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near the track, but in protected cubicles or in buildings. Decentralised arrangements are gaining
in importance, being more cost effective and having a more economical infrastructure.

The integration of Axle Counters into higher level systems is as clear as the technology is
structured: The Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC enables the connection to systems like a
high-performance electronic interlocking either via a customer-specific interface or the Frauscher
Safe Ethernet FSE protocol.

A comparison between Axle Counters and Track Circuits

Track Circuits (TC) are based on a simple principle: Typically, both rails have electrical power
with low voltages applied to them and are connected via a relay coil that is wired across them. If
the rail section is “free”, the relay is energised by the current flowing from the power source
through the rails. But the axles of a train cause an axle short circuit between both rails. Therefore,
the current to the track relay coil drops, and it reports a “occupied” track. This principle means,
that track circuits must rely on a high track ballast resistance and other factors influencing the
electrical leakage path from rail to rail.

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วิศวกรรมสาร ปีที่ 74 ฉบับที่ 4 ตุลาคม-ธันวาคม 2564