A British traffic signal control and detection system for LRV priority at signalled intersections

This paper describes the techniques and equipment used to provide priority to rail vehicles at signalled intersections in light rapid transit (LRT) systems sharing track with road users. The system is operational in the New Territories, Hong Kong as part of the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long LRT for the Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation. There are seven routes operated over 23 km of double track including 41 stops and 50 signalled intersections. A fleet of 70 vehicles is regularly in service. Each rail vehicle is equipped with an individually coded transponder which communicates with a trackside outstation via detector loops laid between the rails. As the vehicle passes over the detector, the transponder identifies its route and its run number. This information is processed locally by the outstation and used to request traffic phases and points switching and to provide supervisory status information to the operations control centre. The management of intersections is accomplished locally