The semaphore signals U (right) and V (left) at the station Rothe Erde in Aachen seen from the platform on 1 May 2007. They are intermediate signals, placed between the entrance signals (which also server as exit signals of Aachen Hbf in this case) and the exit signals in the direction towards Cologne. Track 2 on the left is the through track for trains towards Cologne. The right track (probably known as track 3) is rarely used by train movements normally, it is predominantly used by shunting movements running between Rothe Erde and Hbf. During the next months this track should gain a lot of passenger train movements, as the refurbishment of the island platform will force trains towards Cologne to use a temporary platform at this track. Unlike V, the signal U has no distant signal next to it to announce the exit signal. Also I think that it can just show Hp2 (proceed with restriction to 40 km/h), but not Hp1 (proceed without speed restriction). Thus using this track ought slow down operations. Note that the shunting signal next to the signal U is set to Sh1 (clear), although no shunting movement was about to pass by. This is sometimes to be observed at mechanical signalboxes, where the shunting signals do not change back to Sh0 (stop) automatically when the shunting movement has passed. These semaphores will disappear in some months, the new cable channels already announce the construction of a new electronic signalbox.

Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)