[denphone]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Don't think they've got it on my archaic line. The diesel trains are circa 1970, a stretch of single track line is still kept safe by drivers manually exchanging a token (which involves us watching them have a 10 minute cup of tea and a chat...)

Actually they still use a token system in a few places as if my poor memory serves me well as there are a couple of places in Cornwall where it is done Mr K and then there are also the heritage steam railway lines around the UK where it is seen the most.

---------- Post added at 05:27 ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris

Trains, Den, not trams. ATP is only in limited deployment on heavy rail lines in the UK. When it was considered the cost to do the whole network was prohibitive. What we do have is a simpler system called TPWS (train protection and warning system). This automatically brakes a train to a stop if it passes a red light and in its more advanced form can also stop a train before it reaches the red light if it is detected to be travelling too fast for the driver to do it manually. In certain advanced deployments it can also force an over speeding train to brake.

Neither of these systems is in use on the Croydon tram system, nor on any tram in the UK so far as I can see. The tram relies on a dead man's handle, so if the driver is incapacitated the tram will automatically stop.

For the most part, tram networks do not have the same block signalling system as the rail network. Trams are allowed to run close to each other because they can start and stop as quickly as a bus so block signalling wouldn't work, and therefore neither would TPWS, which is mostly about preventing collisions caused by trains running red lights.

Thanks Chris for that as l knew there were safety systems used on the rail networks but l was not sure how much they were they were being used in parts of the network because as you say the cost is pretty prohibited and as for the tram systems yes that is a different kettle of fish altogether.