November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Signal and Train 

Control

Signal and Train 

Control

Sam Alibrahim, P.E.Chief, Signals, Train Control &Communications Division

Sam Alibrahim, P.E.Chief, Signals, Train Control &Communications Division
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Signaling and 

recent 

Signaling and 

recent 

• Head on Collision – Metorlink and UPRR 

trains, Chatsworth, CA, 09/12/2008. Fatalities – 25; Injuries – 135; Damage - $7.5 millions

• The President has signed the “Rail Safety 

Improvement Act of 2008” requiring certain freight and passenger railroads, by 2015, to 

implement PTC on their main lines (defined as 5 MGT traffic annually) over which,

Intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter rail passenger transportation is regularly providedPoison or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials are transportedSuch other tracks as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation or order

• Estimated 20,0

100,000 miles be equipped w
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

9 On October 9, UPRR, BNSF, NS and CSXT announced 

jointly developed a PTC interoperability standard

9 All four railroads agreed to use 220 MHz frequency for w

communication network

9 FRA R&D met with the railroads on November 12 to esta

directions towards 2015 deployment deadline

Signaling and Train 

Signaling and Train 

Additional Development
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Signaling and 

Signaling and 

UPRRVTMSFreight

TTCI

V-PTC

Alaska RRCASMixed

BNSFETMS IIFreight

UPRRVTMSFreight

BNSFETMS Mixed

Currently there are few PTC system deployments around the country with different railroad employing variety of specifications (vital and nonvital overlay) in many operating modes including development, testing, and revenue service.469 miles – Revenue service450 miles – testing 1374 miles – Development
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

FRA funde

FRA funde

• Vital PTC (VPTC) – IDOT 53M; VPTC 3.9M

– Cooperate with Railroad Research Foundation (an AAR su

Technology Center, Inc (TTCI) and Lockheed Martin

– A follow on effort of NAJPTC System in Illinois to develop a 

– Jointly funded by Lockheed Martin and FRA

• Incremental Train Control System (ITCS) - $19M

– Cooperate with Michigan Department of Transportation, Am

Southern

– General Electric Global Signaling System is the contractor f

Amtrak Michigan Line

• Electronic Train Management System (ETMS) - $3.7M

– Cooperate with Burlington Northern Santa Fe– Wabtec Electronics is the supplier for the systems in Illinois

• Collision Avoidance System (CAS) - $735,000

– Cooperate with Alaska Railroad– Union Switch and Signal is the developer of the system in A
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

N

N

9 Will not initiate any new PTC system integration/developm

(besides the low cost collision avoidance system)

9 Focus on research areas to promote wide deployment of 

9 Assist the industry in enabling interoperability9 Develop expedient risk assessment methods and tools9 Develop better communication network and train tracking 

continuous improvement process of PTC development

9 Focus on enabler technologies such as vital consist deter

automatic track discrimination, and on-board braking algo

9 Develop technologies to eliminate or existing shortcoming9 Continue to use Broad Agency Announcement to solicit in

approaches and proposals for PTC technology improvem

9 Assist the industry and guide the Agency in requirements 
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Enab

Enab

• Need radio spectrum and adequate digita

performance

– Higher Performance Digital Radio– Cooperate with AAR Wireless Communication Comm

alternative solutions including utilizing new narrow ban

– WiFi and WiMax Testbeds 

• Need interoperability capability

– Completed development of Communication Managem

Software Defined Radios

– Interoperable Communication-based Signaling testing– Development of Universal On-board Platform– Testing of ITP/SIP protocol for interoperability messag
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Enab

Enab

• Need dependable braking algorithm

– Adaptive Braking Algorithm– Investigation of Modified Penalty Braking Scheme

• Need reliable systems

– Higher Accuracy Nationwide Differential Global Positio– Practical Risk Assessment Methodology Developmen– Employee-in-charge Portable Terminal– Risk Assessment with Train Movement Simulator
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

• 

af

• S• • 

c

• 

Higher Performan

Higher Performan
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Typical Access Points

9 Feasibility and perform

(802.11b/g) and WiMstandard technologies

9 Project is being led by 

Nebraska

9 Evaluate the throughp

reliability, security, anthese technologies

9 Test bed in Hasting S

helps to quantify the tspeed moving trains u

9 Test bed also verifies 

the access points give

Wi-

Wi-F
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Interoperable co

based sig

Interoperable co

based sig

Control Office

Controls and Indications

CBS in existing Dark Territory

Occupying Block 123 Proceed Aspect

Control Office

Controls and Indications

CBS overlaid on cTc

• Manufacture

Safetran, Al

• Project initia

projected to 

• Experience 

future PTC i

• AREMA standards will be used to test the communication-ba

system the laboratory environment for true interoperability ca

• AREMA standards may require revision based on these tes• Interoperability will be demonstrated using each manufacture

equipment to interface with all other manufacturer’s wayside 
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Unive

P

Unive

P

To develop platform wcab signal correct sysinterfacing various teroperations

• Benefits

– Conform to industry interoperability objectives. Incorp

D messages into the platform for industry interoperab

– Ensure backward compatibility with cab signal equipm– Cost effective solution to minimize capital investment 

adaptability, in train control and other onboard applica

• Request for Proposal (RFP) resulted in selection of GE
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Pre-requis

railroad i

Pre-requis

railroad i

• Message Set

– ETMS Common Office-Locomotive ICD

• A message set which encompasses BNSF ETMS, UP VTMS and 

• Protocols

– EMP (Edge Message Protocol) as an upper layer message w

– Class C is an IP based multicast protocol

– Class D is an IP based point to point protocol– ITP (Interoperability Transport Protocol) as a lower layer rou

• ITP is being tested for proof of concept using FRA funding

• Communication Network

– UP, NS and BNSF will use 220 MHz radio network so interop

problem

– CSXT is contemplating using 3 commercial cellular networks 

convert

– Industry with FRA support will continue HPDR development

• Display/Screen/Control

– Technically this is not complex but need decision on whethe

adopted
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Adaptive Brak

Adaptive Brak
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

Adaptive Bra

t

Adaptive Bra

t

• Due to insuff

brake equipmexisting PTC are conservainefficiency

• Feedback an

algorithm to values in bratrain weight 

• Benefits are 

to stop as clopossible with

• Also give lee

in train operaforcing them early

GPS Antennas

EOT Device

Speed/Location Tail End BPP

Tractive Effort

Head End BPP

Train Control PC

Enforcement Algorithm PC

Data

Full Service Brake Application

Full Service Brake Application 

BPP-Brake Pipe Pressure

• Target completion date: 

end of 2008

• 40,000 simulated stops will 

be made with Train Operation and Energy Simulator prior to field tests
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

High Accuracy Nation

Global Po

High Accuracy Nation

Global Pos

• Accuracy is 

which track a probability than 0.9999

• Tests will sh

benefits and implementasystems, tramaintenancapplications

• High Accuracy Global Positioning System offers 10 c

resolution

• Provides a low cost but accurate positioning solution • Tests scheduled for one year will be performed at Tr

Technology Center, Inc.
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

System Design Analysis

top level hazards

Risk Assessment

THRs

1 Define System (functions, boundary, interfaces, environment,....)

3 Analyze consequences of 

hazards

4 Analyze causes of 

hazards. Identify additional hazards

5 Allocate Safety 

Integrity equirements to subsystems/system elements

System definitionHazard Log

System Requirements Specification

Hazard Analysis

Subsystem Requirements Specification

Risk tolerability criteria (Safety)

(Sub-) System Architecture

Input

Activity Output

Iterate until 

system element 

level

Risk

SILs, Failure Rates

2 Identify (system) hazards

A Practical Ris

Method

A Practical Ris

Method
November 2008

TRB Review

Signal, Train Control &

Communication Division

• Develop a vital, wireless, handheld device used by the 

employee-in-charge (EIC) of roadway workers to communicate with a CBTC system to:

– Request and release work zones – Control entry and speed restrictions of trains allowed into 

work zones

• Mitigate train/gang collisions within work zones

(To be completed in September 2009)

Employee-in-ch

Term

Employee-in-ch

Termi