The URO System

The URO System

A first examination of the United Railway Organization systems (URO 1962 TISRPS) suggests complexity. While there are a variety of stages in that system it does follow a logical pattern based on incremental development that manifests some simplicity upon further examination. The system remains abstract concept until implementation which some member-states (including DR, CZD, MAV, CFR and PKP) have done though with modifications. The system has the potential to respond to more situations than probably any rail system would encounter. It provides for a range of speeds from 40km/h to 160km/h (and possibly beyond that), as well as halt. Recent political changes have greatly altered central and eastern Europe. The impact of those changes upon URO is not known and therefore URO material is therefore retained in its original form.

The system is predicated on green and yellow lights; red is found only with halt indications in contrast to the North American system. Green and yellow signals can be either flashing or steady (fixed); flashing signals can be either rapid flashing or slower flashing. Green and yellow are separated for some indications though much of the time they are combined in varying configurations. Light strips (Streifen-Indikators) - comprised of small signal lamps in a horizontal row -frequently accompany the main signal lamps and thereby increases the range of possible messages.

The system employs speed values not word values. The URO follows or parallels IUR in speed designations by designating speeds of 120, 90, 60 and 40 km/h. "Vmax" or maximum velocity is sometimes specified as 160km/h. PKP and DR have a modified version of this: speeds of 100, 60, and 40 km/h with a Vmax which may be 160km/h. A possible added speed of 30km/h appears to be a speed for some situations for PKP and DR.

Appendix II provides details on the workings of URO and variations of it. There are also elements in URO of pre-existing signals. These appear to follow older German practices (Smith 1987).