Three more segments to be converted to 562

562 has better capacity than wayside signaling alone, and equivalent to wayside plus cab with less infrastucture to build and maintain. Wayside signals with cab give you some redundancy in the case of cab signal failure and maintain better capacity than cab signal failure without wayside.

The most common cab signal failure is with and individual engine though. Very rare to have the field cab signal system down independently, its usually accompanied by another signal failure.

Again, in all cases interlockings will still have wayside signals. It's just the intermediate signals that are removed.

FYI I've been through the extreme case, where the entire signal system died from GROVE to Baltimore Penn Station (at least). Dispatch only authorized trains for 15 MPH service through the various blocks until it hit GROVE and the signals were up.

It... was not fun.

MikeBPRR wrote:As was mentioned upthread, the someone mentioned that a benefit of wayside signaling is for capacity. Weren't Amtrak and MARC planning on increasing capacity and eventually rebuilding the third track in stretches of the NEC in Maryland?

There were plans as of 2007 for 3-tracking New Carrolton proper with a second platform, with eventual 3-tracking WAS to NCR and 4-tracking up to PERRY. Right now they're getting New Carrolton proper 3-tracked.

MikeBPRR wrote: ↑Thu May 20, 2021 9:14 am I apologize for the newbie question, but am I correct in inferring that Amtrak will be dismantling any signal bridges wherever there is Rule 562 in place?

As was mentioned upthread, the someone mentioned that a benefit of wayside signaling is for capacity. Weren't Amtrak and MARC planning on increasing capacity and eventually rebuilding the third track in stretches of the NEC in Maryland?
EDIT: Hit enter too soon.

The signal bridge itself? Doubful. The automatic signals mounted on said signal bridge? Yes, they'll get removed.

Yes there will be additional capacity, as the block size, cab signals, braking distances, etc. will all be reconfigured for higher density train movements - same thing they did when they 562'ed County - Ham.

Are there any automatic block signals remaining between New Carrollton and Odenton? If there are any, will they be removed next?