Flexible, Modular Interlocking Systems for a modern railway network Presented to the IRSE, Friday, 8th January, 2010

Agenda What are the drivers for change? What do we mean by Modular signalling? What has to happen to make this work? What will happen in the future? Summary & Conclusions

What are the drivers for change? Cost of signallers Cost of projects Cost of ownership Cost of equipment Cost of Signalling

What are the drivers for change? Cost of Signalling Network comms ETCS Higher reliability Lower power usage Changing technology

What are the drivers for change? Cost of Signalling Willingness to challenge standards Desire to reduce labour costs Ability to adjust railway easily ‘Green agenda’ Acceptance of technology Refusal to accept poor reliability Changing technology Changing attitudes

An example … ‘Green’ Low power usage Low maintenance costs ETCS compatibility an issue Life expired Maintainers! In-built condition Monitoring! Expensive to operate Condition information and statistics not available remotely Extended service life Has to be operated locally High levels of safety Difficult to alter

What do we mean by Modular Signalling? We consider a modular system to be one that displays the following characteristics: Nearly all schemes can be delivered by selecting appropriate standard ‘modules’ from a small set of parts Data only resides in one location Modules can be applied in a wide variety of ways All elements communicate over a network communications system Any available power system can be used Control is totally flexible, making the most of network communications Reliability, Availability and Maintainability are key

Modular Architecture I/L I/O I/L I/O I/O I/L Most expensive cabling! Westrace Mk1, Westrace Mk 2 Most expensive cabling! I/O 50-way to 150-way 50-way to 150-way Station Serial I/L Serial Westrace Mk1, Westrace Mk2 Expensive cabling! I/O I/O 50-way 50-way 50-way 50-way Station Direct Drive I/L SSI, WESTLOCK, Westrace Mk2 More affordable cabling! Serial I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O Station

Modular Signalling Control Centre Radio Block Centre Interlocking Object Controller Interlocking Object Controller

Modular Signalling Control Centre Interlocking Object Controllers: Signals (OC(S)) Points (OC(P)) Level Crossings (OC(X)) Axle Counters (OC(A))

Enabling technology Power Civil structures Remote Condition Monitoring Etc., etc.

Reducing Lifecycle Costs Mobile technology extensively used in oil and gas industries WiFi, GSM, Bluetooth connectivity RFID, Bar code readers GPS

Reducing Lifecycle Costs Appropriate use of Mobile Technology, Asset Management tools and Back office software allows Asset database population from day one Paper-free record keeping to reduce time on trackside Appropriate enforcement of ‘signature’ and competence records Access to information such as wiring diagrams Standard test procedures to be adopted Greatly enhanced maintenance through improved workflow management Constant access to information such as reliability / availability statistics

What has to happen to make this work? Changed attitudes Contractor side Client side Challenging standards – without reducing safety Specifically around civil structures around signalling principles Standardisation and simplification of rules Cooperation and collaboration between all parties Open architectures and interfaces – to allow multiple suppliers to work on projects

What will happen in the future? Addition of ETCS functionality ETCS Level 2 requires Eurobalise for location (LEUs would also be required for Level 1) Addition of RBC to the network Data changes at interlockings only Control Centre additional functionality Enhanced use of Mobile Technology Mix and Match Control – can control railway from anywhere on the communications network Reduction in fixed comms network, move to radio Alternative power solutions

Summary & Conclusions Modular Signalling is a reality Invensys is contracted to deliver this technology to Network Rail Many other infrastructure providers are opting to use this technology This approach offers the potential to revolutionise the capacity and through life costs of secondary lines Migration to ETCS L2/3 is supported by the networked architecture Many of the principles and approaches are easily applicable to all signalling schemes, of any scale or location Standards need to be challenged, but intelligently Technology and processes proven in other industries are the key to successful implementation