>>>are they those smart readers then ?
Probably but, since I've not seem them, I can't be sure.
It occurs to me that they could be CD/RA indicator controls for staff use. When dispatching driver-only trains, platform staff normally insert and turn a key to bring up lights showing 'CD' (= 'close doors') to the driver and then insert and turn the same key (in a different lock) to bring up 'RA' (= 'right away'. It's possible that key-operated controls are being replaced by ones with touchcard authentication. So a member of the dispatch team could simply touch his card onto the pad and then press the yellow button for 'CD', followed by the green one for 'RA', with the red button there to set the signal back to 'Danger' in an emergency. However that's just a stab in the dark; I've seen quite a few variations on the key-operated system but I've not yet come across one that uses a touchcard.