Network Rail is introducing quantum navigation technologies that can measure the position of trains with extreme precision.
The location of trains on the network is typically determined using an electric track circuit that runs a current from one rail to the other through a relay. When a train runs on a section, it causes the current to bypass the relay, which is picked up by the signalling network. This is also supplemented by various technologies, including GPS and automatic warning systems that can monitor the exact position of carriages.
But these technologies are vulnerable to a number of faults that can cause major delays including broken rails, a blown fuse, faulty electrical parts, cable theft or loose connections, all of which form a break in the track circuit.
Network Rail is trialling quantum inertial navigation, which uses ultra-sensitive sensors capable of detecting minute changes in motion and rotation. This means that as long as the initial position of the sensor is tracked...