In order to save energy, it is proposed that parts of a signaling system be switched off, for example, by an operating system. The computers to be switched off store data which are relevant to railway safety, preferably on a central storage medium, for example, an NAS hard drive. When they have been reactivated, the computers read the safety-relevant data and operation can continue. This solution also enables computers which work with data relevant to railway safety to be switched to an energy-saving mode without endangering the safety of the railway.