Abstract: A device comprises a detector for detecting markers along the railway track processor for processing the signals supplied by the detector, in order to control the speed of a rail vehicle as a function of its position and instantaneous speed on a track section. The markers comprise, on each track section, markers (1) arranged at constant or random intervals at the entry of each section and markers (2) arranged to form a beacon for identifying the section in question and for initializing the device. The signal processor comprises a memory (9) in which a vehicle progress program is stored in the form of codes associated with each marker arranged on the ground and each containing a data item relating to the type of ground marker which is to be detected, a data item relating to a set-point speed of the vehicle on a level with the marker, and a data item relating to the number of the track section covered.

Abstract: Each train is equipped with an on-board device for detecting the position of the train with respect to the track and with a transmitter-receive communicating with a central station. The central station has an instantaneous storage of the relative positions of all of the trains in the network, storage of the itineraries of each train, the characteristics of the network related to the speed range, and of the performance of the rolling stock in service. The central station constitutes the organizing unit of the system and comprises a transmission at regular time intervals of messages containing the identification numbers of the trains in circulation which are authorized to follow their route, taking account of position information received from these trains by the central station and of speed range parameters contained in the storage.