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{{Short description|Sounds used on passenger trains for communication between the driver and guard}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{about|the guard-driver communication codes|bell codes used between signal boxes|Railway block code|the electronic codes used by teletype machines, computer terminals and terminal emulators|Bell character}}

'''Bell codes''', '''buzzer codes''' or '''Communication Signal Appliance codes''' entail a series of bells or buzzers used on [[passenger trains]] for communication between the [[Railroad engineer|driver]] and [[Conductor (transportation)|guard]].

==Great Britain and India==
{|class=wikitable
!Signal
!Meaning in Great Britain<ref name="RSSB">{{cite web |url=http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Rule_Book/Rule%20Book%20Modules/TW%20-%20Train%20Working/GERT8000-TW1%20ERTMS%20Iss%201.pdf |format=PDF |title=Preparation and movement of trains on ERTMS lines |publisher=Rail Safety and Standards Board |page=24 |accessdate=28 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001445/http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Rule_Book/Rule%20Book%20Modules/TW%20-%20Train%20Working/GERT8000-TW1%20ERTMS%20Iss%201.pdf |archivedate=31 December 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
!Meaning in India<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ser.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1625039935644-G&SR.pdf|title=Chapter IV F. Duties of Staff Working Trains during Journey|at=4.51. Bell signals between Driver and Guard|work=Indian Railways General Rules|year=2011|publisher=South Eastern Railway|accessdate=7 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
|1||Stop||Stop train
|-
|1—1|| ||Zone of speed restriction over, resume prescribed speed
|-
|1—2||Close doors||
|-
|2||Ready to start||Start train
|-
|2—2||Do not open doors||Passing automatic signal at 'on'
|-
|3||Set Back||Guard required by driver
|-
|3—1||Lock central door locking||
|-
|3—2—1||Testing doors||
|-
|3—3||Guard required by driver, or guard or driver to speak on the telephone||Guard's warning when the motorman exceeds the speed prescribed
|-
|3—3—1||Release central door locking||
|-
|4||Slow down||Protect train in rear
|-
|5||Driver/Guard leaving the train||
|-
|6||Draw forward||
|-
|9||Police assistance required||
|}

All codes, except 3—2—1, must be acknowledged by repeating the code received.

==Japan==
In Japan, these are known as '''In-Car Communication Signals''' ({{langx|ja|車内連絡合図|Shanai renraku aizu}}). Each code must be acknowledged by the receiver. Examples of common railway bell codes are:

{|class=wikitable
!Signal
!Meaning
|-
|• • — • • ||Buzzer Test
|-
|•||Buzzer is OK
|-
|—||Am I clear to proceed?
|-
|• • •||The indicator light does not illuminate
|-
|• •||Prepare to stop at the next station
|-
|•||Acknowledgement for • •
|-
|• • —||Please correct your stopping position
|-
|• —||There is a problem
|-
|• — •||Secure the train and track
|-
|— • • —||Driver and conductor to confer
|-
|— • —||Power outage
|-
|Fast Tapping||Cancel the last message sent
|}

==United States==
In the United States, these are known as '''Communication Signal Appliance''' codes.

{|class=wikitable
!Signal
!Meaning<ref name="NORAC">{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrakengineer.net/NORAC90408.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723013320/http://www.amtrakengineer.net/NORAC90408.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2011 |format=PDF |title=Communicating Signal Appliance |year=2008 |publisher=Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee |page=29 |accessdate=9 April 2011 }}</ref>
|-
|_||When running, stop at once.
|-
|_||When standing, apply or release brakes.
|-
|o o||When standing, start.
|-
|o o o||When standing or running backward, back up two car lengths.
|-
|o o o||When running forward, stop at next passenger station.
|-
|o o o o||When standing, brakes have applied and released on rear car.  Brake test completed.
|-
|o||When spotting, switching, or making up trains, prepare to stop.
|}

==See also==
* [[Whistle code]]s - used by locomotives to communicate with signal boxes

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in the United States]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport operations]]