SATLOC
Satellite Based Operation and Management of Local Low Traffic Lines
Background & Objectives
15 years of studies of satellite applications in the rail sector, led by the UIC, ETCS and ERTMS, Regional IFSTTAR and SPIRENT include the simulation of geo-referenced conditions.
SIEMENS, ANSALDO and INVENSYS RAIL integrate industry know-how in train control telecommunications and use of ETCS standards.
Why this project is important for EGNOS/GSA/SatNav?
This project provides a live demonstration of EGNOS and GALILEO use in railway control and safety within economic conditions adapted to low density traffic lines, along with validation and certification based on GNSS.
Objectives
To prove, by theoretic and live demonstration, that GNSS is compliant with rail requirements for train control functions in line with ETCS developments:
- Live demonstration of train control and operation + traffic management based on GNSS on the pilot line Bartolomeu - Zarnesti on RCCF-TRANS in Romania - application of GNSS in train controls, compliant with ETCS;
- Development of reference methodology for validation and certification of GNSS based rail safety;
- Development of strategy for migration to ETCS, including the economic models, market assessment and portability methodology based on simulation.
How does it work?
GNSS with SOL provides the train location, speed and precise timing for the train control. The fix integrity and high-level safety are assured by close-loop integration of train traffic and movement authority control from the control centre. The high degree of innovation in the integrated train-track behaviour enables lower safety integrity components to achieve a very high safety target.
Next Steps
- Specification and documentation of laboratory mock-up system and validation;
- Integration on pilot site (3 operational trains and traffic control centre with extended functionality);
- Specification, documentation and run of real scale trials and demonstration;
- Assessment of the market, on low traffic density lines which encompass about 40% of the European rail network;
- Application of economic model and demonstration of concept portability;
- Identification and proposal of eventual standardisation items (e.g. route map, virtual balise, virtual block...).
Work performed & results
- All specification requirements (ORS, FRS, SRS, ARS and RAMS) as demanded by current rail standards are applied to the pilot application;
- Software high level specification;
- Hardware specification and identification of the HW components available on the market.
Start of system engineering:
- SW architecture
- Route map on SIL4 integrity
- Specification for use of virtual balises and virtual block layout
- Integration of main hardware components in a lab trial, prior to validation for on-site integration.