Method for determining a length of a rail-bound vehicle, - wherein a track-side reference point is detected by means of a first, front detection device of the rail-bound vehicle, viewed in the direction of travel, - wherein the track-side reference point is detected by means of a second, rear detection device of the rail-bound vehicle, viewed in the direction of travel, - wherein a distance covered by the rail-bound vehicle between the detection of the track-side reference point by means of the first detection device and the detection of the track-side reference point by means of the second detection device is determined, - wherein the length of the rail-bound vehicle is determined from the determined distance and a first distance between the first detection device and a first, front vehicle end, viewed in the direction of travel, and a second distance between the second detection device and a second, rear vehicle end, viewed in the direction of travel, - wherein with a first control device assigned to the first detection device and a second control device assigned to the second detection device a first detection signal is transmitted to the second control device by the first control device upon detection of the track-side reference point by the first detection device, - wherein a second detection signal is transmitted to the first control device upon detection of the track-side reference point by the second detection device, - wherein the first detection signal contains an indication of the first distance and wherein the second detection signal contains an indication of the second distance, - wherein the first control device and the second control device are synchronized in terms of time and wherein the first detection signal contains the time of detection of the track-side reference point by the first detection device, - wherein the length of the rail-bound vehicle is determined by the first and the second control device (31, 32) independently of one another. - wherein a track-side reference point is detected by means of a first, front detection device of the rail-bound vehicle, viewed in the direction of travel, - wherein the track-side reference point is detected by means of a second, rear detection device of the rail-bound vehicle, viewed in the direction of travel, - wherein a distance covered by the rail-bound vehicle between the detection of the track-side reference point by means of the first detection device and the detection of the track-side reference point by means of the second detection device is determined, - wherein the length of the rail-bound vehicle is determined from the determined distance and a first distance between the first detection device and a first, front vehicle end, viewed in the direction of travel, and a second distance between the second detection device and a second, rear vehicle end, viewed in the direction of travel, - wherein with a first control device assigned to the first detection device and a second control device assigned to the second detection device a first detection signal is transmitted to the second control device by the first control device upon detection of the track-side reference point by the first detection device, - wherein a second detection signal is transmitted to the first control device upon detection of the track-side reference point by the second detection device, - wherein the first detection signal contains an indication of the first distance and wherein the second detection signal contains an indication of the second distance, - wherein the first control device and the second control device are synchronized in terms of time and wherein the first detection signal contains the time of detection of the track-side reference point by the first detection device, - wherein the length of the rail-bound vehicle is determined by the first and the second control device (31, 32) independently of one another.