The safe operation of a railway signaling system depends on accurate and up-to-date information on the position and movements of trains provided by train detection devices. Track circuits are the most popular systems used over the world to provide information on position and movements of trains and ensure safety of circulations. In close cooperation with experts and practitioners of the French national railways company SNCF, we have designed a reliability model of track circuits taking into account local conditions: environment, vehicles, track, traffic, track circuit technology and use. Combined with an assessment of potential consequences of failure, this model supports managersê strategies to reduce the risks and optimize resources allocation.
