Researchers at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BRCCE) at the University of Birmingham have developed a fault-tolerant turnout switching technology inspired by aircraft control systems to improve traditional turnout design. The research paper describes the development of a digital twin that demonstrates the performance of the new technology. The switch, called Repoint, has successfully completed tests on a test track. Repoint utilises a lift and shift mechanism that includes a passive locking mechanism when the switch is in position. This design has advantages in many situations and is fault tolerant, meaning it will still work if two of the three actuators that control the movement of the points fail.
