European Rail Traffic Management System

European Rail Traffic Management System

ERTMS logo
Formation 1998/1999
Website www.ertms.net

The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is an initiative backed by the European Union to greatly enhance safety, increase efficiency of trains and enhance cross-border interoperability of rail transport in Europe by replacing signalling equipment with digitized mostly wireless versions and by creating a single Europe-wide standard for train control and command systems.

The two main components of ERTMS are the European Train Control System (ETCS), a standard for in-cab train control, and GSM-R, the GSM mobile communications standard for railway operations.[1] The equipment can further be subdivided between on-board and infrastructure equipment.

Companies

Companies developing ERTMS systems include UNIFE/UNISIG members Alstom, Thales, AZD , Ansaldo STS, Siemens Mobility, Bombardier Transportation, CAF and MERMEC. Additionally, there is one emerging Japanese supplier.

Companies that provide testing solutions for ERTMS systems include: Comtest Wireless[2]

In October 2010 a logo was adopted for ERTMS, which oversees ETCS, an upright orange rectangle with rounded edges. The lower third shows "ertms" in lower-case sans-serif typeface, the upper two thirds 12 wide beams converging to a point on the right side, with two of the beams coming from the bottom, starting above the "e" and "s".[3]

Timeline

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2015

ERTMS implementation strategies

Various railway signalling roll out strategies can be used for deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System. With the introduction of ERTMS the infrastructure manager has to decide whether a line will be equipped only with ERTMS or whether a mixed signalling system is the better solution. Currently, both 'clean' and mixed systems are being deployed in Europe and around the world.[19]

'Clean' ERTMS operation

Many new ERTMS lines in Europe are being created and then it may often be preferred to implement ERTMS Level 1 or Level 2 only. With this implementation strategy the wayside signalling cost is kept to a minimum, but the vehicle fleet that operates on these lines will need to all be equipped with ERTMS on board to allow operation. This is more suitable for new high-speed passenger lines, where new vehicles will be bought, less suitable if long-distance freight trains shall use it. Examples of 'clean' ERTMS operation include HSL-Zuid in the Netherlands, TP Ferro international stretch (Sección Internacional / Section Internationale) Figueres [ES] – Perpignan [FR], among others. Also all ERTMS railways in Sweden since the ERTMS and ATC balise frequencies are too close so that older trains would get faults when passing Eurobalises.

Mixed operation

Mixed operation is a strategy where the wayside signalling is equipped with both ERTMS and a conventional system. Often the conventional system is the legacy system used during the signalling upgrade program. The main purpose of introducing a mixed operation (mixed signalling system) are:

With mixed operation it is possible to run a line with both conventional and ERTMS trains and to use the advantages of ERTMS technology for the trains so equipped (e.g. higher speed or more trains on the line) but with the benefit that it is not necessary to equip the whole train fleet with ERTMS simultaneously. Examples of ERTMS in mixed operation include HSL 3 in Belgium where ERTMS is mixed with national ATP system or High-Speed Line Cordoba-Malaga in Spain[20] where ERTMS is mixed with STM.

Operational principle of ERTMS in mixed operation: STM and ERTMS Level 2

The principle of mixed level signalling is based on simple principles using bi-directional data exchange between the radio block centre and the interlocking systems. The operator sets a route and does not need to know if the route will be used for a Level STM (LSTM) only or a Level 2-equipped train. A route is locked based on the national principles by the interlocking system and the RBC is informed about the routes set. The RBC checks whether it is possible to allocate a train to the route and then informs the interlocking system that a train is allocated to the route. The interlocking system shows the ERTMS white bar aspect to all signals along the route including the signal at the end of the route and sends no ATB-EG code to the track. The RBC sends a movement authority to the train if a Level 2 train is allocated to the route. Otherwise the signal shows the optical proceed aspect and the related ATB-EG code is sent to the track. As soon as a Level 2 train reports itself in rear of a route currently assigned for optical authorisation (e.g. after start of mission procedure or when the driver changes level from LSTM to Level 2), the optical authorisation is automatically upgraded to a Level 2 movement authority. Consequently, a Level 2 movement authority is downgraded to an optical authorisation after a predefined time-out if the driver closes the cab or a fault is detected that restricts the movement authority (e.g. if the GSM-R radio coverage is unavailable.)

See also

References

  1. ERTMS in 10 questions
  2. "Comtest Wireless". Comtest Wireless.
  3. "ERTMS - The European Railway Traffic Management System".
  4. "ERTMS Level 1: Trackside on the Zaragoza-Huesca project". Alstom.com. September 2004. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  5. Chris Jackson (15 November 2007). "ERTMS: the view from the cab". Railway Gazette International.
  6. "EC sets out ERTMS deployment deadlines". Railway Gazette International. 31 July 2009.
  7. Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. "Invensys Rail Group scoops New Zealand ERTMS signalling contract", 27 April 2009
  9. "Massive three-day celebration inaugurates the Bothnia Line". Botniabanan. 9 September 2010.
  10. "PIONEERING RAIL TECHNOLOGY GETS TESTED IN WALES". Network Rail. 12 February 2010.
  11. "2017 start date for Great Western ERTMS upgrade". National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers. 9 October 2007.
  12. "Auckland to install ETCS Level 1". Railway Gazette International. 28 April 2009.
  13. "Ansaldo to signal Libya". Railways Africa. 20 August 2010.
  14. "CAMBRIAN LINE ERTMS GETS GO-AHEAD". RAIL. 20 February 2011.
  15. "ERTMS Regional for a safe and cost-effective railway" (PDF). Swedish Rail Administration. July 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  16. "Västerdalsbanan, ERTMS Regional -" (in Swedish). Swedish Transport Administration. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  17. "Now or never for ERTMS in Europe, says Lochman". International Railway Journal. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  18. TT. "Prestigeprojekt för tågen skjuts upp". SvD.se (in Swedish).
  19. ERTMS deployment map. UNIFE, Retrieved 2011-11-11
  20. ERTMS Online Newsletter. European Communities, March 2008, Retrieved 2011-12-29
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