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

3. 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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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