In railway signaling, what does a red light typically indicate?

In railway signaling, a red light commonly indicates that the train must stop and is not allowed to proceed any further. This is a critical safety measure designed to prevent collisions and ensure that trains only enter sections of track that are clear and safe. When a train encounters a red light, the engineer must bring the train to a complete stop and await further instructions, which may come from subsequent signals or dispatchers.

Understanding this is essential for locomotive engineers, as adherence to signal indications is crucial for maintaining safety and order on the railway network. The other choices do not accurately reflect the meaning of a red light in this context. Proceeding with caution or preparing to slow down would generally be indicated by other light signals, while indicating a train's schedule status is not relevant to the signaling system used for track safety.