signaalfault

Signaalfault is a term used in signaling contexts, particularly in Dutch-language railway and transportation environments, to describe a fault or malfunction in a signaling system that can affect the display of signals, interlocking logic, or communication between components. A signaalfault can be permanent, intermittent, or transient and may originate from degraded hardware, software defects, faulty sensors, power supply irregularities, or corrupted data.

In railway signaling, a signaalfault may cause a signal to show an incorrect aspect, fail to illuminate, or prevent proper route locking. Such faults can lead to delays, degraded service, or safety risks if not managed correctly. Signaller and automatic protection systems are designed to respond safely in fault conditions by moving to a safe state, isolating affected components, or enforcing red aspects and secure braking.

Detection and remediation involve system monitoring, automatic fault logging, and periodic track or component testing. When a signaalfault is identified, maintenance teams diagnose the root cause, repair or replace faulty hardware or software, and perform retesting before restoring normal operation. Some faults are resolved by resets or software patches, while others require hardware replacement or configuration changes.

Prevention and standards: RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) practices guide the design, operation, and maintenance of signaling systems to minimize signaalfault risks. In Europe and elsewhere, standards such as EN 50126, EN 50128, and EN 50129 address RAMS, signaling reliability, and safety in railway systems.

See also: railway signaling, interlocking, fail-safe systems, fault management.