1. Sponsored by William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar “ Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals ” Sean Robitaille Transportation Engineer CN Date : Friday, April 10, 2015 Time : Seminar Begins 12:20 Location : Newmark Lab, Yeh Center, Room 2311 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2. Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals Sean Robitaille CN Transportation Engineer University of Illinois William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar April 10, 2015

3. 3 Presentation Overview  The framework for Canadian control systems  Control without signals  Automatic Block Signals  Centralized Traffic Control  Interlocking  Questions

4. 4 Rail Traffic Control Framework  Canada: Canadian Rail Operating Rules, as overseen by Transport Canada  Complete document available on web http://www.railcan.ca/assets/images/regulations/rules/CANADIAN_RAIL_OPERATING_RULES__ENGLISH__TC_O_0-167.pdf http://www.railcan.ca/assets/images/regulations/rules/CANADIAN_RAIL_OPERATING_RULES__ENGLISH__TC_O_0-167.pdf  Provides the parameters by which to operate all railways in Canada

5. 5 Rail Traffic Control Framework  How did a single rule book evolve for an entire country? –Early amalgamation into two transcon networks –CP network effectively complete by 1915 –CN created from bankrupt roads by 1924 –Individual railroad rulebooks approved by Canadian Board of Transport Commisioners until... –Uniform Code of Operating Rules 1962

6. 6 Rail Traffic Control Framework  Railway Specific Instructions –Company-tailored rulebook –Employee Time Table  Provides specific instruction for operation on a rail company’s individual lines of track –“Subdivisions” –Yards/Terminals  Identifies method of control and who oversees the application of rules

7. 7 Rail Traffic Control Framework  Sample Subdivision page from time table Traffic Control Method Number of Main Tracks Station Names Siding Location and Length Direction

8. 8 Basic Control – Non Main Track  Movement governed by CROR 105  Trains operate at ‘reduced’ speed, being able to stop in half the range of vision of equipment, red flag or end-of-track  A ‘main track’ can be designated as Cautionary Limits (CROR 94) and be operated as yard track  Typical application: –Yards –Spur tracks –Customer sidings

9. 9 Basic Control – Non Main Track  Non main track switches identified by yellow targets  ‘Subdivision Track’ used to denote ‘through track’ at a location instead of yard limits Yellow target indicates switch is lined for diverging route

10. 10 Basic Control – Main Track  Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) supervises and directs traffic on specified territory  Most basic CROR system for main track authority is called “Occupancy Control System” (OCS)  Similar to ‘Track Authority’ method of operation on CN in US, or TWC territory elsewhere

11. 11 Main Track – Occupancy Control System  Provision to operate OCS using CROR 301 – 315  Authority to use main track in effect until clearance: –Fulfilled –Cancelled –Superseded

12. 12 Main Track – Occupancy Control System  Procedure to operate trains at main track speeds without any signal protection  Each train movement and trackwork personnel must have authority to occupy the main track  Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) oversees the operation and issues authority to use main track OCS Control Screen

13. 13 Main Track – Occupancy Control System  Main track authority limits defined by identifiable railway features: –Milepost –Station Sign –Marked turnouts (ends of sidings, junctions) Milepost Station Sign

14. 14 Main Track – Occupancy Control System Addressed to Wait instruction Direction to operate Bidirectional authority Instruction regarding other authorities Turnout Status Turnout Permissions Authority Completed Authority Cancelled

15. 15 Main Track – Occupancy Control System  Turnouts generally manually operated – some may have push button or radio controls  Efficiency of system dependent on: –Forward thinking by train crew –Workload/responsiveness of Rail Traffic Controller –Effectiveness of radio tower communication system

16. 16 Main Track – Occupancy Control System  Example of OCS operation – time table station table

17. 17 Main Track – Occupancy Control System  Example of OCS operation – track diagram Station Sign ‘other track’ Train (authorized to ‘Work’) Siding East Switch Kitchener Siding 13,550’ Switch Station Sign Switch East Main Track Siding West Switch Kitchener

18. 18 Signal Overlay for Main Track  CROR provides for three methods of movement utilizing signals: –ABS (CROR 505-515) –CTC (CROR 560-578) –Interlocking (CROR 601-620)  ABS and interlocking common since WWI  CTC first installed in early 1920sin USA with first significant installations implemented during WWII

19. 19 Signal Overlay for Main Track  Signal Aspects & Indications provided by CROR 405-440 – speed signal system Letter Markers (“L”, “DV”, “R”) used to upgrade certain indications

20. 20 Automatic Block Signals  ABS currently only utilized by CP –Single track in Ontario and Alberta –Double track in Ontario and Quebec  Application essentially identical to US

21. 21 Automatic Block Signals  ABS usage covered by CROR 505-515  Used in conjunction with OCS Rules –ABS provides the broken rail and following/head on train protection –OCS provides the authority for movement/occupancy  All signals identified with number plates for identification

22. 22 Centralized Traffic Control  Canadian implementation of CTC followed the experiences of the US roads from 1920- 1940  First installation on CP Medicine Hat – Dunmore (Alberta) 6-mile hill in 1928  CN commissioned first long distance (185 miles) single track CTC Moncton- Halifax during WWII to help with war effort

23. 23 Centralized Traffic Control  CTC installed on the core main lines and by the two heavy haul iron ore railroads in Quebec / Labrador Western Canada (CTC highlighted) Eastern Canada

24. 24 Centralized Traffic Control  Example of CN RTC-II panel track layout Main Track Station Name Controlled Signals Power Switches Trains

25. 25 Centralized Traffic Control  Typical plan view of a single track CTC arrangement – basically identical to US installations Controlled Locations Intermediate Signals Station Name (identifier only) Industry track Manual Entry/Exit

26. 26 Centralized Traffic Control  Canadian railroads have physically identified all signals with number plates to facilitate written authority procedures Provides unique and efficient method to identify signals Controlled Signals Signal Number plate

27. 27 Centralized Traffic Control  Written authority required: –To pass a controlled signal at stop (CROR 564) –To work between defined signals –To enter main track at hand-operated switch CN CTC Authority document

28. 28 Interlocking Control  CROR 601-620 govern interlocking operation  Four main types of interlockings in CROR: –Manual – by special instruction only –Locally controlled – local tower operation –Remotely controlled – by RTC at control center –Automatic – simple diamonds  CROR 620 provides for non-interlocked crossings or movable bridges

29. 29 Interlocking Control-Evolution  West Toronto interlocking circa 1923 – locally controlled CN/CP crossing  West Toronto circa 2012 remotely controlled interlocking (CP RTC)

30. 30 Interlocking Control  Locally controlled interlocking –Toronto – Scott Street Tower Opened June 1931 78 signal levers 84 switch levers 192 levers total

31. 31 Future Control Systems  CROR provides for “Special Control System” (SCS) –Basic framework provided by CROR 351-353 –Will be used to implement new methods of control as they are developed –OCS was originally implemented through this method  Currently no mandate or requirement to implement PTC in Canada

32. 32 Conclusion  Canadian railroads continue to make a single-rulebook methodology work  Hardware effectively identical to US  Canada-US procedural differences for operating authorities will likely remain in force