Atomic Systems

For those who are interested in future railway developments, I came across this today:-

Network Rail is running an ERTMS experiment on the Cambrian Line in mid-Wales.

I understand that ERTMS stands for European Traffic Management System whereby the system detects the position of a train via radio frequencies to facilitate moving block signalling. This apparently will allow operators to increase train frequencies by running trains closer together. Network Rail are currently funded for this experiment until 2014, but talk about looking forward 15(!) years depending on the results of this experimentation.

It will involve 10km of track upon which operators can test their trains, and apparently HS1 is currently being adpted.

It hasn't been plain sailing; e.g. vertically fronted units have had their LCD display screen washed out by the sun.

Ruf

PS Denmark is in the process of renewing its entire rail network with ERTMS, although I believe it is in use on some of the European high-speed lines.

We've discussed it at length in the past - try searching for 'ERTMS' in this section of the forum only

My old line manager at HSBCR has now moved over to Denmark to work on the big re-signalling project.

Regards,

Dan

Oh dear ......

...... that's another fine mess I find myself in!!

Ruf

I can't believe they're using the Cambrian as the test for ERTMS. The RETB (Radio Electronic Token Block) system in use is perfect for the need of the line. To make ERTMS worthwhile they would need more double track sections, and it is only really useful for sending one train after another, which is only really useful when charter trains enter the line. I think they should have tested it on a line that actually needed re-signalling, rather than try and install it over the RETB system which ticks over nicely in the background while engineers struggle to get ERTMS up and running.

Glenn

Well they weren't doing it for economic reasons, but to test equipment etc. so it could be installed on more heavily used routes without having teething problems; whatever doubts we all may have about it as a concept (or as a waste of money).

Still, let's not drag this up again on the forums (in fact, forget I wrote this)

AN