Simsig

About

SimSig offers the highest quality of simulations on the market today. Since 1999, we have produced nine simulations of varied operations. Our years of experience in the railway signalling industry have allowed us to create the highest quality of simulation possible.


Origins
SimSig was born out of a desire for a quality signalling simulation which used real signalling principles - something which still hasn’t quite been achieved in other simulations! The project was started “properly” in around 1997 and, through our signalling careers, has evolved to become the product it is today. SimSig screens are reproductions of the real screens used in Network Rail IECCs.

Features
Graphics replicate real-life graphics. No gimmicks, just pure graphics.
Train movement based on acceleration and braking profiles of real trains
Defensive driving
Signal approach control, approach locking, flashing yellows, preset shunts, time-of-operation locking, swinging overlaps, SPAD mitigation techniques like double-blocking... all real-life signalling controls
Used by real-life signallers and other rail staff in the UK and around the world
The full area is usually simulated, not just a section of a panel, or with reduced numbers of signals
Network playable - play with your friends over a local network or even over the Internet! Either play the same simulation (taking control of different areas) or link two compatible simulations together for a much bigger simulation!
Some simulations feature automatic routesetting (ARS). This is not some first-come-first-served kind of operation, nor where trains are constantly running on double yellows, but the industry standard “two greens” rule with regulation.
A brief description
SimSig is a signalling simulation of Railtrack's Integrated Electronic Control Centres (IECCs). It puts you in the signaller's chair and lets you set the routes, deal with problems, etc.

It accurately simulates interlockings, specifically Solid State Interlockings (SSIs), which is the main new interlocking technology in Britain today. Even overlaps (never before seen on products already on the market), swinging overlaps, approach locking, approach control, time-of-operation point locking, shunt routes, warner routes, call-on routes, they are all in SimSig!

The Train Describer (TD) is the only real way signalmen identify trains on the screen (rather like flight numbers). So interposes, cancels, normal steps, ripple steps, shuttle steps, are all in SimSig!

Of course, one of the real benefits of IECCs (and some NX panels too) is the Automatic Routesetting System (ARS). This relieves the signaller of a lot of his work. In SimSig a simple version of ARS is provided because YOU are the one meant to be setting routes! The idea of ARS in SimSig is to let ARS do the areas you are not interested in, leaving the interesting parts to yourself. As a signalman at Ashford IECC once told me, 'we like to control the major station areas but let ARS do the simple junctions'.

Between the ARS and the TD, they perform Automatic Code Insertion (ACI) when a train reaches its destination. This is based on timetable information (transmitted from the TimeTable Processor (TTP) in a real IECC). And, of course, you can edit your own timetables right from within SimSig! The timetable editor is built in and does not cost any extra.

Train motion is accurately simulated, using braking and acceleration profiles, maximum speeds, differential line speeds, station stops, etc. Trains can also be timetabled to join or divide, run-round, etc.