Multitel, as an ERTMS reference laboratory, will be present during the Signalling and train control conference in Zürich.
Multitel, Independent Innovation Centre, is specialized in technologies dedicated to the transport area. Multitel is equipped with an ERTMS Laboratory and offers its expertise in the railway signalling and controlling to notification bodies, equipment manufacturers and rail operators for the homologation, validation and verification of ERTMS implementations.
The Multitel ERTMS Laboratory is capable of testing ERTMS systems against the latest TSI requirements, in accordance with a number of EC directives on interoperability of the trans-European rail system (directives 2001/16/CE, 2006/679/CE, 2007/153/CE…), more precisely against SRS 2.2.2 and SRS 2.3.0D (for which Multitel has actively participated to its definition in the scope of the TEN 2006 project).
The Multitel ERTMS laboratory is capable of testing in complex environments, with multiple trains and its interactions with multiple onboard equipment (European Vital Computer – EVC), Radio Block Centres (RBC) or Interlock equipment (IXL), with our simulators or against real equipment (interfaces might need to be implemented in a case-by-case basis). These tests can be used to plan train traffic, test train/track interoperability issues among different manufacturers and to optimize resource consumption. Moreover Multitel has developed a DMI (Driver Machine Interface) event recognizer that speeds up the validation of the put into service of ERTMS systems.
more information about the conference : http://www.signalling-traincontrol.com/
Signalling and train control
European Commission – Press release
European railways: Commission promotes interoperability and competitiveness
Brussels, 25 January 2012 – Today, the European Commission adopted a decision strengthening the certification and authorisation process of lines and trains equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS). ETCS is the European standard for train signalling and speed control. Deployment of ETCS across key freight and high speed corridors will greatly improve the competitiveness of European railways.
The ETCS concept is simple: information is transmitted from the ground to the train, where an on-board computer uses it to calculate the maximum authorised speed and then automatically slows down the train if necessary. ETCS is part of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
Currently, there are more than 20 different signalling systems in operation in Europe and their incompatibility is a major technical barrier to international traffic. For example, adding an additional national safety system in an existing locomotive, already authorised in different countries, and obtaining again all safety authorisations may cost more than €2 million and take more than two years. ETCS will eliminate these costs.
However, ETCS will only bear its fruits if products are fully compatible and conform to the European specifications. The decision adopted today strengthens the requirements regarding testing, in particular that on-board products are tested in accredited laboratories.
Technical background
The concept of European Train Control System (ETCS) is not new: there are over 20 national systems for automatically controlling the speed of trains. Unfortunately, these national systems are incompatible with one another. To be able to circulate on networks equipped with different systems, either the engines must be changed at the borders (which means a considerable amount of time is lost) or the engines must be equipped with different on-board systems compatible with the different track systems used by the different networks (which increases costs and the risks of breakdown). Either way, this creates a rift in the single market and an obstacle to free movement.
This has an especially adverse impact on goods transport. Although rail transport should be more competitive over long distances, each border adds significant extra costs and delays, translating into market losses and saturation of the road network.
The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) could significantly increase the competitiveness of rail transport. This is particularly true for freight when the system is deployed in a coordinated manner along a corridor and is accompanied by relevant measures, such as harmonisation of the operating rules or enhancement of the infrastructure if necessary. On the Rotterdam-Genova corridor, for example, the volume of goods transported could be doubled by 2020, which would be the equivalent of one more heavy goods vehicle passing along this route every 37 seconds.
The ERTMS is a major industrial success for Europe. Its performance and its cost mean that it has rapidly gained acceptance even beyond Europe and it is currently the global reference standard, used on all new lines.
Today, in Europe, more than 4000 km of lines are equipped with ETCS. Moreover, the equipment of more than 4000 additional kilometres has already been contracted, thus indicating that the length of ETCS equipped lines will more than double over the next two or three years and the equipment rate is expected to further increase over the coming years.
Contacts :
Helen Kearns (+32 2 298 76 38)
Dale Kidd (+32 2 295 74 61)
Source – http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/40…
We will attend
7 - 9 March 2012 Zürich
27 - 29 March 2012 Torino
24 - 26 April 2012 Stockholm
10 - 13 July 2012 Philadelphia
18 - 21 September 2012 Berlin
MULTITEL was present at the ERA ETCS Conference on Testing and Certification 2011 on 29th of March in Lille.
More information can be found here
Multitel has obtained ISO 17025 accreditation for EVC tests, for Subset-076-5-2 v2.3.1, Subset-076-6-3 v2.3.1, Subset-7 v1.0.2 and Subset-094 v2.0.2 from BELAC. Accreditation BELAC number 427-TEST granted on 22nd February 2011.
This accreditation is greatly due to the SA-TAV (Semi Automatic – Trip Analysis and Validation) tool developed by Multitel for the analysis of the Subset-076 results.
SA-TAV can also be used for the validation of track lines, either with the use of an EVC simulator or with commercial onboard units connected to the track simulator of Multitel. This is very useful to anticipate problems during the validation of track signalling implementation, operational rules deployment and conformity with the SRS, therefore reducing the cost of the expensive line tests.
The ETCS Test Laboratories welcome you on their booth ! (Hall 2.2b, Stand 101)
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is being introduced on the first tracks through Europe at present – for a harmonized and borderless railway transport. To ensure interoperability of each new component, the conformity concerning the specification needs to be proofed. This can be realised by testing in an independent test laboratory. Three laboratories in Europe are specialized for testing ETCS components and subsystems in simulations – comprehensive, thorough and cost efficient. Working closely together, the ETCS Test Laboratories present their common and specific work together at the InnoTrans 2010.
If you need more information concerning Multitel ERTMS activities, please feel free to contact us
More information can be found concerning the ETCS Test Laboratories here
If you are preparing a TEN-T proposal, the following information is important for you…
The ERTMS call implies the following relevant topics concerning reference laboratories.
More information : TEN-T Success – Assure ERTMS interoperability
Multitel, as an ERTMS reference laboratory, was present during the 2009 UIC World ERTMS Conference in Málaga. UIC’s purpose in organizing such events is to ensure the momentum of ERTMS towards its objective. By assembling the most knowledgeable professionals in the business to speak on the various topics, the UIC ERTMS Conferences provide the unique platform to take stock of progress and to publicly present an agenda for the future.
Multitel, Independent Innovation Centre, is specialized in technologies dedicated to the transport area. Multitel is equipped with an ERTMS Laboratory and offers its expertise in the railway signalling and controlling to notification bodies, equipment manufacturers and rail operators for the homologation, validation and verification of ERTMS implementations.
The Multitel ERTMS Laboratory is capable of testing ERTMS systems against the latest TSI requirements, in accordance with a number of EC directives on interoperability of the trans-European rail system (directives 2001/16/CE, 2006/679/CE, 2007/153/CE…), more precisely against SRS 2.2.2 and SRS 2.3.0D (for which Multitel has actively participated to its definition in the scope of the TEN 2006 project).
The Multitel ERTMS laboratory is capable of testing in complex environments, with multiple trains and its interactions with multiple onboard equipment (European Vital Computer – EVC), Radio Block Centres (RBC) or Interlock equipment (IXL), with our simulators or against real equipment (interfaces might need to be implemented in a case-by-case basis). These tests can be used to plan train traffic, test train/track interoperability issues among different manufacturers and to optimize resource consumption. Moreover Multitel has developed a DMI (Driver Machine Interface) event recognizer that speeds up the validation of the put into service of ERTMS systems.
More information about the conference itself : http://www.ertms-conference.com/
