Transmission balise-locomotive

Last updated

Transmission balise-locomotive (Dutch: Transmissie Baken Locomotief; TBL; English: "Beacon-to-Locomotive Transmission") is a train protection system used in Belgium and (until 2021) on Hong Kong's East Rail line.

Contents

Versions

TBL1

TBL1-balise Balise TBL1.jpg
TBL1-balise

The TBL system is designed to stop a train passing a red signal, with operating speeds of up to 160 km/h. In 2006 13% of the Belgium train network used the original TBL system, introduced in 1982. [1]

The system requires the train driver to manually acknowledge a warning when passing a double yellow signal (similar to the Memor/Le Crocodile system), as well as stopping a train automatically if it passes a red signal. [2]

TBL1+

TBL1+ began to be installed on the Belgian rail network in 2006, with full conversion to the system expected by 2012. The system is a development of TBL1, but uses Eurobalises, providing compatibility for later reconfiguration to an ETCS system. [3] An additional safety measure is the addition of an additional balise 300m up-line, which forces an automatic stop on trains travelling at more than 40 km/h ahead of a red signal. [2]

The roll-out of TBL1+ was accelerated after the Halle train collision on 15 February 2010, which killed 19 and injured 171 people. An upgraded version, TBL1++ was also unable to prevent the 2017 Leuven derailment while ETCS would have. [4]

Similar to the Swiss EuroSignum approach, it simply converts the aspects from TBL1 into a digital transmission packet so that it is compatible with ETCS, while not interfering with ETCS functionality, by using the national datagram (packet number 44) that is defined in the ERTMS / ETCS specification requirements specification (subset 026). [5]

TBL2/3

The TBL2/3 system is nearly identical to the Dutch ATB-NG, and allows operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h. [1] The system is used on the high speed line between Bierbeek (Leuven) and Ans (Liège). [1]

All other high-speed lines will be equipped with ETCS level 2, as shown in the network statement published by Infrabel on its website. Line 4, linking Antwerp to the Dutch High Speed Line South, is equipped with both Level 2 and, as fallback, Level 1. [6]

Overseas usage

The TBL system has been in use by local trains on Hong Kong's East Rail line, a trunk line of the MTR network, since the late 1990s. It was intended as a replacement for the line's original Automatic Warning System (AWS), a British train protection system, so as to allow for increased traffic and capacity on the East Rail line. [7] With the introduction of an Automatic train operation (ATO) system supplied by Alstom in 2002 [8] the said TBL system now functions as the safety-critical part of the said ATO system, and also serves as a fallback in case the ATO system fails or is not available. [9] Intercity trains, which use the East Rail line within Hong Kong territory but do not stop, continue to operate with AWS.

TBL on the East Rail line is due to be replaced in 2020 with a communications-based train control (CBTC) system, similar to that on the West Rail line, as part of the Sha Tin to Central Link upgrades. [10] However, on the day where the CBTC system was supposed to be deployed, it encountered some signalling faults, hence it was changed back to the TBL system. In February 2021, MTR announced that the TBL system will be phased out on 6 February 2021 and the CBTC system will be put into service with the MTR R-Trains.

The ATP system installed on the Great Western Main Line in the United Kingdom is based on TBL. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTR</span> Rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is a major public transport network serving Hong Kong. Operated by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), it consists of heavy rail, light rail, and feeder bus service centred on a 10-line rapid transit network serving the urbanised areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. The system included 245.3 km (152.4 mi) of rail as of December 2022 with 179 stations, including 98 heavy rail stations, 68 light rail stops and five high-speed rail terminus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Rail line</span> Hong Kong MTR railway line

The East Rail line is one of the ten lines that form MTR, the mass transit system in Hong Kong. The railway line starts at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, both of which are boundary crossing points into Shenzhen and joins in the north at Sheung Shui and ends at Admiralty station on Hong Kong Island. At approximately 45.8 km (28.5 mi), the line is the second longest line within the network, behind the Tuen Ma line. The line's colour is light blue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balise</span> Beacon or transponder used on railways

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automatic train control</span> Class of train protection systems for railways

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.

Automatic train operation (ATO) is a technology used to automate the operation of trains. The degree of automation is indicated by the Grade of Automation (GoA), up to GoA4 in which the train is automatically controlled without any staff on board. On most systems for lower grades of automation up to GoA2, there is a driver present to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies. Driverless automation is primarily used on automated guideway transit systems where it is easier to ensure the safety due to isolated tracks. Fully automated trains for mainline railways are an area of research. The first driverless experiments in the history of train automation date back to 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Train Control System</span> Railway signaling 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).

The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is the system of standards for management and interoperation of signalling for railways by the European Union (EU). It is conducted by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and is the organisational umbrella for the separately managed parts of

SelTrac is a digital railway signalling technology used to automatically control the movements of rail vehicles. It was the first fully automatic moving-block signalling system to be commercially implemented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTR Metro Cammell EMU (AC)</span> Model of electric multiple unit

The East Rail line Metro Cammell EMU was a model of electric multiple unit built in 1980–1990 by Metro-Cammell for the original Kowloon–Canton Railway in Hong Kong. The 29 sets were owned by and were originally operated by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC). They were operated by MTR Corporation (MTRC) after it merged with KCRC in 2007. Although another set of EMU trains from the same manufacturer operate on some of MTR's own lines, there are some significant differences between the two models, with the Metro Cammell EMUs of the original MTR being known as the Modernization Train.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurobalise</span>

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.

EBICab is a trademark registered by Alstom 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.

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).

Belgian railway signalling is the signalling in effect on the Belgian rail network currently operated by Infrabel.

The Halle train collision was a collision between two NMBS/SNCB passenger trains carrying a combined 250 to 300 people in Buizingen, in the municipality of Halle, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, on 15 February 2010. The accident occurred in snowy conditions at 08:28 CET (07:28 UTC), during rush hour, on railway line 96 (Brussels–Quévy) about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Brussels between P-train E3678 from Leuven to Braine-le-Comte and IC-train E1707 from Quiévrain to Liège. A third train was able to come to a stop just in time. The collision killed 19 people and injured 171, making it the deadliest rail accident in Belgium in over fifty years.

LOCOPROL has been a project to research the integration of satellite navigation into railway networks targeting low-density track lines. It is supposed to extend the ERTMS train protection systems. The partner project LOCOLOC was looking into cab signaling and speed control measures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moving block</span> Type of railway signalling system

In railway signalling, a moving block is a signalling block system where the blocks are defined in real time by computers as safe zones around each train. This requires both knowledge of the exact location and speed of all trains at any given time, and continual communication between the central signalling system and the train's cab signalling system. Moving block allows trains to run closer together while maintaining required safety margins, thereby increasing the line's overall capacity. It may be contrasted with fixed block signalling systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communications-based train control</span> Railway signaling system

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 makes railway traffic management safer and more efficient. Metros are able to reduce headways while maintaining or even improving safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTR Urban Lines Vision Train</span> New type of train rolling on MTR

The MTR Urban Lines Vision Train is a new rolling stock ordered by MTR Hong Kong in July 2015. They began replacing all of the aging Metro-Cammell EMU (DC) trains starting from 27 November 2022. The order currently consists of 744 cars.

The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is an initiative backed by the European Union to enhance cross-border interoperability and the procurement of signalling equipment by creating a single Europe-wide standard for train control and command systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SACEM (railway system)</span> Train protection system for rapid transit railways

The Système d'aide à la conduite, à l'exploitation et à la maintenance (SACEM) is an embedded, automatic speed train protection system for rapid transit railways. The name means "Driver Assistance, Operation, and Maintenance System".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Harry Hondius (March 1, 2006), "Belgians opt for Level 2 and GSM-R", www.railwaygazette.com, DVV Media Group
  2. 1 2 "Driving Aids", www.infrabel.be, Infrabel
  3. ↑ "Belgians to install interim ATP", www.railwaygazette.com, DVV Media Group, May 1, 2006
  4. ↑ Summary Safety Investigation Report Derailment of a passenger train Leuven - 18 February 2017
  5. ↑ "Corridor A, implementation plan" (PDF). corridor-rhine-alpine.eu/. Corridor A, Rhine-Apline. April 4, 2013. p. 109. Retrieved April 23, 2014. The conventional lines are also equipped with a simple ATP system (TBL1+) based on ETCS components.
  6. ↑ "ERTMS Deployment World Map", www.ertms.net, Unife, 2013
  7. ↑ MTR East Rail Line: an intro. Checkerboard Hill. March 15, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ ALSTOM to supply signaling for Hong Kong's East rail line. Alstom. September 4, 2001. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ British railway signalling and MTR East Rail. Checkerboard Hill. April 13, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ "MTR awards East Rail upgrading contracts". Railway Gazette International. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Chiltern ATP obsolescence | Rail Engineer" . Retrieved 2021-08-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.