Method and apparatus for an interlocking control device

A signal installation comprising:

• a plurality of electronic signal devices, each of which interfaces with signal equipment at a signal location,
• wherein each signal equipment includes at least one of a plurality of signal aspects, an automatic train stop, a train detection block apparatus, a track switch machine and a traffic controller,
• wherein an electronic signal device includes a communication module, a vital processor module with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program that controls the operation of the device, an interface module to interface the device with said signal equipment, the interface module comprising a plurality of vital I/O boards, each vital I/O board configured to interface with associated signal equipment, the plurality of vital I/O boards including a signal lighting board configured to interface with a signal aspect, the signal lighting board comprising light-out detection function for detection of a light out condition in the signal aspect,
• wherein the electronic signal device receives data via the communication module from an approaching train, and
• wherein the electronic signal device transmits a status of the signal equipment at the signal location to said approaching train.