GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Oct 19, 2026
Cab signalling
Cab signalling transmits the signal information relevant to running a train – speed, stop commands, route clearances – digitally and continuously straight into the locomotive's driving cab, instead of displaying it via conventional trackside signals.
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Source: BAV (bav.admin.ch): «Digitalisierung der Bahn nimmt Fahrt auf», 13.10.2026; ERTMS/ETCS-Grundlagen
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Definition & Explanation
Cab signalling transmits the signal information relevant to running a train – speed, stop commands, route clearances – digitally and continuously straight into the locomotive's driving cab, instead of displaying it via conventional trackside signals. The driver sees the information on an in-cab display, while an automatic train protection system additionally supervises compliance. The method is a core component of ERTMS/ETCS Level 2 and above. It allows denser train operation because trains no longer depend on fixed block sections marked by lineside signals, and it prepares the ground for further automation of rail operations. In Switzerland, newly planned or renewed standard-gauge lines increasingly dispense with conventional trackside signals.
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