EBICab is a trademark registered by Alstom (former Bombardier) for the equipment on board a train used as a part of an Automatic Train Control system. Three different families exist, which are technically unrelated.
EBICab 500 is Bombardier's implementation of the German PZB, the train protection system widely used in Germany, Austria and other countries, allowing operation up to 160 km/h.
EBICab 600 is Bombardier's implementation of the German PZB and LZB as a combined STM. The LZB is used on high-speed tracks in Germany, up to 300 km/h.
EBICab 700 was originally derived from Ericsson's SLR system in Sweden. Most trains in Sweden and Norway use a similar on-board system, Ansaldo L10000 (more known as ATC-2) from Bombardier's competitor Ansaldo STS (now Hitachi Rail STS). [1] ATC-2 was also developed in Sweden. [2]
These on-board systems use pairs of balises mounted on the sleepers. The pairs of balises distinguish signals in one direction from the other direction with semicontinuous speed supervision, using a wayside to train punctual transmission using wayside transponders. [3]
EBICab comes in two versions, EBICab 700 in Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Bulgaria and EBICab 900 installed in the spanish Mediterranean Corridor (vmax= 220 km/h), and in Finland (Finnish : Junakulunvalvonta) under the name ATP-VR/RHK. In Portugal it is known as Convel (the contraction of Controlo de Velocidade, meaning Speed Control).
The EBICab 900 system uses wayside balises with signal encoders or series communications with electronic lookup table, and on-board equipment on the train. The transmission of data occurs between the passive wayside balises (between 2 and 4 per signal) and the antenna installed under the train, which powers the balises when it passes over the balises. The coupling between the balise and the on-board antenna is inductive.
In comparison with ASFA, a system which transmits only a maximum amount of data per frequency, EBICAB uses electronic lookup table, the amount of data transmitted is much larger.
Adif/Renfe, in Spain, sometimes use the term ATP to refer to EBICAB 900, which is the first system on its network to provide Automatic Train Protection. The Manila MRT Line 3 in the Philippines also uses the ATP term to refer to EBICAB 900. [4]
The most important difference with EBICab 900, is that EBICab 700 can only transmit packets with 12 useful bits for a total of 32bits and allows up to 5 transponders per signal.
The EBICab 2000 is Bombardier's implementation of a ETCS, operated in several European countries (Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Poland). It can read Eurobalises and can communicate by Euroradio with a RBC.
Automatic train protection (ATP) is the generic term for train protection systems that continually check that the speed of a train is compatible with the permitted speed allowed by signalling, including automatic stop at certain signal aspects. If it is not, ATP activates an emergency brake to stop the train.
A balise is an electronic beacon or transponder placed between the rails of a railway as part of an automatic train protection (ATP) system. The French word balise is used to distinguish these beacons from other kinds of beacons.
Cab signaling is a railway safety system that communicates track status and condition information to the cab, crew compartment or driver's compartment of a locomotive, railcar or multiple unit. The information is continually updated giving an easy to read display to the train driver or engine driver.
Automatic train control (ATC) is a general class of train protection systems for railways that involves a speed control mechanism in response to external inputs. For example, a system could effect an emergency brake application if the driver does not react to a signal at danger. ATC systems tend to integrate various cab signalling technologies and they use more granular deceleration patterns in lieu of the rigid stops encountered with the older automatic train stop (ATS) technology. ATC can also be used with automatic train operation (ATO) and is usually considered to be the safety-critical part of a railway system.
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a train protection system designed to replace the many incompatible systems used by European railways, and railways outside of Europe. ETCS is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
Automatic train stop or ATS is a system on a train that automatically stops a train if certain situations occur to prevent accidents. In some scenarios it functions as a type of dead man's switch. Automatic train stop differs from the concept of Automatic Train Control in that ATS usually does not feature an onboard speed control mechanism.
Linienzugbeeinflussung is a cab signalling and train protection system used on selected German and Austrian railway lines as well as on the AVE and some commuter rail lines in Spain. The system was mandatory where trains were allowed to exceed speeds of 160 km/h (99 mph) in Germany and 220 km/h (140 mph) in Spain. It is also used on some slower railway and urban rapid transit lines to increase capacity. The German Linienzugbeeinflussung translates to continuous train control, literally: linear train influencing. It is also called linienförmige Zugbeeinflussung.
PZB or Indusi is an intermittent cab signalling system and train protection system used in Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Israel, Serbia, on two lines in Hungary, on the Tyne and Wear Metro in the UK, and formerly on the Trillium Line in Canada.
Transmission Voie-Machine is a form of in-cab signalling originally deployed in France and is mainly used on high-speed railway lines. TVM-300 was the first version, followed by TVM-430.
Railway signals in Germany are regulated by the Eisenbahn-Signalordnung. There are several signalling systems in use, including the traditional H/V (Hauptsignal/Vorsignal) system.
A train protection system is a railway technical installation to ensure safe operation in the event of human error.
A Eurobalise is a specific type of a balise installed between the rails of a railway. Eurobalises are part of the European train control system (ETCS). The balises are pre-programmed and contain information that is read by train antennas. One of their many functions is to allow a train to determine its location.
Transmission balise-locomotive is a train protection system used in Belgium and on Hong Kong's East Rail line.
Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) is a positive train control cab signaling system developed by Alstom. The system is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, protect against overspeed, and protect work crews with temporary speed restrictions. The information about permanent and temporary speed restrictions is transmitted to the train by transponders (Balises) lying in the track, coded track circuits and digital radio. It was installed beginning in 2000 on all of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston, and has been fully active since December 2015, a few months after the 2015 Philadelphia train derailment which it would have prevented.
The Chinese Train Control System is a train control system used on railway lines in People's Republic of China. CTCS is similar to the European Train Control System (ETCS).
Communications-based train control (CBTC) is a railway signaling system that uses telecommunications between the train and track equipment for traffic management and infrastructure control. CBTC allows a train's position to be known more accurately than with traditional signaling systems. This can make railway traffic management safer and more efficient. Rapid transit system are able to reduce headways while maintaining or even improving safety.
Anuncio de Señales y Frenado Automático is an Automatic Train Protection system widely deployed on the Spanish rail network. It consists of a mechanism that stops a train if the driver does not properly heed signals.
The train protection system Geschwindigkeitsüberwachung Neigetechnik enables to rise the speed of tilting trains until 30 % above the limits for conventional trains. It is installed on numerous lines in Germany along with the traditional Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung (PZB) intermittent signalling system.
The ZUB 1xx system is a family of train protection systems produced by Siemens. Its ZUB balises were deployed in the ZUB 121 train protection system in the Swiss railway network, in the ZUB 122 tilting control system in the German railway network, and in the ZUB 123 train protection system in the Danish railway network. Some of these were adapted for other railway lines before the next generation ZUB 2xx family was introduced which is based on Eurobalises - the earlier ZUB balises are not compatible with those.