Danish Signaling
Basic Definitions

Before looking deeper into the subject of Danish railway signaling it is useful to look at a few basics.

The Station and the Line

The railway is divided in

• Stations (Danish: Stationer)
• The Line (Danish: Den fri Bane)

as shown above. A station is the trackage between Station Limits (Danish: Stationsgrænser). Seen from the line, the station limits are marked by the placement of station Entry Signals (Danish: Indkørselssignaler), protecting the station area. Station Entry Signals belong to the class of signals called Main Signals (Danish: Hovedsignaler), which is signals that can display the "Stop" indication. Seen from the station, the station limits are defined by the Switch Limit Board (Danish: Rangergrænsemærke), marking how far switch movements may proceede towards the line. The Switch Limit Board is placed inside the entry signal, typically 100m (app. 110yds). The distance between the entry signal and the switch limit board forms a safety overlap between trains on the line and in the station.

Movements within the station area are either authorized by signal indication or by permission from the Station Master (Danish: Stationsbestyreren). Occupation of the line is authorized by authorization to leave the station, either by signal indication or by authorization by the station master.

Basic Signal Aspects

The following is a brief overview of the basic assignment of colors to signal aspects:

"Stop", station Entry or Entry Block Signal

Stop.

"Stop", other Main Signals

Stop.

"Stop, then Proceed", station Entry or Entry Block Signal

Stop, then proceed at max. 40 km/h (25 mph). Entry Route cannot be guaranteed unoccuoied.

"Stop, then Proceed", Platform Exit and Exit Block Signals

Stop, then proceed at max. 40 km/h (25 mph). Exit Route cannot be guaranteed unoccuoied.

"Stop, then Proceed", Exit and Automatic Block Signals

Stop, then proceed at max. 60 km/h (40 mph).

"Proceed at reduced speed", station Entry or Entry Block Signal

Proceed at indicated speed, prepared to stop at next Main Sígnal.

"Proceed", all Main Signals

Proceed at prescribed speed, prepared to stop at next Main Sígnal.

"Proceed Through (Station)", station Entry or Entry Block Signal

Proceed through station at prescribed speed. All, if any, Entry Block, Platform Exit and Exit Block signals show "Proceed Through". The Exit Signal, if any, shows "Proceed" or "Proceed Through".

"Proceed Through (Station)", Platform Exit Signal

Proceed through station at prescribed speed. All, if any, Platform Exit and Exit Block signals show "Proceed Through". The Exit Signal shows "Proceed" or "Proceed Through".

"Proceed Through (Station)", station Exit Block Signal

Proceed through station at prescribed speed. The Exit Signal shows "Proceed" or "Proceed Through".

"Proceed Through (Block)", station Exit or Automatic Block Signals

Proceed through block. Next Main Signal shows "Proceed" or "Proceed Through".

"Conditional Stop", Entry, Exit and Automatic Block Signals (Copenhagen Suburban only)

Proceed according to indication in Cab Signal. Trains without or with failed Cab Signal: Stop.