Neutral User Interface
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Neutral User Interface
The neutral user interface is a simplified representation of a signal box, and it represents by no means any specific interlocking system such as Procesleiding or Sp Dr S60.
Symbols
Main signal
A main signal is represented as a triangle.
The signal will be represented as an open triangle, when automatic route setting is activated for the main signal.
The signal's ID will have a red background to show that the signal is locked.
Press the command button [SL] and the signal button to lock a signal.
A signal can be unlocked by pressing the command button [SU] together with the signal button.
A red circle will be shown around the signal button when the signal is inhibited for operation (Reminder On).
To put a reminder in place, press the command button [MON] together with the signal button.
The reminder can be removed by pressing the command button [MOFF] together with the signal button.
It is possible to override an "inhibtion for operation" of a inhibited signal. In this case, a yellow circle will be shown around the signal button.
To override an "inhibition for operation", use the command button [MORD] together with the signal button. The override will be cancelled after setting a route.
Main signal with shunt aspect
A main signal with shunt aspect is represented as a triangle plus a little rectangle.
The main signal part will be represented as an open triangle, when automatic route setting is activated for the main signal. [[File:Generic panel main shunt signal ars.png|none]
Track section
A track section is represented as a line. The track number will be shown inline between brackets when the labels are set to on.
To avoid that a route is being set via a certain track, a reminder can be set for that track.
Press the command button [MON] followed by clicking on the track section which should be inhibited for route setting.
The track will now show as a dotted line. Additionally, the adjacent signals will be locked.
The reminder on a track can be removed using the command button [MOFF] and then clicking on the track section.
The adjacent signals will stay locked. To set routes from such signals, the signal needs to be unlocked first using the command button [SU].
Points
Point in normal position.
A red background of a point's label indicates that the point is locked.
A route can still be set over the point, but it can't change position if needed for setting the route.
A point can be locked by pressing the [PL] together with the point's button.
Press the command button [PU] together with the point's button to unlock the point.
To prevent that a route is being set via a certain point, a reminder can be placed for that point.
When a reminder is placed for a point, the point will be shown as dashed lines. A reminder still allows the point to be thrown manually.
Press the command button [MON] and then click on a track section of the point (so do not press the point's button) to place a reminder.
Removing the reminder again is done by pressing the command button [MOFF] and then clicking on a track section of point.
Block Direction
The block direction of a track is indicated with symbols as shown below
A route can only be set for the active block direction.
To change the block direction, press the command button [BD] together with the button located between the direction arrows.
The direction arrow will show green when a route is set towards the track sections for which the block direction is applicable
In that case, the block direction can not be changed.
Setting routes
Setting routes requires pressing two buttons on the panel. Either two signal buttons (round dots) have to be pressed together, or a signal button together with an end button has to be pressed. Finally, the button for the type of route has to be pressed. This can be either a main route (train route) or shunt route.
When all required buttons have been pressed, the system attempts to find a preset route that can be set between the start and end button. If a route exists, and all the interlocking safety checks pass, switches will be thrown into position. Finally, when all is ok with the route, the signal will go to proceed.
Setting a route can take time. It is not instantaneous. Do not press repeatedly or rapidly as this can cause panel malfunctions.
If a route appears to be set, but the signal does not go to “proceed”, check if there is a switch that could not be thrown, a flank protection switch could not been thrown or any other condition that could prevent the route from being set completely.
It is important to understand that when a route is set, the interlocking system first tries to set the route at shunt route safety level. After that, the additional actions for setting it upto train route safety level will be executed. Therefor, it can happen that when attempting to set a train route, revoking needs to be done at shunt route level.
Setting shunt routes
To set a shunt route, first press the signal start button and the signal end button (or an end button). Both buttons will show up in purple.
Then press the "Shunt route" button.
If there are no restrictions, the route will be set.
Points will be thrown where needed. Finally, the entire shunt route will be shown in a blue.
The start signal will change to "white", indicating that it is showing a shunt aspect.
It is not possible to "upgrade" a shunt route directly to a train route.
To upgrade a shunt route to a main route, the start signal has to be set to Stop first.
Now, the route can be "upgraded" to a main route by pressing the signal start button and signal end button again, followed by pressing the "Main route" button.
Setting main (train) routes
To set a main route, first press the signal start button and the signal end button (or an end button). Both buttons will show up in purple.
Then press the "Main route" button.
If there are no restrictions, the route will be set. Points will be thrown where needed. Finally, the entire main route will be shown in a green.
Any element contributing to the safety requirements of a main route, like flank protection, will be shown in yellow.
Releasing a route
The way a route can be released depends on the type of route - main route or shunt route - and whether it has been completely set or not.
Main rule when releasing routes: ALWAYS set the starter signal to Stop using the [STOP] command button, even when the signal is already showing Stop on the panel
When the route to be released is a fully set main route, then the route can be released by pressing the starter signal button together with the command button [RRM].
The main route will then be fully released, meaning that all elements within the route as well as flank protecting elements will be released.
In case fully releasing of a train route fails, each element with the train route will have to be released individually.
Example: To release an individual element such as a point, press the point's button together with the command button [RRME].
When the route to be released is a fully set shunt route, then the route can be released by pressing the starter signal button together with the command button [RRS].
The shunt route will then be fully released, meaning that all elements within the route will be released.
In case fully releasing of a shunt route fails, each element with the shunt route will have to be released individually.
Example: To release an individual element such as a point, press the point's button together with the command button [RRSE].
Command Buttons Neutral User Interface
| Description | Abbrv. | Function |
| Blocks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change Block Direction | BD | Change the block direction |
| Level Crossings | ||
| Close Crossing for Traffic | LC | Close level crossing for road traffic |
| Keep Crossing Closed ON | LON | Keep the level crosing closed |
| Keep Crossing Closed OFF | LOFF | Cancels keeping the level crosing closed |
| Crossing Automatic Close OFF | LAOFF | Disables automatic closure of a level crossing |
| Crossing Automatic Close ON | LAON | Enables automatic closure of a level crossing |
| Routes | ||
| Release Main Route | RRM | Release a main route |
| Release Shunt Route | RRS | Release a shunt route |
| Release Main Route Element | RRME | Release a single element of a main route |
| Release Shunt Route Element | RRSE | Release a single element of a shunt route |
| No Catenary | RCAT | Set a route to a track without catenary |
| No Overlap | RONO | Set a main route without an overlap route |
| Short Overlap | ROS | Set a main route without an overlap route |
| Left Overlap | ROL | Set a main route with a overlap route diverging to the left |
| Right Overlap | ROR | Set a main route with a overlap route diverging to the right |
| Alternate Route | RALT | Set a main or shunt route with an other route than the default route |
| Axle Counter Reset | ACR | reset an axle counter track to "unoccupied" |
| Disable ARS | SAOFF | Deactivates automatic route setting for the selected signal |
| Enable ARS | SAON | Activates automatic route setting for the selected signal |
| Reminder ON | MON | Reminder on |
| Reminder OFF | MOFF | Reminder off |
| Reminder Override | MORD | Override Reminder of a signal |
| Signals | ||
| Lock Signal | SL | Lock a signal |
| Unlock Signal | SU | Unlock a signal |
| Call-On Signal | SCAL | Show call-on aspect |
| Activate Signal | SA | Activate signal |
| STOP | STOP | Sets a signal to Stop. Always set a signal to Stop before attempting to release a route starting at the signal or to release a overlap route behind the signal |
| Points | ||
| Throw Points | PT | Manually throw a point |
| Lock Points | PL | Lock a point |
| Unlock Points | PU | Unlock a point |
| Automatic Points Setting OFF | PAOFF | Activates automatic points setting for a requested route |
| Automatic Points Setting ON | PAON | Deactivates automatic points setting for a requested route |
| Others | ||
| Main Route | ZS | Sets a train route |
| Shunt Route | RS | Sets a main route |