The last twelve months have seen a number of notable

T
he last twelve months have seen a number
of notable developments to Siemens Rail
Automation’s control systems technology,
with significant improvements in the functionality,
performance and configuration of the key systems
components.
At the heart of the company’s suite of products is its
proven Controlguide Westcad computer-based control
and display system, which following the development of
new Modular Control Rack (MCR) technology, is now able
to incorporate train describer functionality and to interface
seamlessly with the Controlguide Westronic 1024 Time
Division Multiplexer (TDM) system.
Controlling the Loop
The first application of this new technology was
deployed in 2012 to support Network Rail’s European
Train Control System (ETCS) trials programme at its
National Integration Facility. The work covered a five-mile
effectively proving the ability of Westcad MCR to remotely
stretch of the down line on the Hertford Loop (between
control any interlocking anywhere in the UK over the FTN.
Molewood Tunnel and Langley South junction) which now
To provide a higher level of protection than would be given
has the interlocking control from a relocatable equipment
by the FTN, a new proprietary communication protocol
building (REB) in the former Hitchin goods yard.
was introduced.
Siemens designed, installed, tested and commissioned
an MCR system in the REB to provide a local control point
for the interlocking – the remote/main control work
Bigger performance, smaller package
Having received Generic Approval from Network Rail
station being at Kings Cross Power Signal Box, with Hitchin
and having been through a full safety case, Controlguide
being the local facility. A lockable switch at Hitchin allows
Westcad MCR and Westronic 1024 both incorporate
for the transfer of control between the emergency
Siemens’ new mid-plane technology, providing the
Westcad at Hitchin and the main Westcad control work
smallest possible footprint and dramatically reducing the
station at King’s Cross.
size of standard control systems equipment (reducing
The project represented the first installation in the UK of
the space requirement for a complete control system
a computer-based interlocking being controlled remotely
from a full equipment cubicle to the size of a standard
over Network Rail’s Fixed Telecoms Network (FTN),
domestic microwave oven). The introduction of common
modules also allows for standardisation in both training
and spare-holding requirements, with the modules all fully
EMC-certified for installation within their own housing,
or for mounting in relay racking, 19 inch cubicles or at the
rear of a work-station.
Due to be commissioned later this year, the
Wolverhampton resignalling programme will be the first
to feature a fully-duplicated control and train describer
system in a single rack, both running on the same
processor and with a direct interface for the required
emergency alarms.
Mike Lewis, Siemens Rail Automation UK’s head of
A major requirement of the development programme
was to ensure a familiar user interface for the systems
control systems, said: “This project will represent the most
as well as providing the flexibility for their use in a wide
cost-effective control centre solution available, with the
variety of new and retrofit applications.
train describer running as a software module within our
Mike Lewis continued: “With this dramatic reduction
proven control system to deliver significantly improved
in size comes some obvious benefits. The unit is more
performance and reduced cost, and perfectly
portable and features much simplified cabling and
demonstrates the dramatic reduction in required
drawings; consequently design, installation and testing
footprint – from a full cubicle to a single rack.
are all easier and significantly faster. With a range of
“Unlike other manufacturers, we took the decision at an
early stage in the development process to base our
system developments on bespoke hardware, rather than
diagnostic tools and hot-swap standby features, the
system is also incredibly reliable and easy to maintain.
“The move away from industrial PCs and Compact PCI
relying on commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions. This
technology allows any of the cards to be hot-swapped.
not only allowed us to specify equipment without having
Consequently, the system can ‘lose’ a card and it
to make compromises, but also to keep full control of the
automatically switches to another whilst the faulty one is
hardware development and manage the whole life cycle
repaired and replaced. We’re using a ten layer mid-plane
of the product, with the design of the connectors and
to do all the interconnections, which has eliminated the
interfaces ensuring full backward and forward
need for multiple processor housings and the associated
compatibility.”
interconnects.”
Faster installation
Using a suitable communications link, the system is able
to drive most types of interlocking, including solid- state
equipment and has been so successful, that Siemens has
received orders to install the same solution for York, Rugby
and Three Bridges ROCs.
interlocking (SSI), Trackguard Westlock, Trackguard
Westrace and relay interlockings. Automatic Route
Setting (ARS) and Automatic Route Facility (ARF) have also
Flexible functionality
Completing the control systems portfolio is Siemens’
both been successfully integrated and are operating on
Controlguide Westronic 1024 system which includes a
Network Rail infrastructure.
point-to-point TDM, panel processor, emergency alarm
Earlier this year and as part of the Thameslink
system, signalling SCADA RTU and panel and TD input
programme at London Bridge, Siemens undertook a full,
multiplexers. Again flexibility has been key to the system’s
like-for-like replacement of the life-expired train describer
development and it can accept a number of rear transition
equipment. The company introduced a modern system
cards, allowing for the simple ‘plug and play’ replacement of
designed and developed to provide support both for the
existing TDM systems such as S2 and TDM69.
legacy equipment and future upgrade requirements,
The system is able to be used as part of re-control projects
including the facility to allow simple re-control to Three
where existing route relay interlockings are retained – the
Bridges rail operating centre (ROC).
rear cards of the product are simply changed to suit the site,
By employing the new technology as front-end
rather than an extensive programme of rewiring being
signalling processors, the company was able to complete
required. Changeover times are therefore significantly
a seamless changeover, with implementation having to
reduced and route closures minimised.
be undertaken to minimise possession times, access
Fully compliant with Network Rail’s FTN, the systems are
times and operational disruption. The new train
also capable of interfacing to all types of interlocking
describer cubicles were all installed in their final position
(including BR Freewire, geographical, Western E10K, ERSE
with all the new interfacing cabling and trunking pre-
and OCS). The complementary output card (COP) also
installed. Whereas the original equipment was installed in
guards against single-bit failure of TDMs and allows a direct
the 1990s over a whole weekend, this work was
connection to ERSE and E10K interlockings, significantly
commissioned in less than half that time.
reducing the need for additional relay circuitry for these two
Another first for the application of this new technology
was introduced as part of the Huyton to Roby resignalling
interlockings on re-control schemes.
Mike Lewis continued: “We have now pre-installed 12
programme which was commissioned in July 2014.
Controlguide Westcad MCR systems in the Manchester
Developing a bespoke signallers’ workstation, Siemens
ROC this year, and have also secured the control
configured its Controlguide Westcad MCR system as a
systems work for both the York ROC Stafford resignalling
front-end display solution, with an ethernet connection to
programme (which is the first to be commissioned into
the equipment room interlocking management system
Rugby ROC).
(IMS). This custom desk incorporates ‘slide-out’
equipment bays to maximise the maintainability of the
“With further work at the East and West Midlands
control centres during the year, we will also be installing
two further systems at Three Bridges ROC over Christmas
2014 as part of the wider Thameslink programme. Future
phases will introduce our Westcad E software which has
interfaces to the Siemens radio block controller (RBC) for
ERTMS applications.
“We are however also continuing with the development
of the systems group of products, with Immediate Route
Setting (IRS) functionality planned to be introduced in
2015 at Cardiff and Romford ROCs as part of our ongoing
Traffic Management Systems work with Thales. This will
provide a direct interface between our Westcad MCR
control system and Thales’ Aramis traffic management
system and introduce our Controlguide Westcad
technology which allows for flexible control.
“Future development work will also see the
development of interfaces to the Controlguide Westcad E
system from Frequentis’ telecommunications system and
a novel solution to interface CCTV level crossing control –
all of which will allow even greater flexibility of working
between desks”.
William Wilson, Siemens Rail Automation’s director sales
and commercial, said: “These are very exciting times for
Siemens; having made a significant investment in new
technology, we now have a portfolio of products ready for
the next generation of Network Rail projects which require
operational cost efficiencies, higher reliability, functionality
and performance.”