A balise is an electronic beacon or transponder placed between the rails of a railway as part of an automatic train protection (ATP) system. The French word balise is used to distinguish these beacons from other kinds of beacons.
A Eurobalise pair for ETCS/TBL+ along with a conventional TBL balise and the original Croco train stop at a signal in Belgium
Balise EBICAB in the Mediterranean Corridor
Eurobalises on Orivesi-Jyväskylä railway in Muurame, Finland
European Train Control System
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a train protection system designed to replace the many incompatible systems used by European railways, and railways outside of Europe. ETCS is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
ETCS—"Eurobalise" transceiver, installed between rails, provides information to ETCS trains.
Croco + TBL + ETCS balises at the same signal in Belgium
Radio Block Centre (RBC)
A driver's cab with an ETCS Driver-Machine Interface amongst other instruments and displays