Norwegian railway signalling.html



The signalling system used on the rail transport in Norway is regulated by the Regulations of December 4, 2001 no. 1336 about signals and signs on the state's railway network and connected private tracks.

The first signalling system on the Norwegian railway system was a mechanically operated semaphore system introduced at Drammen station in 1893. The first electrically operated light signal system was delivered by AEG in 1924. Today, only electrically operated light signals are used.

Signalling remedies

The following signalling remedies are used:

• Signal flags
• Hand-held signal lamps
• Signal whistle
• The signal giver's arms
• Fixed light signals
• Fixed sound signals
• Signal signs
• Orientation poles
• Locomotive whistle
• Locomotive and train signal lamps

The fundamental meaning of the signal colors

• Red always indicates "stop".
• Violet indicates that the associated level crossing signal shows "Stop short of the level crossing".
• Yellow indicates "caution".
• Green indicates "permission to run".
• White indicates "clear line".

Light signals

The regular light signals show one of these signals:

Main signals

Image	Signal	Meaning	Used in
	Signal 20A - Stop - flashes	The train must stop short of the signal.	Home signals, block signals.
	Signal 20B - Stop	The train must stop short of the signal.	Departure signals, inner signals.
	Signal 21 - Proceed (to diverging route)	The train can proceed, usually via one or more diverging switches.	Home signals, departure signals, inner signals, block signals.
	Signal 22 - Proceed	The train can proceed, not via diverging switches.	Home signals, departure signals, inner signals, block signals.

Fail Safe

If one of the green lights in signal 22 fails, the indication becomes the lower speed signal 21 - this is fail-safe. Other nearby countries reverse the role of the single green aspect and double green aspect.

Distant signals

Image	Signal	Meaning
	Signal 23 - Expect stop - flashes	The associated main signal shows signal 20A or 20B.
	Signal 24 - Expect to proceed (to diverging route) - flashes	The associated main signal shows signal 21.
	Signal 25 - Expect to proceed - flashes	The associated main signal shows signal 22.

Wrong side failure

If the yellow light in signal 24 fails, the signal displays a higher speed indication, which would be a wrong side failure. To prevent this, the yellow light would be proved to be operating before the green light is displayed (that is, the yellow is shown before the green, if the yellow fails, the green isn't shown and the signal stays totally dark).

Warning systems

Norway uses the Ericsson ATP warning system, also used on Perth's suburban railway network.

References

Norwegian signalling rulebook