Danish Signaling, Vehicle Signals

Updated 000603

General use and appearance

The subject vehicle signals (danish: signaler på tog og køretøjer) covers head and tail signals as well as different kinds of information flags, discs and lights.

Originally the trains were the only means of conveying information to the wayside staff about changing schedules and other irregularities. The trains would therefore carry discs, flags or lights to identify themselves (e.g. as ordinary, extra or work train) as well as announce subsequent extra trains, cancellation of trains or change of train sequence.

The principle of each train carrying a unique identification number has never been adopted in Denmark, so all information had to be interpreted relative to the timetable.

As other means of communication (telegraph and telephone) became available also to gatekeepers and maintenance crews, the need for different vehicle signals gradually decreased. Today only a few vehicle signals remain in use, including ordinary head and tail lights.

This section is structured according to the rule periods:

Vehicle signals until 1944
Vehicle signals 1944-1975
Vehicle signals 1975-

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