rail vehicle,

Figures 5 and 6 embodiments of the method for

Operation of a first rail vehicle based on

Flow charts.

An exemplary embodiment of the system at a first point in time t1 is shown in FIG. The system comprises a rail 4 on which a first rail vehicle 1 and a second rail vehicle 2 are arranged. The

Rail vehicles 1, 2 travel from left to right. The rail 4 is divided into a plurality of blocks 40, each of which is separated from one another by block boundaries 41.

In addition, a position detection system 5 is assigned to the rail 4. In the present case, the position detection system 5 is a balise system and comprises a plurality of balises which are distributed along the rail 4. The first 1 and second 2 rail vehicles each include an antenna. At the

When a balise is passed, information is exchanged between the antenna and the balise, whereby the current position of a rail vehicle can be determined. In other words, the first 1 and second 2 rail vehicles are communicating rail vehicles.

In FIG. 1, the front end of the first rail vehicle 1 seen in the first direction of travel 6 is just crossing the Block boundary 41 between the i-th block 40i and the i + l-th block 40i _{+ i} . This is done for example with the

Position detection system 5 recorded. The time tl at which this happens is also recorded, for example

also with the position detection system 5. The

The accuracy with which the position measurement takes place is determined in the present case by the distance between two balises and is preferably better than 30 m. Depending on the

Measurement results of the position detection system 5 are then provided with a first piece of information II (FIGS. 5, 6) which is representative of the fact that at the first point in time tl the front end of the first rail vehicle 1 is the block boundary between the i-th block 40i and the i + l -th block 40i _{+ i has} crossed. This first information II is provided, for example, in the form of computer data.

The fact that the front end of the first rail vehicle 1 is just crossing the block boundary 41 at the first point in time t1 means that no further rail vehicle can be present on the i-th block 40i between the front end of the first rail vehicle 1 and the block boundary 41.

In FIG. 2, the system is shown at a later point in time t2. Both the first rail vehicle 1 and the second rail vehicle 2 have moved to the right along the rail 4 (first direction of travel 6). The second

Time t2 is the time at which the rear end of the second with respect to the first direction of travel 6

Rail vehicle 2 crosses the block boundary 41 between the j-th block 40 _j and the j + l-th block 40 _{+ i} . This

Event, possibly also the time of this

Event, are in turn with the Position detection system 5 detected for position measurement. A second item of information 12 (FIGS. 5, 6) is then determined and provided therefrom, which is representative of the fact that at the second point in time t2 the rear end of the second rail vehicle 2 crosses the block boundary 41 between the jth block 40 _j and the j + Crossed l-th block 40 _{+ i} .

The fact that at the second point in time t2 the rear end of the second rail vehicle 2 crosses the block boundary 41 between the j-th block 40 _j and the j + l-th block 40 _{+ i} means that at this second point in time t2 there is no further rail vehicle between the crossed block boundary 41 and the second rail vehicle 2 on the j + l-th block

is available.

Using, for example, a train detection system, which is not shown in the figures can now be determined whether a block 40 40i _{+ i} and the j-th block 40 _j between the including i + l-th block, that is, a block 40

between the first 1 and the second 2 rail vehicle, which is not occupied by either the first 1 or the second 2 rail vehicle, is occupied by another rail vehicle.

Correspondingly, third information 13 (FIGS. 5, 6) is then determined and provided as a function of the first II and second 12 information, the third information 13 being representative of whether before and / or between the first point in time t 1 and the second Time t2 a block 40 between and including the i + l-th 40i _{+ i} and the j-th block 40 _{j is occupied} by a further rail vehicle. In the present case, there is no further rail vehicle between the first rail vehicle 1 and the second

Rail vehicle 2. In a method step that now follows, a first operating state ZI for the first rail vehicle 1 is enabled as a function of the third information item 13. The first

Operating state ZI is driving in a migratory

Room distance (moving block operating status). This occurs, for example, in one of the first rail vehicle 1

associated device 10 with a processor.

FIG. 3 shows a situation in which the first operating state ZI should / must not be enabled for the first rail vehicle 1. As can be seen, is between the first rail vehicle 1 and the second

Rail vehicle 2 another rail vehicle 3 on the rail 4.

In the position of Figure 3 crossed to a first

Time tl the front end of the first rail vehicle 1 the block boundary 41 between the i-th block 40i and the i + 1-th block 40i _{+ i} . Correspondingly, a first piece of information II, which is representative of this crossing at time t1, is provided.

The second is at the first point in time tl

Rail vehicle 2 and the further rail vehicle 3 on the same block 40j. A track vacancy detection system can

for example, only recognize that the block 40 _{j is} occupied, but not that it is occupied by two rail vehicles. In order to recognize the further rail vehicle 3 immediately behind the second rail vehicle 2, a later, second point in time t2 is awaited, which is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the rear end of the second rail vehicle 2 is just crossing the block boundary 41 between the j-th block 40 _j and the j + l-th block 40 _{j + i} . At this point in time, it is ensured that no further rail vehicle 3 can be present between the rear end of the second rail vehicle 2 and the block boundary 41 just crossed. The information that the rear end of the second rail vehicle 2 crossed the block boundary 41 at the second point in time t2 is provided as second information 12.

At time t2, it can also be recognized, for example with the track vacancy detection system, that the jth block 40 _{j is occupied} by the further rail vehicle 3. Accordingly, a third item of information 13 can be determined and provided which is representative of the fact that a block between and including the i + l-th block 40i _{+ i} and the j-th block 40 _{j is occupied} by a further rail vehicle 3. The first operating state ZI for the first rail vehicle 1 is then blocked, for example. Alternatively or additionally, a second operating state Z2 is activated for the first rail vehicle 1, the second

The operating state is driving at a fixed spacing (fixed-block operating state).

In FIGS. 3 and 4, unlike in FIGS. 1 and 2, the position of the first 1 and second 2 is used

Rail vehicle is not a balise system, but a

Position detection system 5 in the form of a GPS system

used.

In Figure 5 is a flow chart for a first

Exemplary embodiment of the method for operating a first rail vehicle is shown. The flowchart relates refer, for example, to the situation in FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 3 and 4.

In a step A) the first information II

provided, which is representative of the fact that at the first point in time tl the front end of the first

Rail vehicle 1 has crossed the block boundary 41 between an i-th block 40i and an i + l-th block 40i _{+ i} . In a subsequent step B), the second information 12 is provided, which is representative of the fact that at the second point in time t2 a rear end of the second

Rail vehicle 2 has crossed a block boundary 41 between a j-th block 40 _j and a j + l-th block 40 _{+ i} .

In addition, in a step C) third information 13 is determined as a function of the first II and second 12 information, which is representative of whether before and / or between the two times t1, t2 a block 40 between and including the i + l- th 40i _{+ i} and the j-th block 40 _{j is occupied} by another rail vehicle. In a step D), the first operating state ZI for the first rail vehicle 1 is then set as a function of the third

Information 13, if the third information 13 is representative of the fact that before and / or between the times t1, t2 no block 40 between and including the i + l-th 40i _{+ i} and the j-th block 40 _{j is occupied} by another rail vehicle is released. In the case of FIG. 1, the first operating state ZI is enabled because there is no other

Rail vehicle is available. In the case of FIG. 2, the first operating state ZI is not released because another rail vehicle 3 is present. The second operating state Z2 may be enabled and the first operating state ZI blocked. A second exemplary embodiment of the method for operating a first rail vehicle 1 is shown in the flow diagram in FIG. Steps A) to D) are as explained in connection with FIG. Here, however, step B) is carried out before step A) because, for example, the second point in time t2 is before the first point in time t1.

Steps A) to D) are for example on a

Processor executed, which is contained in the device 10 of Figures 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

Although the invention based on exemplary embodiments

has been shown and described in detail, is the

Invention does not affect the disclosed exemplary embodiments and the specific combinations of features explained therein

limited. Further variations of the invention can be obtained by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

List of reference symbols

1 first rail vehicle

2 second rail vehicle

3 more rail vehicles

4 rail

5 position detection system

6 first direction of travel

10 device

40 block

41 Block boundary

tl first time

t2 second point in time

11 first information

12 second information

13 third information

ZI first operating status

Z2 second operating state

A-D process steps

Claims

1. A method for operating a first rail vehicle (1), wherein

- the first rail vehicle (1) travels on a rail (4) in a first direction of travel (6),

- the rail (4) is divided into n blocks (401 ... 40 _n ) with n> 2,

- two adjacent blocks (40 _k , 40 _{k + i} ) by one

Block boundaries (41) are separated,

- A second rail vehicle (2) is traveling on the rail (4),

- The second rail vehicle (3) along the first

The direction of travel (6) is in front of the first rail vehicle (1),

- the procedure comprises the following steps:

A) Providing a first piece of information (II) that

It is representative of the fact that at a first point in time (tl) a front end of the first rail vehicle (1) with respect to the first direction of travel (6) has a block boundary (41) between an i-th block (40i) and one in the first direction of travel (6 ) has crossed the following i + l-th block (40i _{+ i} ),

B) providing a second piece of information (12) which

It is representative that at a second point in time (t2) a rear end of the second rail vehicle (2) with respect to the first direction of travel (6) forms a block boundary (41) between a jth block (40 _j ) and one in the first direction of travel ( 6) has crossed the next j + l-th block (40 _{j + i} ),

C) determining a third piece of information (13) as a function of the first (II) and second (12) pieces of information, the third piece of information (13) being representative of whether before and / or between the two times (t1, t2) Block (40) between and including the i + l-th (40i _{+ i} ) and the j-th Block (40 _j ) is occupied by another rail vehicle (3),

D) enabling a first operating state (ZI) for the first rail vehicle (1) as a function of the third

Information (13), if the third information is representative of the fact that before and / or between the two times (tl, t2) no block (40) between and including the i + l-th (40i _{+ i} ) and the j-th Block (40 _j ) from another

Rail vehicle is occupied, the first operating state (ZI) being driving in a moving spatial distance.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein in step D) a second operating state (Z2) in

Depending on the third information (13) is released if the third information (13) is representative of the fact that before and / or between the two times (tl, t2) a block (40) between and including the i + lth (40i _{+ i} ) and the j-th block (40 _j ) is occupied by a further rail vehicle (3), the second operating state (Z2) being driving at a fixed spatial distance.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein

- The first (II) and the second (12) pieces of information are each determined as a function of position information and

to be provided,

- The position information is representative of the positions of the first (1) and second (2) rail vehicles on the rail (4).

4. The method according to claim 3,

the position information using a

Position detection system (5) are provided.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the position detection system (5) provides an accuracy for the positions of the rail vehicles of better than 30 m.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein the method is carried out on a computer.

7. Device (10) for operating a first

Rail vehicle (1), comprising a processor which is set up to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. Computer program for operating a first

Rail vehicle (1), comprising commands that are used in the

Execution of the computer program by a computer with a processor causing the latter to carry out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 5.

9. Computer-readable storage medium on which the

Computer program according to claim 8 is stored.

10. System comprising:

- a first rail vehicle (1),

- a second rail vehicle (2),

- a rail (4) which is divided into n blocks (401 ... 40 _n ) with n> 2,

- A position detection system (5) for determining the position of the first (1) and second (2) rail vehicle, wherein

- two adjacent blocks (40) are separated by a block boundary (41),

- The system is set up to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 6.