Friday, March 15, 2024
Alstom, a leading company in smart and sustainable mobility solutions, successfully carried out the first System Compatibility tests for ETCS* in Poland on a TRAXX vehicle, integrating the ETCS onboard system at its Katowice laboratory. The setup for these tests included actual ERTMS equipment, alongside simulators for the base-layer systems and additional supportive technologies. This crucial phase was conducted under the watchful eyes of the Transport Certification Centre at Warsaw University of Technology, following test scenarios provided by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, the entity managing Poland’s railway infrastructure.
The purpose of these System Compatibility tests is to ensure that the ETCS (European Train Control System) installed on the vehicles matches seamlessly with the trackside systems that govern rail traffic management. This is a prerequisite for both the manufacturers of the rolling stock and the operators. The tests target vehicles poised to commence operations on specific routes with ETCS technology equipped.
Developing the reference environment for these tests was a meticulous process that spanned more than a year, involving multiple phases from the initial design to the adjustment of the simulation tools and environment, finally achieving validation from an independent entity affirming the environment’s reliability. The precision of the test outcomes received further validation from the independent certification body, the Transport Certification Centre (OCT).
“Conducting the first ESC tests in laboratory conditions in Poland marks a significant milestone in enhancing the certification of new vehicles equipped with ERTMS technology. It also addresses the expectations of Poland’s Rail Transport Authority, which advocates for such tests, as well as meeting the needs of our partners, customers, and the entire industry,” declares Adam Juretko, the Managing Director of the Katowice plant of Alstom in Poland.
He adds, “The use of the Alstom laboratory for ESC tests brings many advantages, including significantly higher availability of the testing environment compared to an actual main railway line, repeatability of scenarios and the ability to analyse the system’s behaviour in detail. For infrastructure managers and carriers, this testing method allows to avoid additional disruptions in planned train traffic. We plan to keep developing our ESC centre by adapting the testing environment for new types of ETCS on-board systems.”
Under the leadership of Aneta Pogorzelska-Szcześniak, M.Sc. Eng., the team engaged in the preparatory activities of the lab environment, setup for the tests, and detailed examination of the interplay between all components in this intricate setup, in collaboration with the lab staff. The insights gathered were crucial in validating the effective functionality of the test stand, as confirmed by an independent review endorsing the ESC test center’s authenticity.
“OCT has operated as the certification body for 9 years, based on 30 years of research in the field of computer railway traffic control systems of the Faculty of Transport at the Warsaw University of Technology. Throughout this period, modelling and simulation of railway traffic control processes were part of our R&D work. Extensive experience allows us to consciously approach digital solutions that enable combining elements of real systems with the necessary simulation infrastructure allowing for the transfer of movement processes to the laboratory,” explained Andrzej Kochan, PhD Eng., the Director of the Transport Certification Centre at the Faculty of Transport of the Warsaw University of Technology.
He adds, “Cooperation with the Alstom laboratory in Katowice, which serves as the ESC testing centre, provides the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience in the field of digital mapping of real systems. This work is part of our team’s research on the ETCS digital twin and, more broadly, on the railway digitalisation process. The last year’s experience has shown that simulation research, including ESC tests, is a technique that significantly increases the cognitive capabilities of complex systems, which undoubtedly include ETCS.”
Alstom boasts a rich history of contributions to Poland’s rail sector, including pioneering the ERTMS level 2 system, establishing the ERTMS L2 system across 10 PKP PLK rail lines, constructing a control center for the Warsaw Metro, developing 30 centralized railway traffic control systems (CTC), outfitting over 200 stations with computer-based interlocking systems, and upgrading more than 1,700 level crossing signal systems.
*ETCS System Compatibility
Trademarks of the Alstom Group include Alstom™, Traxx™, and Onvia™.
The Transport Certification Center (OCT) is recognized for its authority to evaluate both on-board and trackside control subsystems, encompassing type certification and compliance for all control subsystem devices. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe has acknowledged OCT’s authority by endorsing its role in coordinating ESC/RSC tests across its network.
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