LOS is a remote control and operational system for railway track switch points operation at marshaling yards and depot areas, comprising:
​​• central computer
• power supply system
• control cupboards
• programmed controller
• electric motors for switch points
• cameras installed along the tracks
• laser scanners installed along the tracks
• optical elements for visual indication to the driver along the route
• cabling or radio control system
• digital transmission controlling operations from unlimited locations
• various electronic devices
Fig. 1 below
The LOS system was developed in 2010-2011 and was activated for the first time in the Beer Sheva depot area of the Israel Railways in 2012.
In 2016 the system was upgraded to computerize control version.
Today, the Israel Railways operates the LOS system in 3 depot yards: Beer Sheva, Ashkelon and Lod. Also, a system was designed to show to train drivers their route using optical elements. Optical elements light up on the track only when the entire rout is safe and locked, which gives the train driver an indication of the direction and the correctness of the rout .
Main system functionality:
• Switch points (SWP) position monitoring: right, left, malfunction, out of order
• SWP operation in normal and unnormal condition separately
• Acoustic and visual alarm in case of faults
• SWP operation by rout locking
• Preventing an oncoming route
• Preventing of rout locking due to track occupied by train and employes presence on the track
• Logs download and events interpretation
• And more
