1. CIRCULATION OF TRAM-TRAINS
INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY
SAFETY CONFERENCE
Dublin 23 – 25 october 2006
CIRCULATION OF TRAM-TRAINS
ON THE FRENCH NATIONAL
RAILWAY NETWORK
Jean-Paul BALENSI
commencer par un tour de table

2. Summary Recall on the concept of tram-train
Typology of the various cases of application in France or border areas
1st example of application : Bondy-Aulnay
2nd example of application : Mulhouse / Vallée de la Thur
Conclusion

3. Recall on the concept of tram-train
Tram-train is a system including infrastructure and rolling stock developing a specific transport service on a railway line
According to the performances of the rolling stock, the number of stations can be increased (without increasing the time of transport) to collect more passengers along the line
The characteristics of the rolling stock (light train) command to adapt the operations on the line to keep the same safety level as with conventional trains

4. Pictures of tram-trains in operation

5. Typology of the various cases of application (1)
The tram-train can operate on a dedicated line where no conventional train operates : it is the case of T2 in Paris or between Bondy and Aulnay where the tram uses a former railway line. In this case, the line is operated like a tramway line without signalling except in the tunnels.
(extrait du projet de critère “efficacité de la veille système” de l’agrément du GI)

6. Typology of the various cases of application (2)
Operation of the tram-train can be alternated with sequences « train ». It is the scheme of the line 2 in Montpellier where a part of the line is using a railway line supporting a very low freight traffic. In this case, the line will be operated with trams or trains during dedicated time schedulded.
Collecter l’information :
Messages journaliers CNO
CRJ
Fiches Événements sécurité PSSR
Fiches Franchissement de signal
Impromptu
EXCALIBUR
BREHAT
 + résultats de la 1ère partie de l’enquête pour identifier la nature du dysfonctionnement du système
Évoquer le rôle des PSSR
Lignes d’information parallèles :
- PSSR  IOS
ligne métier régionale  IEM, GL-TS, FR-S, etc.
ligne opérationnelle (A.-C., COCG)  CNO

7. Typology of the various cases of application (3)
The infrastructure used for the tram-train services can be used by different kinds of rolling stock : conventional train (passenger and freight) and tram-trains : it will be the case in Mulhouse
« Mesurer un niveau de sécurité, c’est mesurer quoi ? »
Enjeu : Comment évaluer un niveau de sécurité ? OSC, attentes EPSF, etc.

8. Typology of the various cases of application (4)
The railway infrastructure used for the tram-train services can be connected to an urban tramway line : it is the case in Sarrebrück and be the case in Mulhouse.
exploitation de la Base IOS +
chaque Expert métier d ’IOS boucle par l’exploitation des Bases d’Activités ou Domaines correspondantes
 Plans d’action, Suivi des plans d’action, Bouclage

9. T4 Bondy / Aulnay
Length 8 km in the suburb of Paris. It is a railway line adapted for operation like a tramway line
No signal (except on shunting routes), 25 kV 50 Hz, crossroads instead of level crossings, control on sight
The rolling stock operates on a railway line for garage and maintenance in Noisy with railway operation procedures

10. Tram-train Mulhouse / Vallée de la Thur
The length of the line is 37 km divided into 3 sections :
a part on the urban network (line 1 and line 2)
A single track section dedicated to the tram-train (junction between urban and railway sections)
A single track section with mixed traffic tram-trains, passenger trains and freight trains

11. Tram-train Mulhouse / Vallée de la Thur
On the urban section the tram-trains run on sight like the trams
On the junction section dedicated to the light vehicules, we find signals in the stations only for the single track section. Tram-trains are equiped with ATP (KVB).

12. Tram-train Mulhouse / Vallée de la Thur

13. Tram-train Mulhouse / Vallée de la Thur
The mixed section is operated like a railway line with specificities due to the characteristics of the tram-train :
all the trains and tram-trains are equiped with ATP (KVB) with strong rules in case of failure
the level crossings staying near the stations are equiped with a detection of the tram-train to postpone the sequence of the barriers and reduce the time of closure
due to specific characteristics of the infrastructure, the tram-trains are specifically detected at the end of the railway section to stop conventionnal trains in case of error of direction to the tram section.

14. Conclusion
Light rolling stock makes possible to collect new segments of customers on the regional railway lines. Peri-urban areas are the best example
Solutions exist to guarantee the safety at the same level as for the conventionnal railway services. They can be different according to the operation mode
The question of frontier zone must be particulary studied because of the interfaces between railway and urban where the modes of operation are quite different.

15. Thanks !