PCT No. PCT / AT97 / 00051 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 14, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 14, 1998 PCT Filed Mar. 11, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 33784 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 18, 1997Device for detecting the positions of pivotable parts of a rail switch, such as, e.g., tongue rails (1, 2) by at least one sensor designed as a continuous distance sensor (4,5,6,7), wherein the sensor output is connected to a circuit arrangement (10) for two separate evaluations, the first evaluation being configured as a distance evaluation and the second evaluation being configured as a function control of the sensor, as well as a method for evaluating signals.