METHOD FOR OPERATING A TRACK SYSTEM AND SIGNAL BOX FOR A TRACK SYSTEM

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for operating a track system (10), wherein in the method, real travel routes (RFS1, RFS2, RFS3, RFS4, RFS5, RFS6, RFS7) of the track system (10) are each individually cleared for travel, or are blocked, depending on status messages that are transmitted from route-side devices to a signal box (20). According to the invention, at least one fictitious equivalent travel route (FEFS) is defined, which is a combination of two or more real travel routes (RFS1, RFS2, RFS4, RFS6), and, if an actuating command (ST) for activating the equivalent travel route (FEFS) is on hand, the fictitious equivalent travel route (FEFS) is cleared for travel, even if one or more of the real travel routes (RFS1, RFS2, RFS4, RFS6) forming the fictitious equivalent travel route (FEFS) are blocked due to a failure of one or more of the route-side devices and/or the absence of status messages that would give clearance for travel.