What is required for a train to enter ABS territory?

For a train to enter Automatic Block Signal (ABS) territory, it is essential to receive a proceed indication from a controlled signal. This indication serves as a clear and legitimate authorization for the train to move forward into this territory. The signaling system is designed to ensure safe operations by providing visual cues that reflect the status of the tracks ahead, allowing for proper management of train movements and preventing collisions.

A proceed indication confirms that the train can enter a specific block without encountering any obstacles, ensuring that the path is clear and safe. This process plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of rail operations, as it relies on established protocols and signals that train crews are trained to recognize and respond to.

Other methods of authorization, such as verbal permission from a dispatcher or written authorization from a conductor, do not constitute direct signals and could introduce variables that may not provide the same level of safety assurance. Automatic permission from the signaling system is not typically referred to in the same sense as a controlled signal. Instead, a controlled signal specifically denotes an active, acknowledged indication for train movement, making it the necessary requirement for entering ABS territory.