How does route locking complement interlocking?

How does route locking complement interlocking?

• A. Maintains secured route once set, preventing changes until release
• B. Route locking prevents any route changes at all
• C. Unlocks route after every signal change
• D. Sets route to highest priority automatically

Answer: (A)

Route locking works with interlocking by preserving the path that has already been set. When the interlocking establishes a route, a lock is placed on that route so the signals and switches stay in their selected positions and cannot be altered by other route requests. This keeps the chosen path stable while a train is moving through it or until the system releases the lock. It prevents routing conflicts and potential collisions by ensuring no other movement can disrupt the established route while it’s in use. The lock isn’t permanent or global; it’s active for the duration of the route’s use and is released when the train has cleared or the route is explicitly released, after which changes can be made again.

Route locking works with interlocking by preserving the path that has already been set. When the interlocking establishes a route, a lock is placed on that route so the signals and switches stay in their selected positions and cannot be altered by other route requests. This keeps the chosen path stable while a train is moving through it or until the system releases the lock. It prevents routing conflicts and potential collisions by ensuring no other movement can disrupt the established route while it’s in use. The lock isn’t permanent or global; it’s active for the duration of the route’s use and is released when the train has cleared or the route is explicitly released, after which changes can be made again.