Train detection system for a railway track, a method for detecting a train on a railway track, and a controller for a train detection system for detecting a train on a railway track

A method for detecting a train on a railway track, the railway track defining a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, said method comprising:

• receiving image data from at least two cameras, said cameras being arranged along the railway track spaced apart from each other, each camera being placed on either the first lateral side or the second lateral side, said cameras being arranged such that at least one passive target, placed respectively on the opposite lateral side of the railway track with respect to at least one of the cameras, is within the field of view of the at least one of the cameras;
• emitting a first light directed towards the at least one of the cameras and/or the at least one passive target with varying intensity over time;
• detecting by the at least one of the cameras the light intensity variations over the time in order to determine that the at least one of the cameras captures live images, and
• determining whether the received image data include image information about the at least one passive target, and, in case the image does not contain image data of the at least one passive target, determining that a train is located on the railway track.

A controller for a train detection system for detecting a train on a railway track, the railway track defining a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, the controller being adapted:

• to receive image data from at least two cameras, said cameras being arranged along the railway track spaced apart from each other, each camera being placed on either the first lateral side or the second lateral side, said cameras being arranged such that at least one passive target, placed respectively on the opposite lateral side of the railway track with respect to at least one of the cameras, is within the field of view of the at least one of the cameras, at least one light emitting a first light directed towards at least one of the cameras and/or the at least one passive target with varying intensity over time;
• to detect light intensity variations over the time from the at least one light in order to determine that one of the cameras captures live images;
• and
• to determine whether the received image data include image information about the at least one passive target, and, in case the image does not contain image data of the at least one passive target, to determine that a train is located on the railway track.