Railway Soft Cell of Points 

Definition

* A call made to a set of points, to a position which affords optimum overrun protection, when these points are available to be called.

* Soft calls are generally recommended by the ORAM.

 

EXAMPLES OF SOFT CALLS – 1

 

 

Principle of Soft call

The purpose of soft call is to call points which are not normally called as part of the route or as part of the Overlap, but which will, in the event of a train exceeding the overlap, either take the train to a safe place or in the event of another train exceeding a neighboring overlap, direct that train to a safe place.

 

Conditions for Soft Call

* If the points are not available to be set, the Calling route is not inhibited and the Signal will still clear.

* If the points are not available to be set, the Calling route is not inhibited and the Signal will still clear.

* Soft called Points are not locked by the calling route.

 

* Once soft called by a route, if the points are required to be set and locked in the opposite position by another route, Points will operate and set & locked by that route.

* Under circumstances mentioned in the above clause, once the routes locking the Points become free, they will not resume earlier soft called position.

 

EXAMPLE OF SOFT CALL – 2

 

 

EXAMPLE OF SOFT CALL – 3

 

 

EXAMPLE OF SOFT CALL – 4

 

 

Applications Of Soft Calls

* Facing points beyond overlap

* Trailing points beyond overlap

* Flank points waived off by ORAM (Para 5.1.2. a. GK/RT 0064)

 

Self Restoration of Points to N/R

* $30 – Self Restoration of Points is also a type of Soft Call.

* Soft called points respond only at the time of initial calling, where as Self Restoration calls Points whenever they are free.

* Self Restoration of Points to Reverse, needs Derogation.