Computer-based Railway Interlocking System (RIS)

The computer-based railway interlocking system (RIS) is a computer-based modular interlocking system used in railway transport.  It is the latest generation of computer-based interlocking system developed based on the "object-oriented" design concept.  The system consists of the following five standardized combination circuits designed upon different controlled objects:

Signal Combination (XH)     

Turnout Combination (DC)    

Track Combination (GD)

Sporadic Combination (LS)    

Power Supply Combination (DY)

As a system widely used in the control of railway, metro and light-rail stations, as well as railway stations self-owned by industrial enterprises in the fields of metallurgy, mining, petrochemicals and porting, RIS greatly enhance the efficiency, safety and reliability of transport.

Main Functions of the RIS

l        It enables correct interlocking of turnouts, signal controllers and track circuits along the route so as to ensure a correct route and safe operation of trains.  It satisfies all interlocking functions required by the 6502 system.

l        In light of specific demands of railway stations and yards, the system employs special interlocking relations in support of the single coupler humping function.

l        Real-time display: Its gives real-time reflection of the on-site state of the equipment of railway stations and yards, such as signal controllers, turnouts and tracks, hence providing the management and maintenance departments at all levels with timely information on equipment and train operation.

l        Perfect self-diagnosis: The system can automatically carry out board-level troubleshooting through dynamic I/O, read-back, dual software coding and other technologies, and enable users to make fault diagnosis and inquiries at the control center or the maintenance center through network communications.

l        Maintenance and remote diagnosis: The system can record the state of all operation and signal equipment; detect and report system faults; provide convenient search for all kinds of information saved in memory; save and print records; inform corresponding maintenance departments of system faults for dispatch of right technicians to repair them; and handle long-distance transmission of records or documents.

l        Integration with other information systems: The system can communicate with the computer detection and CTC (centralized traffic control) systems to facilitate information sharing between railway stations and yards.

l        Fail-soft function:  The system’s host computer and interlocking computer both operate in a hot standby mode.  The Two-out-of-Two system is adopted in an IO module for signal acquisition and control in the principle of “ensuring the safe mode will be switched on whenever a fault occurs” i.e., each module has two sets of circuits.