Demand for rail transport is rising, not only within the growing mega-cities across the world but also connecting communities – driving the replacement and expansion of many important rail connections. Systems that enable Digital Train Control is making a significant contribution to the industry’s success.
What is Digital Train Control?
Digital Train Control enables more capacity on the network, whilst providing a safer, more consistent, sustainable and beneficial passenger service.
Safety and passenger comfort improves with the increased level of automation. Integrating various Grades of Automation (GoA) is evidenced by the boost in projects specifying various levels to:
- Enable higher frequency services and reduced journey times
- Unlock latent capacity on existing networks
- Upgrade to a single integrated platform
- Improve maintenance schedules
- Advance failure detection
- Optimise energy
Agnostic solutions and advice
The automation of rail also comes with a number of difficulties, ranging from risk to concerns over safety standards and regulation; to corridor accessibility and data management.
GHD is responding to that need by pulling together specialist skillsets that renders the challenge easier. With proven advice and skilled services we help rail transport organisations maximise value from digital investments whilst remaining agnostic in the solutions we provide.
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Ensuring confidence in digital railway programs
Digitalisation allows us to reimagine how primary safety, control and management functions are managed and operated. This can deliver:
- Improved train control – cost effectively increase capacity and safety, using automation to smooth flow and improve performance
- Improved asset management – data collection and analytics that can be leveraged to operate and maintain the assets based on predict and prevent
- Improved customer information – real-time data to enable targeted and personalised travel information
GHD’s cross-industry experience aids understanding of the integration of technologies with legacy rail signalling and communications infrastructure.
By providing application and implementation support we identify and address risks and issues that may be barriers to success.
We work across all digital train control systems
Digital Train Control is dominated by modern signalling control systems such as:
- ETCS - developed to promote mainline interoperability across Europe
- CBTC - the established concept for high frequency signalling for metros realised through proprietary solutions.
- PTC - to meet the US Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008
We work collaboratively with all current ETCS, CBTC and PTC, technology providers ensuring solutions are independent and agnostic.
By drawing on experience from major train control programs across the world, GHD helps shape digital railway programs from concept, through to design, delivery, implementation and operations and maintenance.
Spanning mainline passenger, freight, mixed traffic, heavy haul or mass transit, our distinctive Digital Train Control services help rail organisations justify the investment in automation.
Participants suggested that there is also the opportunity for the industry to lead this technological innovation and develop world’s best practice in automated signalling and train control
On track to 2040
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