Hjemsignal

Hjemsignal is a railway signal located at the entrance to a block section or at the start of a line segment, providing the driver with authority to enter the next section when the route is prepared and the interlocking has confirmed safety. The term is used in several Nordic and European signaling traditions and describes the first signal a train encounters on entering a new block or station area.

The hjemsignal is part of the interlocking and transmission safety system that prevents conflicting movements. It can be a traditional fixed device, such as a semaphore arm, or a modern electric light signal. The displayed aspect indicates whether the train may proceed, must proceed with caution, or must stop. In most systems red typically means stop, while green or other indications signal that the route is clear, subject to speed restrictions and the conditions of the upcoming track.

In operation, the driver observes the home signal as the initial signal after a block boundary or station entrance. When it shows proceed, the train may advance into the next block in accordance with the prescribed speed. If the signal shows stop, the train must halt and cannot enter the next section until the signal changes and the route is re-cleared by the interlocking.

Modern railway networks increasingly supplement or replace trackside signals with in-cab signaling and cab-based indications, but home signals continue to be used in many regions for visibility, legacy interoperability, and as a safety backup in conventional systems.