Intelligent computing in railway signal engineering

Signaling system of a railway organization provides the movement authority to the train drivers and therefore performs a safety-critical function. Various entities e.g. signal, train detectors (track circuit / axle counter), point, level crossing gates, sidings etc. are Interlocked to achieve safety. In modern signaling systems, computers are being used as logic solvers. This paper describes some applications of intelligent computing in railway signaling e.g. axle counter for train detection, networked diagnostics of point machines, dual microprocessors or micro-controllers in see-saw mode for computer based interlocking and auxiliary warning system (AWS). The specific tasks as per CENELEC standards are also mentioned.