Quote:
Originally Posted by Joanna
If we are going to implement ETCS level 3 one day and get rid of axle counters, how we are going to operate freight trains consisting on coupled wagons?
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Here's a guess.
Before the start of the journey, in obtaining movement authority the freight train driver would program the length (and weight) of the train into the ERTMS cab panel. This is something that many Class 66 drivers do with the loco computer already.
The safety in the system is that all trains must be fitted with the automatic brake. So if the train comes apart the brakepipe will vent and the train will be stopped by an emergency brake application. This will be observed by the RBC (Radio Block Centre), which will slow down and stop the following trains accordingly. The driver must inform the signaller that his train has divided.
If the driver needs to add or remove vehicles from the train during the journey, this information will be pased via the ERTMS panel in the cab before authority is given for the next movement.
HTH BW