New Zealand/Railways

Signalling Systems

There are several signalling and protection systems in use:

Automatic block signaling:
- Centralized traffic control: railway:ctc=yes
- European Train Control System: railway:etcs=1
Dark territory:
- Track Warrant Control: railway:twc=yes

The boards in the next section indicate the start/end of each system.

Signals and Boards

All signals should have some standard tags which are not included in the tables below:

Category	Diagram	Photo	Name	Tags
`speed_limit`			Dynamic Speed Indicator^[1]^: 45	`railway:signal:speed_limit=NZ:speed_indicator` `railway:signal:speed_limit:form=light` + `railway:signal:speed_limit:states=80;90;?`
`main`	or		Double (Multi-unit top, Multi-unit bottom)^[1]^: 11–13	`railway:signal:main=NZ:main_MM` `railway:signal:main:form=light` `railway:signal:main:shape=*` - describe the shape: `aligned` (default) `staggered`
	or		Double (Multi-unit top, Searchlight^{[note 1]} bottom)^[1]^: 16–18	`railway:signal:main=NZ:main_MS` `railway:signal:main:form=light` `railway:signal:main:shape=*` - describe the shape: `aligned` (default) `staggered`
	or		Double (Multi-unit top, Disk bottom)^[1]^: 16–18	`railway:signal:main=NZ:main_MD` `railway:signal:main:form=light` `railway:signal:main:shape=*` - describe the shape: `aligned` (default) `staggered`
	or		Double (Searchlight top, Multi-unit bottom)^[1]^: 16–18	`railway:signal:main=NZ:main_SM` `railway:signal:main:form=light` `railway:signal:main:shape=*` - describe the shape: `aligned` (default) `staggered`
	or		Double (Searchlight top, Searchlight bottom)^[1]^: 16–18^{[note 2]}	`railway:signal:main=NZ:main_SS` `railway:signal:main:form=light` `railway:signal:main:shape=*` - describe the shape: `aligned` (default) `staggered`
	or		Double (Searchlight top, Disk bottom)^[1]^: 16–18	`railway:signal:main=NZ:main_SD` `railway:signal:main:form=light` `railway:signal:main:shape=*` - describe the shape: `aligned` (default) `staggered`
	or		2-position main signal (rare)^[1]^: 19^[2]	`railway:signal:main=NZ:M` `railway:signal:main:form=*` - describe the form: `light` `semaphore`
`distant`	or		2-position distant signal (rare)^[1]^: 19^[2]	`railway:signal:distant=NZ:M` `railway:signal:distant:form=*` - describe the form: `light` `semaphore`
`shunting`		^{[note 3]}	Single (3-aspect)^[1]^: 36^[3]	`railway:signal:shunting=NZ:shunt` `railway:signal:shunting:form=light` + `railway:signal:shunting:states=RYG`
`shunting`			Single (2-aspect)^[1]^: 36^[3]	`railway:signal:shunting=NZ:shunt` `railway:signal:shunting:form=light` + `railway:signal:shunting:states=RY`
`crossing`			Level Crossing Indicator^[1]^: 55	`railway:signal:crossing=NZ:XI` `railway:signal:crossing:form=light`
`switch`			Arrow Indicator^[1]^{: 47–48, 50–51}	`railway:signal:switch=NZ:AI` `railway:signal:switch:form=light` + `railway:signal:switch:states=*` - list the possible aspects: `right` `left` `left;right`
`minor`			Low Speed^[1]^: 13	`railway:signal:minor=NZ:low_speed` `railway:signal:minor:form=light`
`minor`			Restricted Speed^[1]^: 14	`railway:signal:minor=NZ:R` `railway:signal:minor:form=light`
`train_protection`			Automatic Signalling^[1]^: 14	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:A` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=light`
`route`			Loop^[1]^: 15	`railway:signal:route=NZ:L` `railway:signal:route:form=light`
			Electrified Route^[1]^: 16	`railway:signal:route=NZ:E` `railway:signal:route:form=light`
			Route Indicator^[1]^: 48–49	`railway:signal:route=NZ:route_indicator` `railway:signal:route:form=light` + `railway:signal:route:states=U;S` `railway:signal:route:states_long=Up Main;Siding`
Other signals:
`main_repeated`			Double Banner Indicator^[1]^: 56–57 (3-aspect top, 3-aspect bottom)	`railway:signal:main_repeated=NZ:banner_indicator33` `railway:signal:main_repeated:form=light`
`main_repeated`			Single Banner Indicator^[1]^: 56–57 (3-aspect top, Disk bottom)	`railway:signal:main_repeated=NZ:banner_indicator3D` `railway:signal:main_repeated:form=light`
Boards (signs):
`stop`		^{[note 4]}	EMU Stop	`railway:signal:stop=NZ:emu_stop` `railway:signal:stop:form=sign` + `railway:signal:stop:states=6`
			Stop Disk^[1]^: 66	`railway:signal:stop=NZ:stop_disk` `railway:signal:stop:form=sign`
			Stop Plate^[1]^: 66^[4]	`railway:signal:stop=NZ:stop_plate` `railway:signal:stop:form=sign`
			Stop Block Entry^[1]^: 59	`railway:signal:stop=NZ:stop_block` `railway:signal:stop:form=sign`
			Stop Station Entry^[1]^: 62	`railway:signal:stop=NZ:stop_station` `railway:signal:stop:form=sign`
			All Trains Stop^[1]^: 62^[4]	`railway:signal:stop=NZ:all_trains_stop` `railway:signal:stop:form=sign`
`electricity`			Electric Services Limit^[1]^: 73	`railway:signal:electricity=NZ:electric_limit` `railway:signal:electricity:form=sign`
`shunting`			Shunting Limit^[1]^: 63^[4]	`railway:signal:shunting=NZ:shunting_limit` `railway:signal:shunting:form=sign`
`whistle`			Whistle^[1]^: 64	`railway:signal:whistle=NZ:whistle` `railway:signal:whistle:form=sign`
`crossing_hint`			Level Crossing Ahead^[1]^: 76	`railway:signal:crossing_hint=NZ:saltire` `railway:signal:crossing_hint:form=sign`
`crossing_info`			Alarms Start Here^[1]^: 98	`railway:signal:crossing_info=NZ:alarms_start_here` `railway:signal:crossing_info:form=sign`
`radio`			Radio Channel Area^[1]^: 76	`railway:signal:radio=NZ:channel_area` `railway:signal:radio:form=sign` + `railway:signal:radio:frequency=6`
`speed_limit`			Permanent Speed (Slow)^[1]^: 67–68^[4]	`railway:signal:speed_limit=NZ:permanent` `railway:signal:speed_limit:form=sign` + `railway:signal:speed_limit:states=SLOW` `railway:signal:speed_limit:speed=25`
			Permanent Speed (Medium)^[1]^: 67–68^[4]	`railway:signal:speed_limit=NZ:permanent` `railway:signal:speed_limit:form=sign` + `railway:signal:speed_limit:states=MEDIUM` `railway:signal:speed_limit:speed=40`
			Turnout Speed^[1]^: 67–68^[4]	`railway:signal:speed_limit=NZ:permanent_turnout` `railway:signal:speed_limit:form=sign` + `railway:signal:speed_limit:states=THROUGH TURNOUT SLOW` `railway:signal:speed_limit:speed=25`
			Curve Speed^[1]^: 68–69^[4]	`railway:signal:speed_limit=NZ:curve` `railway:signal:speed_limit:form=sign` + `railway:signal:speed_limit:speed=60`
`speed_limit_distant`			Curve Speed - Advance Warning^[1]^: 68–69^[4]	`railway:signal:speed_limit_distant=NZ:curve_warning` `railway:signal:speed_limit_distant:form=sign` + `railway:signal:speed_limit_distant:speed=90`
`train_protection`			Automatic block signaling Begins	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:AS_begins` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			Automatic block signaling Ends	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:AS_ends` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			Centralized traffic control Begins	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:CTC_begins` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			Centralized traffic control Ends	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:CTC_ends` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			European Train Control System Begins	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:ETCS_begins` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			European Train Control System Ends	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:ETCS_ends` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			Track Warrant Control Begins^[1]^: 105	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:TWC_begins` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
			Track Warrant Control Ends^[1]^: 105	`railway:signal:train_protection=NZ:TWC_ends` `railway:signal:train_protection:form=sign`
Only used with Track Warrant Control:
`minor`			TWC Siding^[1]^: 74	`railway:signal:minor=NZ:TWC_siding` `railway:signal:minor:form=sign` + `railway:signal:minor:caption=Caterton Siding`
`minor`			TWC Intermediate Board^[1]^: 74^[4]	`railway:signal:minor=NZ:TWC_intermediate` `railway:signal:minor:form=sign` + `railway:signal:minor:caption=Belverdere Rd` `railway:position:exact=76.75`
`station_distant`			TWC (signalled) Station Warning^[1]^: 75^[4]	`railway:signal:station_distant=NZ:TWC_signalled` `railway:signal:station_distant:form=sign` + `railway:signal:station_distant:caption=Omoto`
`station_distant`			TWC (unsignalled) Station Warning^[1]^: 75	`railway:signal:station_distant=NZ:TWC_unsignalled` `railway:signal:station_distant:form=sign` + `railway:signal:station_distant:caption=Omoto`

Temporary Boards

There are also temporary signs that should not be mapped:

Caution^[1]^: 70^[4]
Caution Heat^[4]
Commencement of temporary speed restriction^[1]^: 71–72^[4]
Commencement of temporary Heat speed restriction^[4]

Ref Plates

	`ref=ISN 4R`
	`ref=ISN 4R` `railway:signal:main:function=entry`^[1]^: 20^{[note 5]}
	`ref=ISN 4R` `railway:signal:main:function=exit`^[1]^: 20^{[note 6]}

Vertical Alignment

For double signals, the vertical alignment of the two signals indicates whether it's an absolute or permissive signal.^[1]^: 32–33

		Vertically aligned (absolute)	`railway:signal:main:shape=aligned`
		Vertically offset (permissive)	`railway:signal:main:shape=staggered`

Miscellaneous

	Train Ready to Start (TRTS) panel.^[1]^: 103 Typically located on the platform at terminus stations.	`railway=key_switch` `railway:key_switch:departure=NZ:TRTS`
	Not related to signalling. Just a cabinet with a coupling adapter for Matangi EMUs.^[5]	`man_made=street_cabinet` `ref=SD10`
	Milestone marker	`railway=milestone` `railway:position=116`
	Half-milestone marker	`railway=milestone` `railway:position=½`

Complete example

This signal (10303798366 10303798366) has 6 components, from top to bottom:
railway=signal
railway:signal:direction=forward
railway:signal:position=left
+
railway:signal:speed_limit=NZ:speed_indicator
railway:signal:speed_limit:form=light
railway:signal:speed_limit:states=60;70;80;90;?
+
railway:signal:main=NZ:main_MM
railway:signal:main:form=light
+
ref=WSF 1623
+
railway:signal:minor=NZ:low_speed
railway:signal:minor:form=light
+
railway:signal:route=NZ:route_indicator
railway:signal:route:form=light
railway:signal:route:states=U;D;W;S
railway:signal:route:states_long=Up Main;Down Main;West Main;Siding

Notes

↑ The bottom unit might be a multi-aspect searchlight unit, or a single-aspect Marker Light
↑ tunnel signals also fall under this category
↑ could also be a ground signal
↑ Wellington uses a different design
↑ is this correct?
↑ is this correct?

References

[2] The bottom unit might be a multi-aspect searchlight unit, or a single-aspect Marker Light

[3] tunnel signals also fall under this category

[5] uld also be a ground signal

[7] Wellington uses a different design

[9] s this correct?

[10] s this correct?

[sig-board-manual-1] 1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 ^1.10 ^1.11 ^1.12 ^1.13 ^1.14 ^1.15 ^1.16 ^1.17 ^1.18 ^1.19 ^1.20 ^1.21 ^1.22 ^1.23 ^1.24 ^1.25 ^1.26 ^1.27 ^1.28 ^1.29 ^1.30 ^1.31 ^1.32 ^1.33 ^1.34 ^1.35 ^1.36 ^1.37 ^1.38 ^1.39 ^1.40 ^1.41 ^1.42 ^1.43 ^1.44 ^1.45 ^1.46 ^1.47 ^1.48 “Network Signals, Indicators and Boards Manual”. KiwiRail. 18 August 2025.

[valleysignals2pos-4] 2.0 ^2.1 C, David (31 December 2005). “Two Position & Three Position Signalling”. Retrieved 19 November 2025.

[valleysignalsShunt-6] 3.0 ^3.1 C, David (15 August 2009). “Colour Light Shunt Signals”. Retrieved 19 November 2025.

[valleysignalsBoards-8] 4.00 ^4.01 ^4.02 ^4.03 ^4.04 ^4.05 ^4.06 ^4.07 ^4.08 ^4.09 ^4.10 ^4.11 ^4.12 ^4.13 C, David (14 June 2009). “Boards”. Retrieved 19 November 2025.

[kiwirail-local-4-11] “Local Network Instructions: L4 All Lines South of Waikanae and Masterton inclusive”. KiwiRail. 21 February 2025.

[1]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[2]

[note 3]

[3]

[note 4]

[4]

[note 5]

[note 6]

[5]

New Zealand/Railways

Contents

Signalling Systems