Method, controller and system for detecting a leakage of a track signal on at least one railway track

A controller for detecting a track signal leakage of a track signal on two railway tracks, the track signal being a signal transmitted via the rails of the railway tracks to detect the presence of a railway vehicle and/or to transmit information to a railway vehicle, each railway track comprising at least two adjacent track sections being electrically isolated against each other, wherein at least two adjacent track sections are on railway tracks which are located side by side with a length of a first track section extending alongside and adjacent of a length of a second track section, wherein at least one receiver is associated to each track section, wherein the controller is adapted to:

• transmit a test signal via the first track section, wherein a respective test signal is transmitted via each track section, wherein a time slot is associated to each track section, wherein the each test signal is transmitted via the respective track section at their respective time slot, wherein the test signal is transmitted and/or generated by the controller only when no railway vehicle is present on the respective track section, and wherein the same controller provides the signals for the track signal and the test signal, wherein the test signal includes a signature, wherein a respective test signal is transmitted via each track section, and wherein the test signals transmitted via different track sections each have a different signature;
• activate one or more receivers associated to the track sections, wherein the receivers are adapted to receive the test signal;
• receive the test signal via one or more track sections;
• determine the one or more sections, where the test signal has been received;
• and determine whether a leakage between the first track section and the second track section exists.

A system for detecting a track signal leakage of a track signal on two railway tracks, the track signal being a signal transmitted via the rails of the railway tracks to detect the presence of a railway vehicle and/or transmit a provide information to a railway vehicle, each railway track comprising at least two adjacent track sections being isolated against each other, the system comprising:

• a controller for detecting the track signal leakage of the track signal on the railway tracks, the track signal being a signal transmitted via the rails of the railway tracks to detect the presence of a railway vehicle and/or to transmit information to a railway vehicle, each railway track comprising at least two adjacent track sections being electrically isolated against each other, wherein at least two adjacent track sections are on railway tracks which are located side by side with a length of a first track section extending alongside and adjacent of a length of a second track section, wherein at least one receiver is associated to each track section, wherein the controller is adapted to:
• transmit a test signal via the first track section, wherein a respective test signal is transmitted via each track section, wherein a time slot is associated to each track section, wherein each test signal is transmitted via the respective track section at their respective time slot, wherein the test signal is transmitted and/or generated by the controller only when no railway vehicle is present on the respective track section, and wherein the same controller provides the signals for the track signal and the test signal, wherein the test signal includes a signature, wherein a respective test signal is transmitted via each track section, and wherein the test signals transmitted via different track sections each have a different signature;
• activate one or more receivers associated to the track sections, wherein the receivers are adapted to receive the test signal;
• receive the test signal via one or more track sections;
• determine the one or more sections, where the test signal has been received;
• and determine whether a leakage between the first track section and the second track section exists;
• at least one transmitter for emitting a test signal via the first track section, the at least one transmitter being connected to the controller;
• and a plurality of receivers for receiving the test signal via one or more track sections, wherein each receiver is associated to at least one track section.