In the year 1994 a new laboratory was opened. It is well equiped for practical exercises of university students, mainly for those who study Operation and economics of railway tranport study field. Equipment of laboratory ideally allows simulate railway traffic and it teachs students methods of opearation of constituent types of station and track safety systems which are used on Slovak raiways. Real model trackage, in which are situated consistuent railway stations and all necessary components, is constructed in shape of simple oval of size 50 x 2,5 m. Model railway size (format) is H0.

Technical laboratory solution

The Laboratory equipment models thank to the using IT the activity of following types of Station interlocking systems:

• Electro mechanics signal box with mechanistic operated a point machines
• Shifting levers and light signals (Vrutky station);
• A all relay interlocking box type TEST (Type a electrical signal box Bytča station);
• A all relay interlocking box with route way of route reserving type AŽD 71(Hričov station);
• A all relay interlocking box with route way of route reserving type AŽD 71with numeric dial (Púchov station);
• Electronic a all relay interlocking box with route way of route reserving by the computer and displaying the state of operated process on the colour display (station Žilina).

The stations are equipped by upper mentioned a interlocking boxes. The stations are joined by the several single and double tracks, which are secured by the following types of a block systems:

 Activity of relay logics of a interlocking and a block systems is modelled by the personal computers compatible with IBM PC AT standards. This technology allows to simulate not only most of operating states of the devices but also a lot  of failure states. The activity of relay logic of the suit type of a interlocking          or a block system is modelled by the computer. This modelling is based on the computer operating the control tables (panels). The modelled turnout points, semaphores and the running of a train are operated by the computer according  to assigned commands by the connecting and disconnecting of a into the separated drive sections.

 The laboratory allows to:

• Master the operating selected types of a safety installations;
• To control the train drive in full range in accordance with valid regulations;
• Use the model of the train transport organization ( GVD ) with the option of its various applications;
• operative control of train transport by the dispatcher;
• to get the important practical habitudes of deciding in various operating situations.

The laboratory offers:

• practical training for students of vocational secondary schools aimed to railway transport;
• trainings and improving courses for new matriculated and pre-trained employees of ŽSR;
• excursions for public and for the experts too;
• opportunity for products and services presentations of the various home and foreign organizations.