vicos oc e1 - siemens its performance and adaptability, the vicos oc operations control system...

Efficient rail transport with the Vicos OCoperations control system familyCost-effective operations management

www.siemens.com/mobility

Vicos_OC_e2 01.09.2008 22:58 Uhr Seite 1

Ensuring mobility is one of the big chal-

lenges in our society. To ensure our

mobility in future, we need networked

transportation and information systems.

And we will only meet these mobility

requirements through efficient coordina-

tion and perfect meshing of all modes

of transportation. This is why Siemens –

with its “Complete mobility” approach –

is offering integrated transportation and

logistics solutions for safe, cost-effective

and environmentally friendly passenger

and freight services.

For Siemens has the necessary compe-

tence to provide everything from infra-

structure systems for railways and roads

to solutions for rolling stock, airport

logistics and postal automation. More

and more railway operators are turning

to intelligent operations control systems

made by Siemens to control and monitor

their increasingly complex infrastructures.

Made-to-measure automationThe operations control systems of theVicos® OC (Vehicle and InfrastructureControl and Operating System) productfamily with their numerous modularautomation functions, adaptable userinterfaces and maximum availabilityenable train operations to be controlled,monitored and optimized cost-effectively.

The Vicos OC operations control systemfamily can be matched to both the indi-vidual needs of railway operators andtheir requirements. From individual ope-rator consoles to large control centerswith the most sophisticated automationfunctions, Siemens has successfullyimplemented a wide variety of configu-rations.

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Cost-effective operations management

Future-proof rail transport with the Vicos OCoperations control system family

Scalability

Adaptability

Availability and performance

> Easy tailoring to growing system size

> Functional upgrades > Cost-effective, low-risk inte-

gration of external systems

> Individual user-friendliness for each customer

> Flexible adaptation to a wide range of requirements due to unique configurability

> Smooth operations> High performance> Minimized downtimes> Uninterruptible switchover

in event of faults

Customer requirements

> Modular software> Open-interface concept

> Adaptable user interfaces (design, language)

> Open-interface concept

> Reliable hardware> Distributed processes /

multi-server processing> Hot-standby concept> Redundancy of all com-

ponents

Solution with Vicos OC

Benefits of Vicos OC

The future-oriented solutionIn the Vicos OC product family, thefunctions are structured in accordancewith their degree of automation anddependencies and mapped to moduleswhich can be freely combined. With growing line network size and the de-mand for increasing automation or moreoperator consoles, Vicos OC can be ex-panded by adding hardware or softwarecomponents. This means that perfor-mance and functionality can be adjustedto customer requirements even yearsafter initial commissioning.

Thanks to its open-interface concept,Vicos OC can be used to integrate a widerange of different external systems.Furthermore, the operations controlsystem enables future connection of new system components or adjoiningtransport infrastructures.

Vicos_OC_e1.qxd 01.09.2008 22:47 Uhr Seite 2

With its performance and adaptability,

the Vicos OC operations control system

family has proven itself in daily use in

rail transport worldwide

Maximum availability and performanceReliable hardware and a tried-and-tested multi-server processing systemensure smooth operations. The uniquehot-standby concept of Vicos OC withredundancy of all components requiredfor operations permits uninterruptibleswitchover in the event of faults.Maintenance and repair are possible without any operational restrictions.Thus, downtimes are minimized and customers profit from more reliabilityand service.

The use of standard hardware meansthat Vicos OC is already adapted for future computer generations.

Adaptable and international in serviceOf course, Vicos OC complies with inter-nationally recognized standards such asthose of CENELEC or the ISO. For all con-tinents, the following applies: the user-friendly user interface can be tailored tothe regional particularities of operationswith regard to design, language and lettering with a minimum of effort.

Thanks to clear visualization and needs-based automation, railway systems canbe controlled and monitored both effi-ciently and safely. Thus, for example,relay and electronic interlockings can beoperated in a standard and convenientmanner irrespective of the manufacturerinvolved.

The open interfaces of the Vicos OC oper-ations control system family permit verydifferent applications to be integratedcost-effectively and with a low level ofrisk. Existing installations and externalsystems (for example, SCADA systems,passenger information systems, CCTV,communication systems, large-screenmonitors, etc.) can be connected flexibly.

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Successful application – worldwide

Vicos OC – performance and flexibility

From switch machine to state-of-

the-art operations control center

For some 30 years now, Siemens

has come to represent trend-setting

concepts and innovative products

of computer-aided rail automation,

and equally long for successfully

completed projects and short exe-

cution times. From the renewal of

individual components to the reali-

zation of a new transport system,

Siemens offers customized turnkey

solutions from a single source. Our

mix of experience and future orien-

tation and of technology and ser-

vice competence has made us the

market leader and won over

customers throughout the world.

That customers’ confidence is justi-

fied has been demonstrated in

numerous projects.

Planning

Resources planning (lines, rolling stock, staff)Work site planning / signaling systemsTimetable design and validationSimulation

Dispatching and optimization

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Operations control

Monitoring and control

DispatchingConflict detection / resolutionTrain run forecasting / deviationsAutomatic train regulation

Integration of subsystemsTimetableAutomatic train trackingAutomatic route settingRemote control

Local monitoring and control


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High performance in complex line networks

Integrated mass transit with Vicos OC

Mass transit places special demands onoperations control systems. Passengersexpect short headways and interchangetimes, many stops and up-to-date infor-mation at all times. Other transport,information and dispatching systems are thus frequently linked to rail trans-port and have to be integrated intooperations control systems.

Relief of operating staffDue to the automation of all principalprocesses thanks to Vicos OC, staff isrelieved of routine tasks. Hence, the riskof errors in control and monitoring isreduced and staff can fully concentrateon a trouble-free flow of transport.

Efficient timetable managementVicos OC can be used for compiling, vali-dating and optimizing timetables bothonline and offline. Shorter intervals and harmonized interchange times areensured by means of an efficient, event-and timetable-orientated route settingsystem, and optionally also by an auto-matic train regulation system.

Train regulationThe use of a train regulation system enables traveling and stopping times or speed profiles to be adjusted entirelyautomatically in order to compensate for deviations from the timetable bothquickly and efficiently. The effects of disruptions are taken into account in the train run forecast.

Interlocking operator control and connection of train control systemsIn addition to interlocking control, verydifferent train control systems can alsobe integrated with Vicos OC. Evenmoving-block and driverless systems can be controlled.

Clear and safe operator controlAll current train and line data is dis-played with the easy-to-understand andoptionally procedure-protected controland display unit of Vicos OC.

Simple integration of other systemsInterfaces to external systems such asSCADA systems, train radio and passen-ger information systems (or their com-plete integration) ensure efficient staffdeployment, standard operator controland a high level of transparency even incomplex systems. The possibility of con-necting CCTV systems ensures moresecurity on platforms.

Vicos OC – cost-effective automation for mass transit


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In mainline services, passengers wish toreach their destination both on time andsafely. Convenient connections to masstransit and air links are just as importantas reliable, trouble-free operations in themainline network itself.

Centralization of monitoring and control tasksVicos OC displays all up-to-the-minutetrain and line data and status indicationsof the overall system. A large-screenmonitor can be connected as an option.This enables network-wide dispatching

and central junction management andthus smooth operations. Signalers anddispatchers are provided with an up-to-the-minute overview of operations.Different functions and user-specificrights can be allocated to individualworkplaces.

Operator control of interlockingsWith Vicos OC, all interlockings, fromrelay interlockings to electronic inter-lockings, can be connected and con-trolled in both new and existing installations.

Automated conflict resolution and dispatchingConflicts possibly resulting, for example,from the mixed operation of fast long-distance trains and slower regional trainsare detected by the system, representedin the train graph and resolved automati-cally at an early stage by the online time-table management system. In line withoperational priorities, the flow of trans-port, timetable adherence and connec-tion assurance are optimized. The traingraph can be edited for dispatching pur-poses.

High-speed traffic with ETCS and GSM-RVicos OC can also be used in connectionwith GSM-R and ETCS (European TrainControl System) Levels 1 and 2. Thiscombination is suitable for regionaltrains as well as for international high-speed traffic.

Smooth operations – centrally controlled

Reliable mainline services with Vicos OC

Vicos OC – higher-level dispatching for mainline services


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Optimum transport performance through flexible dispatching

Needs-based freight transport with Vicos OC

Freight transport must be planned andexecuted to take account of materialand production requirements. It is there-fore directly integrated into the opera-tional processes. High levels of avail-ability and needs-based transport capa-city are imperative – a variety of goodsfrom different locations have to arrive at their destination “just in time” andwith the right priority.

Integration of freight transport intocurrent production controlBased on all operationally relevant fac-tors, Vicos OC can be used to generatetimetable-based speed profiles. This

permits the cost-effective simulation

and optimization of operations. The speedprofiles can then be sent directly to thevehicle via an interface.

An adjusted timetable can be generateddaily on the basis of the current produc-tion situation and infrastructure capac-ities. The current train movements, fore-casts and possible conflicts are represen-ted in a train graph in which current andfuture maintenance activities can also be entered. Moreover, trains can be dis-patched online by the signaler who isalso provided with automatic conflictsolutions.

An optional link-up of databases / datawarehouse systems and archive com-puters permits the comprehensive statistical evaluation of operations and the generation of reports.

Operator control and monitoring adjusted to logisticsThe operator is relieved of routine tasksand supported, for example, when per-forming coupling and shunting move-ments. All current data, for example trainnumbers, delays, the load and weight oftrains as well as vehicle diagnostic andline data, is arranged in an easy-to-understand, efficient manner on the operator console.

Monitoring of freight movementsIn very extensive systems, Vicos OC can be used for the straightforward inte-gration of GPS position-finding and otherprocesses so that all train and freightmovements within the network can bemonitored in real time.

Route setting in “dark territories”Vicos OC can be used to monitor andcontrol not only signaled areas but also“dark territories” (areas where no signal-ing systems are installed). Using move-ment authorities which are transmittedvia data or voice radio, this enables veryextensive line networks to be monitoredefficiently and cost-effectively.

Vicos OC – priority-controlled usage of resources in freight transport


Vicos OC worldwide

Selected references

Mass transit

Mainline services

Freight transport

Mass transit

Austria ViennaChina Hong Kong, Guangzhou,

Nanjing, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen

Denmark CopenhagenGermany Berlin, Bonn, Dortmund,

Hamburg, Cologne, Nuremberg, etc.

Greece AthensHungary BudapestIndia New DelhiItaly MilanMexico MonterreyPhilippines ManilaPortugal LisbonPuerto Rico San JuanSpain MadridSweden StockholmTaiwan KaohsiungThailand Bangkok Turkey BursaUSA New York City, HoustonVenezuela Maracaibo, Valencia

Mainline services

China Beijing–TianjinDenmark Grenå Line, Århus–OdderEstonia NarvaFinland Tampere, HelsinkiGreece Athens–Corinth–Kiato,

Athens–PiraeusLithuania Siauliai – KlaipedaNetherlands HSL ZuidNorway Oslo, Drammen,

LillestrømRomania PloesitiSaudi Arabia Dammam–RiyadhSyria Deir Ezzor–Abou Kama

Tartous–LattakiaUK Bournemouth,

Portsmouth

·Freight transport

Australia Port HedlandEgypt Bahariya LineCanada Edmonton, Montreal,

TorontoGermany Cologne, Senftenberg


www.siemens.com

Siemens AGIndustry SectorMobility DivisionP.O. Box 3327D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany

Phone: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-28 88Fax: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-48 88

© Siemens AG 2008

Printed in GermanyPPG144 312110 PA08081.5Order No.: A19100-V100-B874-V1-7600

The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which do not always have to be present in individual cases. The required features should therefore be specified in each individual case at the time of closing the contract.


Vattenfall Europe Mining AG’s railway system transports crude lignite from fouropen-cast mining sites to surroundingpower stations and processing plants at Schwarze Pumpe in Upper Lusatia, Eastern Germany. Connecting lines carry lignite products to other customers.The operations area covers 2,500 km2

and a line network of more than 400 km.

In 1995, Siemens was contracted by thethen LAUBAG to install an operationscontrol center at Schwarze Pumpe.

The challengeInstead of 16 control points for 29 old interlockings, control was to be concen-trated at a new control center, permittingload-dependent control and monitoringof the entire scope of operations – trainswere to be operated on a demand-controlled basis and not in line with a fixed timetable.

In addition to upgrading older interlock-ings to electronic operation, existing relay interlockings were to be controlledvia the control center. Maximum availabi-lity and commissioning without involvingmajor downtimes had to be ensured.

The solution from SiemensUsing one to seven operator consoles, an operations control center based on Vicos® OC enables control of the entiresystem flexibly adjusted to transportationdemand. A display panel visualizes theentire scope of operations on an up-to-the-minute basis and at a glance. Routesetting is automatic – even without a static timetable.

The consoles are equivalent to each other from a technical point of view, i.e. functional rights are linked to the respective user. Operating areas are freely selectable and can be combined in off-peak periods.

All interlocking types are controlled via astandard interface. Relay interlockings ofdifferent design can also be controlled ona centralized and fail-safe basis. A SCADAsystem is also integrated, permitting cen-tral control and monitoring of the con-tact line system and other systems (e.g.switch heaters).

Vicos OC features different logging andarchiving options and interfaces to thesurrounding logistic systems. Hence, forexample, color representation of the respective train number indicates the

train’s load status. Link-up of a databasesupports statistic evaluations, perform-ance-related vehicle maintenance andthe automatic weighing and accountingof all transported goods.

A special redundancy concept (hot stand-by) ensures maximum availability. As afall-back level, there are also three re-gional control centers which can be usedto control the interlockings in the eventof maintenance, for example. In addition,the system offers an operator console fortraining purposes.

Upper Lusatia – integrated industrial railway operations

Project data

> Railway operator / customer: Vattenfall Europe Mining AG

> more than 400 line kilometers> 20 interlockings of different design> up to 7,000 trains per day> Transport capacity: approx. 1 billion

tonne-km per year> Commissioning date: 1997 to 2001

Optimum transport capacitythrough flexible dispatching Needs-based freight traffic with Vicos OC


Referenz_Industrie_e2 04.09.2008 13:02 Uhr Seite 1

The industrial railway system of RWEPower AG in North Rhine-Westphaliatransports about 60 million tonnes oflignite per year. Against the backgroundof a changing transportation situation,the entire railway operations system wasto be adapted as from the mid-1990s.With a view to efficient handling of thechanged transportation functions, thesignaling and control systems, in somecases up to 45 years old, were to bemodernized.

The challengeWithin the context of the “Bahn 2000”project, the objective was to enable cen-tral cost-effective control and monitoringof operations with a gradual phase-out of the old train tracking, train numbermanagement and train describer systems.In future, all interlockings of differentdesign were to be capable of being con-trolled and monitored on a centralizedand fail-safe basis.

The solution from SiemensThe operations control center at Auen-heim provided considerably better dis-patching potential with centralized operator control, route setting and train tracking and a simultaneously major increase in the level of automa-tion. Electronic interlockings and relay interlockings which continue to be usedare controlled on a centralized and fail-safe basis.

A new train describer computer permitstrain describer operator actions in inter-action with material dispatching androute automation. This meant that theold separate control and display compu-ters and the independent train describersystem could be replaced.

The Vicos OC operations control systemoffers procedure-protected control anddisplay for all interlockings and, usingthree display levels (full area overview,area overviews and detail views), enablesthe entire system to be clearly controlledand monitored. The operator can use themouse to move between the different levels of detail in representation and between different displays.

The archiving function of Vicos OC serves to save data for later evaluation.Indications of the connected interlock-ings are recorded using the record andplayback module. This means that opera-tions can be played back on an operatorconsole at a later point in time for pur-poses of simulation and evaluation.

The Vicos OC service and diagnostic system provides specific informationabout fault causes on a status-dependentbasis and, using its online help feature,permits efficient maintenance.

Further expansion of the level of auto-mation with Vicos OC is intended (trainrun optimization, calculation of routesdepending on the supply capacity ofopen-cast mining sites).

Project data

> Railway operator / customer: RWE Power AG

> Transport capacity: approx. 60 million tonnes of lignite per year

> 320 line kilometers> 11 interlockings of different design> Commissioning date: 1998 to 2006

North Rhine-Westphalia – efficient modernization

www.siemens.com Printed in Germany / PPG151 312151 PA08081.5 / Order No.: A19100-V100-B874-V1-7600 The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which do not always have to be pre-sent in individual cases. The required features should therefore be specified in each individual case at the time of closing the contract.


Phone: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-28 88Fax: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-48 88

© Siemens AG 2008

Referenz_Industrie_e2 04.09.2008 13:02 Uhr Seite 2

Guangzhou is one of the ancient cities ofSouth China and nowadays the political,economic and cultural center of Guang-dong Province. After the successful com-missioning of Metro Lines 1 and 2, Siemens has been awarded follow-uporders for Lines 4 and 5.

The Vicos® OC scope of supply comprisesoperations control centers for the two lines and depots, service and diagnosticworkstations, and training and simulationfacilities.

The challengeThe system has had to meet the compre-hensive requirements of a modern masstransit control system including onlineand offline timetable management, inter-faces with communication, GPS clock andradio and such features as hot-standbyredundancy, synchronization with trainand platform screen doors and real-timemonitoring of floodgates.

However, the particular challenge involv-ing Guangzhou Lines 4 and 5 has been toprovide automatic, continuous real-timesupervision in combination with moving-block operation.

The Siemens solutionBased on subsections of logical track sections, Vicos OC performs a quasi-continuous calculation and representa-tion of all moving trains. The actual trainposition information is updated and displayed every 500 ms.

The Vicos OC timetable managementmodule comprises the compilation,validation and comparison of operativetimetables as well as automatic trainregulation and automatic route settingaccording to timetable data.

The operability of timetables with respectto technical and operational constraints(e.g. the dynamic behavior of trains,switches and signals) can be verified. Thesystem can also simulate operational situations resulting from disturbances ortemporary speed restrictions.

Automatic train regulation is performedaccording to either deviations from thetimetable or headway requirements. Thelatter is applicable, for example, in casean additional new train is inserted duringoperation due to a current rush of pas-sengers. Vicos OC then automaticallyproposes realistic headways to be chosenand set by the user.

It provides expected arrival and dwell times to the passenger information system and indicators in the stations.Timetable deviations and other data are archived in the report system for statistical evaluation purposes.

Real-time synchronization is achievedthrough a GPS master clock. Thus, Vicos OC itself serves as a time synchro-nization base for the automatic train control system.

The control centers include rear projec-tion screens displaying system overviewsas well as bilingual message, alarm andcommand lists and an operations diary.

In September 2006, Siemens was awardedthe order for an extension of the existingLine 2 and a new Line 8.

Guangzhou – real-time train supervision in a modern metropolis

Project features

> Railway authority / customer: Guangzhou Metro Corporation

> 38 / 31 track kilometers Lines 4 / 5> 10 / 21 stations> 30 / 45 trains> 90 s headway> Commissioning date: 2006 / 2009

High performance in complex linenetworksIntegrated mass transit with Vicos OC


Referenz_MassTransit_e 04.09.2008 13:23 Uhr Seite 1

www.siemens.com

With 1.3 billion passengers a year and4.4 million passengers a day, the NewYork subway is the fourth largest metrosystem in the world. In the past, the ope-rators relied on a static track view and radio communications to receive and assess information from the field. Trainschedules were provided in paper form.

The New York City Transit Authority(NYCT) assigned Siemens the task to upgrade and modernize a major divisionof New York subway's operations control system covering about one third of thetotal network.

The challengeThe system for NYCT would have to be significantly larger than most of the regular mass transit control systems, andthe complexity involved as well as the requirements imposed on subsystem integration placed stringent demands onsystem performance. However, smoothmigration from the old to the new system,without any interruption to services, wasa key requirement. The following tech-nical requirements particularly challenged the project:

> connection of existing interlockings of varying types and ages

> improvement of on-time performance and generation of a more regular headway

> automatic route setting including rerouting and conflict management

> integration of various subsystems (e.g. scheduling, crew management, process connection via field code units, etc.)

> integration of the voice communi-cation system

> coordination of emergency response activities and integrated alarm and report management

The Siemens solutionThe control center fully automaticallyhandles all the functions of the previous-ly decentralized control towers. Subwayoperations at more than 150 stations(and 92 interlockings) are controlled,monitored and dispatched by a total of82 Vicos® OC operator consoles. A large-sized screen, measuring 45 m x 1.5 m,provides a further overview of the lines.

The key functionality of the Vicos OC system includes real-time automatic traintracking on the basis of automatic vehi-cle identification and automatic routingand dispatching. Integrated voice anddata communications provide timetables,possible deviations and train position information to various other systems,e.g. for automated customer informationmessaging.

The operations control system featuresthe simulation, recording and playback of operational behavior. Moreover, it allows for report generation, online doc-umentation and logging (informationstorage and retrieval, voice recording)and provides information for all depart-ments involved in operations (e.g. auto-matic calculation and provision of car mileage data for the car maintenance department).

A detailed migration and commissioningplan has been developed to ensure theseamless integration of all interfaces andsubsystems.

Project features

> Railway authority / customer: New York City Transit Authority

> 150 stations> 91 interlockings> 6,000 cars> 370 km track kilometers> Maximum speed: 80 kph> Commissioning date: 2005 – 2006

New York – seamless integration with utmost complexity

Printed in Germany / PPG151 312151 PA08081.5 / Order No.: A19100-V100-B874-V1-7600 The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which do not always have to be pre-sent in individual cases. The required features should therefore be specified in each individual case at the time of closing the contract.


Phone: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-28 88Fax: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-48 88

© Siemens AG 2008

Referenz_MassTransit_e 04.09.2008 13:23 Uhr Seite 2

At Oslo Main Station – the center of Norway’s rail transport, an integrated“Airport Express Train Terminal” is to befound. Starting from here, passengerstravel only 19 minutes to the new airporton the first Norwegian high-speed line.

The integration of two high-performancetransport systems and the centralizationof Norway’s mainline rail traffic controlhas been jointly executed by the custo-mer and Siemens in three phases, com-prising several extension and upgradeprojects, some of which are still beingimplemented.

The challengeIt was a prerequisite that Norway’s hugeregional rail networks could be super-vised via operations control centers inOslo and Drammen, thus centralizingtraffic control for more than 80% of Norway’s mainline railway networks.

The Vicos® OC system would be the firstand biggest timetable-based automatictrain supervision and control system onmainline railways with more than 150controlled railway stations per controlcentre. With trains in service at a maxi-mum speed of 160 km/h at ten-minute

intervals, this truly challenges not onlythe signaling system but also the trafficcontrol infrastructure.

The Siemens solutionAll rail traffic is controlled, monitoredand coordinated from Oslo and Drammen.If necessary, both serve as a backup foreach other – the whole network can becontrolled from either Oslo or Drammenwhile remaining fully operational. Apartfrom the operations control centers, nostaff are required on site during regularoperation. A large-screen LCD monitor in Oslo with a width of 26 m and a heightof 2.25 m provides the necessary over-view.

The Vicos OC system comprises a widerange of automation functions, includingconflict detection, interactive electronictrain graph and semi-automatic (pre-programmed) command sequences forconflict solutions.

A data warehouse solution interfaceswith various subsystems. From this datawarehouse, solution reports and statisti-cal analyses can be freely configured andextracted by the user, depending on theinformation currently needed.

The system is designed to control andmonitor various interlocking types fromdifferent manufacturers. In addition, various subsystems such as power control system, GSM-R, trackside blocktelephones and passenger informationsystem have been integrated.

Today, Vicos OC is the leading operationscontrol system in the Scandinavian market.

Norway – centralization of railway traffic

Project features

> Railway authority / customer: NSB Gardermobanen and Jernbaneverket (JBV)

> 2,000 track kilometers> 1,000 to 1,500 trains per day> Control and monitoring of various

interlocking types> LCD large-screen monitor

(26 x 2.25 m) in Oslo> Commissioning dates:

– Phase 1 (Oslo control center)1996 – 2001

– Phase 2 (line and interlocking extensions) 2002 – 2006

– Phase 3 (upgrade of automationfunctions) 2006 – 2008

Smooth operation – centrally controlled Reliable mainline services with Vicos OC


Referenz_Mainline_e2 04.09.2008 12:32 Uhr Seite 1

www.siemens.com Printed in Germany / PPG151 312151 PA08081.5 / Order No.: A19100-V100-B874-V1-7600 The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which do not always have to be pre-sent in individual cases. The required features should therefore be specified in each individual case at the time of closing the contract.


Phone: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-28 88Fax: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-48 88

© Siemens AG 2008

The high density of the UK’s rail networkleads to high demands on safety and reli-ability for the signaling systems. With thiscomes the need for extensive ongoingupgrading measures. After privatizationof the rail system, the network, lines, in-terlockings (signal boxes) and communi-cations equipment are today owned byNetwork Rail. Using modernization pro-grams, Network Rail aims to increase thesafety, availability and reliability of theinfrastructure.

The challengeThe introduction of new technology was expressly requested by the customer.However, within a highly complex infra-structure, Siemens had to prove theadaptability of its technology. New andconventional systems must function sideby side, while fulfilling the complex British operating requirements and approval procedures.

The signaling system had to be designedto set a new benchmark in reliability,availability and low maintenance require-ments for future extensions and systemmigrations.

The Siemens solutionThe custom-made Vicos® OC system hasfit seamlessly into the existing infrastruc-ture. The whole Siemens solution hasgained Network Rail’s approval and hasbeen controlling trains along the DorsetCoast Line on England’s south coast since2003. The user interfaces have been easilyadapted to the British standards and thewhole Vicos OC system has been tested inseveral human factor studies and provedto fulfil all ergonomic regulations.

The operations control center at Bournemouth monitors and controls theSiemens interlocking at Bournemouthand another interlocking at Hinton Admiral as well as 160 other points withsignaling and communications equip-ment along the line.

The Vicos OC operations control centercomprises signaler and technician’s work-stations. While compatible to the Britishtrain tracking system, the Vicos OC traindescriber module has been one of thefirst to implement the SPAD (signal pas-sed at danger) function according to Net-work Rail’s safety regulations.

Vicos OC service and diagnostics work-stations have replaced the former tech-nician terminals. They provide specificinformation about the causes of faultsand offer instructional text on fault elimination. A back projection system gives an overview of the controlled area.The Vicos OC record and playback modulestores data and allows subsequent play-back for simulation and evaluation purposes.

Cooperation between Siemens and Network Rail has proved to be ground-breaking. Siemens has become anaccepted partner of Network Rail and received the Railtrack Partnering Award in recognition of successful cooperationin 300 partnering projects in the summerof 2001.

Project features

> Railway authority / customer: Network Rail

> Vicos OC 111> 26 track kilometers> 7 stations> Maximum speed: 144 kph (90 mph)> Commissioning date: 2003

Great Britain – a relationship of trust with the customer

Referenz_Mainline_e2 04.09.2008 12:33 Uhr Seite 2

The world’s largest diversified resourcescompany, BHP Billiton, ships millions oftonnes of ore to steel mills around theworld. However, the railway link betweenmines and port used to be a bottleneck limiting the iron ore transport capacity.

Siemens has been awarded a contract to design, build and deliver an advancedoperations control system for BHP Billitonto optimize existing iron ore rail freightoperations at Port Hedland, Western Australia.

The challengeThe strong worldwide demand for iron oreis creating opportunities for BHP Billiton to increase sales and is stimulating increased requirements for capacitythroughput from several mine sites inWestern Australia.

The particular challenge for BHP Billiton has been to> increase rail transport capacity

and throughput> integrate the complete mine-rail-

port supply chain system > effectively manage and control

rail freight operations > make efficient use of existing

infrastructure and resources

The Siemens solutionThe Vicos® OC system provided by Siemens links with BHP Billiton’s mineand port operations and supply chainmanagement systems to provide real-time control of rail freight movements.

The system comprises three integratedelements – the traffic control system, theonline train scheduling system, and thetrain information management system. The traffic control system allows opera-tors real-time control of rail freight move-ment throughout the entire system. It offers standard traffic control functionssuch as train tracking, monitoring, manual and automatic route setting and blocking as well as alarm management facilities.

Furthermore, the system features typicalfreight-related functions. A GPS position-ing system refines the data received by the up to 5 km track circuits and an electronics-based train order functionsubstitutes manual control of the non-signaled network.

The intelligent train scheduling system interfaces with other BHP Billiton systemsto assess iron ore capacity requirements.The requirements will be matched with

the availability of infrastructure and rolling stock to generate a daily master timetable. Moreover, additional functionsare available to generate editable electro-nic train graphs and provide for onlinescheduling.

The train information management sys-tem database collects operational datafrom internal and external sources, in-cluding data from trackside-mountedhot-box equipment, which allows BHP Billiton to make user queries and createdetailed reports.

Siemens has developed a two-stage,step-by-step introduction of the Vicos OCsystem to minimize the risk of interrup-tions to daily business, while still deliver-ing substantial modification and modern-ization of the railway system within theshortest timeframe.

Australia – global demand and challenging iron ore rail freight operations

Project features

> Railway authority / customer: BHP Billiton

> 650 track kilometers> 37 sidings> 3,500 wagons per day> Commissioning date: 2007

Optimum transport performance through flexible dispatching Needs-based freight transport with Vicos OC


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With approx. 20,000 track kilometers, Canadian National Railway (CN) is thebiggest freight rail operator in Canadaand one of the most important in NorthAmerica. CN is the only railway to spanthe continent from east to west andnorth to south.

The challengeThe existing operations control centers for the Canadian part of the CN rail net-work in Edmonton, Montreal and Torontocaused increasing maintenance expensesand had to be modernized. Thus, CN decided to change over to a modern, integrated traffic control solution.

One particular challenge of the Canadianline are the so-called “dark territories”,large areas (approx. 40%) without any signaling. Some switches are operated manually and the operating concept re-quires a dispatcher at the control centerto issue driving instructions (movementauthorities) by radio.

The Siemens solutionThe Vicos® OC system offers train track-ing and optimized routing functionality,train sheet functions, movement authorityfunctionality, web-based trackline viewsand playback. All components in the control system are duplicated. The system features contingency capabilitiesto permit the instantaneous business resumption of dispatching at alternate sites, if necessary.

The new system provides greater sche-duling reliability to control with precisionthe more than 400 trains CN operatesdaily across 20,000 kilometers of track in Canada. The fully integrated system,providing network-wide scheduling control, meets the customer’s exactingsafety standards.

The new control system is linked directlyto CN's service reliability strategy systemwith its industry-leading scheduling andplanning capabilities. Each dispatcherworks with six TFT monitors (four pro-viding an overview over the dispatcher's territory and two for operations).

The operating procedures have been considerably simplified to improve thetrain dispatcher's efficiency. Before completing the user interface, CN andSiemens analyzed the most frequentlyused operations. With only two mouseclicks, multiple types of routes can beset. Inputs via the keyboard are only required for text entry. This approach enables the user to concentrate onoperations rather than on how to operate the system.

The system has bilingual capabilities(English and French) and seamless trans-fer between signaled and non-signaled(dark) territories. There is a mutual fall-back capability between the control cen-ters. In the event that one control centersite should become unavailable, the othercontrol center site can take over opera-tions seamlessly (business resumption).

The Siemens solution allows CN’s main-tenance of way forces to significantly improve efficiency for both dispatchersand maintenance staff by exchanging information with the new dispatching system through optimized and secure wireless communications.

Project features

> Railway authority / customer: Canadian National Railway

> 20,000 track kilometers> 400 trains per day> Operations control centers in

Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto> 46 traffic control workstations > Commissioning date: 2005 – 2006

Photos reproduced with kind permission of BHP Billiton and Canadian National

Canada – reliable scheduling across “dark territories”

Printed in Germany / PPG151 312151 PA08081.5 / Order No.: A19100-V100-B874-V1-7600 The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which do not always have to be pre-sent in individual cases. The required features should therefore be specified in each individual case at the time of closing the contract.


Phone: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-28 88Fax: (+49) (5 31) 2 26-48 88

© Siemens AG 2008

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