KVB Beacon (6 pcs) 0 Decapod 4606

The KVB for Beacon Speed Control is a safety system that monitors the speed of trains. Beacons on the ground transmit information to the locomotives via antennae mounted underneath them. The latter calculate deceleration curves with the train characteristics provided by the driver, and cause an emergency stop if they are not respected.

These beacons were deployed in the 1990s, so they should be reserved for the V period and later.

The cost of this system limits its implementation on the national network. It is more likely to be found in high traffic areas, such as railway stations and high speed lines.

The beacons are associated with a signal, and can also be found about 100 metres upstream of the signal or about 20 metres from a knocker. They are fixed on the sleepers in the axis of the track. There are always a minimum of 2 of them and up to 6 depending on the complexity of the associated signal. The additional markers are always installed upstream of the first ones.

There are 3 types of beacons with exactly the same appearance:

• the fixed beacon gives unchanging information, used for fixed TIVs for example
• the switchable beacon transmits information that changes according to the aspect of the signal
• the beacon tag informs about the reading orientation for locomotives. It is always necessary.