Standard signals

Traffic lights. 1

Signal boards. 1

Flashing lights. 1

Track monitor colors. 2

Signal aspects. 3

Signal combinations. 7

Slow down series. 9

F and Nf signals. 10

The white light 10

Speed limitations. 10

Other signals. 11

Traffic lights

Signal boards

Signals may appear on different boards like:

However, the position of lights is always the same, so:

is the same signal as

Flashing lights

designates a flashing light

designates a fixed light

The signaling of the route is now very close to the real one and has been carefully designed so that you don't have to use the track monitor to drive safely (the track monitor doesn't exist in the real world and drivers can only rely on signals). Of course, you can still use the track monitor, but it won't tell you everything. Instead of directly displaying the color of signals, it will only give you some clues about them:

TM color	Meaning	Possible signals (see individual descriptions)
Green	Clear or not very restrictive signal	Clear Pre-warning Slow down warning (30 or 60) 60 km/h slow down (not combined with a warning)
Yellow	Warning or equivalent	Warning 60 km/h slow down + warning 30 km/h slow down
Red	Stop or restrictive signal	Stop, semaphore, shunting signal

Signal aspects

	Clear
	This signal means	At least the next 3 blocks are clear.
	What to do	You can run at full speed.
	Track monitor color	GREEN
	Track monitor text	CLEAR

	Pre warning
	This signal means	Next signal is a warning.
	What to do	Watch your speed: you may have to stop your train after the next signal.
	Track monitor color	GREEN
	Track monitor text	CLEAR

	Warning
	This signal means	Be ready to stop before the next signal. This is a very important signal and a warning should never be treated "lightly". Most people assume that the next signal after a warning is a semaphore or a stop, but there are many other situations where a warning can appear, for example before a shunting or repeated slow down signal (see below). Just remember one thing: when you see this signal, be ready to stop.
	What to do	Slow down in order to stop before the next signal.
	Track monitor color	YELLOW
	Track monitor text	APPROACH

	Semaphore
	This signal means	There is a train in the next block.
	What to do	Stop in front of this signal. This signal is passable, so you have the option to proceed at 30 km/h or wait for a clear signal. Note that if you proceed and the train in the next block is stopped, you will eventually reach it, so be prepared to stop at any time. Also, note that passing a semaphore requires you to drive at 30 km/h through the whole block, so it's not always the best choice. Depending on the situation, you may prefer to wait for a clear indication before entering the block.
	Track monitor color	RED
	Track monitor text	STOP AND PROCEED

	Stop (also known as "red square")
	This signal means	For security reasons, the next block cannot be entered. This signal is typically used to protect switches.
	What to do	Stop in front of the signal and wait for a clear indication. Trying to pass this signal will immediately end any activity.
	Track monitor color	RED
	Track monitor text	STOP

	60 km/h slow down warning
	This signal means	Next signal is a 60 km/h slow down.
	What to do	Reduce your speed in order to pass the next signal at 60 km/h. This signal can be combined with a pre-warning, but will be cancelled by a warning, a semaphore or a stop. When combined with a pre-warning, just apply both signals' recommendations.
	Track monitor color	GREEN
	Track monitor text	CLEAR

	60 km/h slow down
	This signal means	You are reaching a switch that requires a 60 km/h slow down.
	What to do	You must pass this signal at 60 km/h (the switch that requires the slow down may be identified by a "V" sign on the ground). This signal can be combined with a pre-warning or a warning, but will be cancelled by a semaphore or a stop. When combined with a pre-warning or warning, just apply both signals' recommendations.
	Track monitor color	GREEN if SD60 or SD60 + pre-warning YELLOW if SD60 + warning
	Track monitor text	CLEAR if SD60 or SD60 + pre-warning APPROACH if SD60 + warning

	30 km/h slow down warning
	This signal means	Next signal is a 30 km/h slow down.
	What to do	Reduce your speed in order to pass the next signal at 30 km/h. This signal will be cancelled by a warning, a semaphore or a stop, but will cancel a pre-warning.
	Track monitor color	GREEN
	Track monitor text	CLEAR

	30 km/h slow down
	This signal means	You are reaching a switch that requires a 30 km/h slow down.
	What to do	You must pass this signal at 30 km/h (the switch that requires the slow down may be identified by a "V" sign on the ground). This signal can be combined with a pre-warning or a warning, but will be cancelled by a semaphore or a stop. When combined with a pre-warning or warning, just apply both signals' recommendations.
	Track monitor color	YELLOW
	Track monitor text	APPROACH

	Shunting track free
	This signal means	You are in a shunting area and the track is clear.
	What to do	Never assume anything about the state of the next signal, as you are in a shunting area: you can proceed at 30 km/h max and must be ready to stop at any time.
	Track monitor color	RED
	Track monitor text	RESTRICTING

	Shunting stop (also known as "violet square")
	This signal means	The next block cannot be entered for security reasons. This signal is typically used to protect trains in shunting areas.
	What to do	Stop in front of the signal and wait for a clear indication. Trying to pass this signal will immediately end any activity.
	Track monitor color	RED
	Track monitor text	STOP

	Distant direction indicator
	This signal means	1 white light: you will go to the left after the next switch. 2 white lights: you will go to the right after the next switch. Please note this is a "geographic" direction: if one of the tracks goes left at the switch, then pass over or under the other and goes to the right, you will get a "right" indication.
	What to do	This signal is informational only.
	Track monitor color	-
	Track monitor text	-

Signal combinations

Q: What does this signal mean?

A: It's a 60 km/h slow down (upper flashing yellow lights) + warning (lower yellow light).

Meaning: you must slow down at 60 km/h (definition of SD60) and be ready to stop before the next signal (definition of a warning).

Q: What signal will announce the SD60+Warning?

A: The 60 km/h slow down must be announced by a 60 km/h slow down warning, and the warning must be announced by a pre-warning:

60 km/h slow down warning (upper flashing lights) + pre-warning (lower flashing light)

Meaning: next signal is a 60 km/h slow down (definition of SD60 warning) and next signal is a warning (definition of pre-warning). So, next signal is a SD60+warning.

Slow down series

If a switch that must be passed at 60 km/h is followed by another that must be passed at 30 km/h, the signal before the first switch should be both a SD60 (2 vertical flashing yellow lights) and a SD30 warning (2 horizontal yellow lights).

Actually, for visibility reasons, the second indication is replaced by a warning, so the double "SD60/SD30 warning" signal is replaced by:

SD60 + warning

The same technique is used for other slow down series and there are never more than 3 lights on a signal board.

F and Nf signals

The letter F, "Franchissable" in French, means "passable".

Signals having a F plate can always be passed, even in their most restrictive state, which is a semaphore (one red light). F signals are used to space trains on the same track, going in the same direction. As they are passable, they provide the best possible train flow.

On the other hand, signals having a Nf plate cannot be passed in their most restrictive state, which is a stop, also known as "red square" (two red lights). They are typically used to protect switches and avoid lateral or frontal collisions.

The white light

You will notice Nf signals have an additional little white light on the left. It is lit only when the signal is passable, so you will see it on warnings, slow downs, etc… but never on stops (red or violet squares).

You may ask what's the purpose of this light, as we already know only stops can't be passed?

Here is the explanation:

If a lamp on a red square is burned out, you may think it's a semaphore and pass it, which may be very dangerous. This little white light will save your life! Here is how:

When you see a signal with only one red light:

1. Look at the plate, if it's F, it's a semaphore and you can pass it safely.

2. If the plate is Nf and you see the white light, it's a semaphore again, so you can pass it.

3. If the plate is Nf and you don't see the white light, then it's a red square, but one of the red lights is burned out, so you will stop and wait for a clear indication.

…And what if the white light itself is burned out?

By definition, Nf signals with no white light are not passable, so you will not pass it. When the signal becomes yellow or green, you will notice there is still no white light, so you will simply have to write down the identification number of the signal and ask the maintenance team to change the burned out white light.