Mr. Conductor, I think you are trying to differentiate between Contol Point (CP) signals and intermediate signals. For brevity I did not do so. The main point I was trying to make, whether or not a computer or a dispatcher is making routing decisiions, there is a need to assure that the proper color of a signal is being displayed. The more electronic, and less battery-relay intensive these systems become, the greater the need for such assurance. True, the dispatcher does not control the intermediates, but as far as I know, dispatcher CTC boards have always shown the display aspect of signals, or at least occupation status of the block. I seem to recall that, historically, some head-ons have occurred due to signal maintainers installing gravity sensitive relays upside down (accidentally of course). The signal will not display correctly even if it receives the proper command. Even if a signal is an intermediate (block) one, feedback on its actual optical output is safety enhancing even if it simply compares an occupation status against the actual output. Let me put it this way. If any given block is occupied, the next block should display a red for opposing traffic, and the previous block should also diplay a red for following traffic. It would not be technically complex to have either the dispatcher or the computer control system, or both generate an alarm if either of those two signals display anything but a red. When a dispatcher "sets up" a CP signal, it is also easy to compare the command against the actual display. Whether or not CTC systems display the color of a given signal, it seems to me that such feedback could only be interpreted as safety enhancement. Given the penetration of electronic systems into railroading, turning code lines into broadband repeaters could also give engineers a video view of the dispatchers console with signal-specific display info (indispensible for low visibilty situations). This could improve or enhance the nature of cab-coded signalling. That is really only the surface of what could be done with such a backbone. Voice communications and data could be easily implemented. Think about it. Track bulletins, slow orders, even manifest info. Instead of prohibiting cell phones, the RRs should give train crew cell phones that only connect with the RR system. This isn't futuristic. The technology is here now.