Abstract: An interlocking for a railway system, comprises first, control computing means (2) which commands route settings in the system and second, protection computing means (3) coupled with the first computing means (2) and which allows commands from the first computing means (2) to be brought into effect or otherwise in dependence on the state of the railway system.

Abstract: This invention relates to railway track circuits. An active track circuit termination unit (4) is connected to the rails and, via a transmitter unit (4a), transmits signals into the rails to terminate track circuits (A,B). The transmitter unit also transmit data signals, for example track circuit signals, into the track circuits.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a railway vehicle for regulating it, comprising: means for calculating running profiles between two or more fixed destinations; means for receiving, either from a second or subsequent railway vehicle, directly or via separate means, the time at which one or more of the destinations will become clear for use by the railway vehicle; means for knowing what balance to apply to trade-offs between two or more operational strategies; means for knowing the timetabled arrival and departure times scheduled for it at any destination; and means for reporting to any second or subsequent railway vehicle, either directly or via separate means, its calculated arrival time at any destination.

Abstract: A joint for joining a silicon disc (21) to a molybdenum disc (22) comprises a layer of titanium silicide (20) and a layer of aluminium-silicon solder (23). The titanium silicide is formed by depositing a layer of titanium on the silicon disc and heating the silicon disc and the titanium to around 550.degree. C. to encourage the formation of titanium silicide. A solder disc is then compressed between the silicon and molybdenum discs at about 690.degree. C. to fuse the solder to the titanium silicide layer and the molybdenum disc. The layer of titanium silicide protects the silicon disc from dissolution during soldering, so that diffused-in features in the silicon are not damaged.

Abstract: A railway track circuit system is described, in which there is a transmitter 15,16 and receiver 19,20 at each end of a track circuit section 4. Each receiver receives signals from the transmitter at the opposite end of the section and the received signals are analyzed to determine whether a vehicle is present in the track circuit section. Where adjacent track circuit sections are also provided with a transmitter and a receiver at each of their ends, the transmitters 14,17 and receivers 18,21 at adjacent ends of adjacent track sections 3,5 can be connected to a track circuit unit 8,9 to allow that unit to check, when a vehicle appears to have left one track circuit section, that it has entered an adjacent section.

Abstract: A tread-brake unit copmrises, as a unitary structure, a brake shoe (300) for engaging a vehicle wheel tread, a brake actuator (100) having an output member (19) via which the brake shoe (300) can, firstly, be moved into engagement with the wheel tread and, thereafter, a braking force generated by the actuator (100) can be transmitted to the brake shoe (300), and a slack adjuster (200) by which clearance between the brake shoe (300) and the wheel tread, in the "released" condition of the unit, can be maintained substantially constant. The slack adjuster (200) has a pair of fast-threaded units (20,21), each nut being threadedly engaged with and rotatable on the output member (19) of the actuator (100).