Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a track circuit for detecting the presence of a train on a long section of a railway track equipped with an AC traction power line, wherein the two rails of the section are insulated from the adjoining sections at each end thereof, comprising a generator connected to one end of the railway section for generating a voltage at a frequency which is approximately equidistant from the fundamental frequency of the power line and from the second harmonic thereof, the generated voltage comprising a series of pulse trains having a very low repetition rate. The track circuit also comprises a receiver for detecting the generated voltage at the opposite end of the railway section. The receiver includes an amplitude discriminator for eliminating the signals the amplitude of which is lower than a predetermined level and a selective demodulator which provides an output only when its input is energized by a signal at the above-mentioned repetition rate.