Fail-safe control method for programmable electronic systems in railway applications

The application of microprocessor devices to railway control systems requires very rigorous methods of design, verification and testing. In these systems the safety proof of both hardware and software parts must be established. The fail-safe control considered is realized using special methods recommended by the railway standardization committee (like ORE). The safety measures defined with respect to reliability theory specify the system criteria: mean probability of catastrophic failure (collision, derailment, etc.) or mean time between such failures. The fail-safe computerised railway control realisation is described.