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Vorsignal

Vorsignal is a pre-signal used in railway signaling to give advance information about the status of the following main signal. It serves to prepare the train driver for upcoming restrictions, allowing earlier braking or speed adjustment and contributing to safety and line capacity.

Typically placed on approach to a block section, junction, or station, the Vorsignal indicates what the main

There are two common forms of Vorsignal: mechanical semaphore signals and electric or electronic light signals.

The Vorsignal concept remains a standard element in many national signaling practices, though it has evolved

See also: Hauptsignal, distant signal, interlocking.

signal
ahead
will
show.
The
driver
uses
the
Vorsignal
information
to
judge
whether
to
proceed,
slow
down,
or
be
ready
to
stop.
The
exact
meaning
of
its
aspects
depends
on
the
signaling
system
in
use;
in
one
setup
a
Vorsignal
may
warn
of
a
stop
ahead,
while
in
another
it
may
permit
proceeding
with
a
reduced
speed.
In
the
traditional
system,
the
Vorsignal
is
a
separate
signal
apparatus
whose
aspect
mirrors
or
foreshadows
the
state
of
the
corresponding
Hauptsignal
(main
signal).
In
modern
installations,
distant
signals
are
often
light-based
and
integrated
into
interlocking
and
automatic
control,
still
serving
the
same
purpose
of
early
warning
before
the
main
signal.
with
technological
advances.
It
continues
to
provide
drivers
with
a
lead
time
to
react
to
the
upcoming
signal,
helping
to
maintain
smooth
traffic
flow
and
reduce
abrupt
braking.