Method for operating a stretch of track, which is divided into track sections (SA1, SA2, SA3) and the track sections (SA1, SA2, SA3) of which are monitored by means of technical devices as to whether they are occupied or clear, with the formation of an occupied indication message (B, B, B), - wherein each of the track sections (SA1, SA2, SA3) is divided into one or more virtual subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33), which in each case is assigned a status message that describes the occupancy state of the respective subsection, wherein at least one status message is available which designates a free, traversable subsection and is subsequently referred to as "clear", and at least one status message is available which describes a subsection which cannot be traversed or can only be traversed to a limited extent, and - wherein the stretch of track is controlled at least also on the basis of the status messages of the subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33), wherein - in the event that a rail vehicle has been issued a permission to enter one of the track sections (SA1, SA2, SA3), subsequently referred to as destination track section, at a point in time at which the occupied indication message (B, B, B) of the destination track section has indicated that the destination track section is clear and the status messages of all subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33) of the destination track section have indicated "clear", and at a later point in time the occupied indication message (B, B, B) switches and indicates that the destination track section is occupied, a timer is started, characterised in that - it is monitored whether, within a predefined waiting time after the starting of the timer, the rail vehicle which has been granted the permission to enter, transmits a position report, which confirms the entry into the destination track section, to a track-side route control centre, and - in the event that such a position report is received by the route control centre within the waiting time, at least the subsection(s) (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33) of the track section that are referred to in the position report or can be identified as currently being traversed by the rail vehicle are assigned the or one of the status messages which describes a subsection which cannot be traversed or can only be traversed to a limited extent, and - in the event that such a position report is not received by the route control centre within the waiting time, all subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33) of the destination track section are assigned the or one of the status messages which describes a subsection which cannot be traversed or can only be traversed to a limited extent. - wherein each of the track sections (SA1, SA2, SA3) is divided into one or more virtual subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33), which in each case is assigned a status message that describes the occupancy state of the respective subsection, wherein at least one status message is available which designates a free, traversable subsection and is subsequently referred to as "clear", and at least one status message is available which describes a subsection which cannot be traversed or can only be traversed to a limited extent, and - wherein the stretch of track is controlled at least also on the basis of the status messages of the subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33), - in the event that a rail vehicle has been issued a permission to enter one of the track sections (SA1, SA2, SA3), subsequently referred to as destination track section, at a point in time at which the occupied indication message (B, B, B) of the destination track section has indicated that the destination track section is clear and the status messages of all subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33) of the destination track section have indicated "clear", and at a later point in time the occupied indication message (B, B, B) switches and indicates that the destination track section is occupied, a timer is started, - it is monitored whether, within a predefined waiting time after the starting of the timer, the rail vehicle which has been granted the permission to enter, transmits a position report, which confirms the entry into the destination track section, to a track-side route control centre, and - in the event that such a position report is received by the route control centre within the waiting time, at least the subsection(s) (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33) of the track section that are referred to in the position report or can be identified as currently being traversed by the rail vehicle are assigned the or one of the status messages which describes a subsection which cannot be traversed or can only be traversed to a limited extent, and - in the event that such a position report is not received by the route control centre within the waiting time, all subsections (UA11-UA15, UA21-UA24, UA31-UA33) of the destination track section are assigned the or one of the status messages which describes a subsection which cannot be traversed or can only be traversed to a limited extent.