CBTC Communication Based

Train Control

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

Introduction

Communication Based Train Control is an automated

control system that ensures safe operation of rail
vehicles using data communication between control
entities.
CBTC is based on basic principles from
telecommunication and automation
There are different levels of automation:
Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
Automatic Train Operation (ATO)
Automatic Train Supervision (ATS)

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

THALES CBTC

Characteristic of THALES CBTC :

Standard network and radio based communication
system based on the Internet Protocol (IP) Standard.
Remote train monitoring in real time
Constant high-speed connectivity between train and
trackside
Centralized network management
A flexible network architecture

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

THALES CBTC Functional Components

Detection of train location, speed and direction

Transponder tags, tachometer,

Accelerometer,

Switch/route info

Route and switch interlocking

Safe train separation using Progressive Movement
Authority
Work Zone protection
Train handover between neighboring Zone Controller
Emergency Stop Device response

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

CBTC Digital Communication Network (DCS)

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

CBTC communication subsystem

CENTRAL EQUIPMENT

External
Connection

STATION
EQUIPMENT

WAYSIDE
EQUIPMENT

Wired Network (backbone)

Wireless network (wayside)
On-board (vehicle) network

COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

'

OBE

OBE

ON-BOARD EQUIPMENT

CENTRAL EQUIPMENT

External
Connection

STATION
EQUIPMENT

Pr
ox
y

LAN

LAN
SD

WAYSIDE
EQUIPMENT

SD

LAN
SD

SD

LAN

COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

MOBILE NETWORK
SD

LAN

SD

'

OBE

OBE

LAN

ON-BOARD EQUIPMENT

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

Wired communication subsystem (backbone)

The wired portion of the CBTC consists of a backbone network

that provides IP network services between the central or
wayside equipment
It consists of one or more 100/1000 Mbps fibre optic Ethernet
rings allowing exclusive full duplex use of a 100/1000 Mbps
channel to each connected node. The network uses layer 2
switches to provide flat connectivity to all the application
equipment. It could also use layer 3 routers (or routing
functionality in multi-purpose switches) to provide traffic
protection and in some cases additional security
CENTRAL
APPLICATION

WAYSIDE
APPLICATION

BACKBONE SWITCHES

BACKBONE NETWORK

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

Wireless communication (wayside network)

The wayside network utilizes the backbone switches to

connect the WRUs (Wayside Radio Unit) to the overall network
Groups of WRUs are connected in a ring topology. Each end
of the ring has a bridge connection to a different backbone
switch. This configuration requires a managed switch (that
provides ring reconfiguring following a switch failure). If a single
WRU or a single switch fails all the unaffected WRUs remain
connected.

'

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

SD

OBE

SD

On-board communication subsystem (vehicle)

Each onboard network device is a modular component, with
two (2) IEEE 802.3 interfaces, as well as one CAN bus interface.
CAN bus is provided for data transfer through the couplers. It
requires only a single twisted pair wire and can operate in poorer
transmission environments than Ethernet.

IEEE 802.11

IEEE 802.11

RF

RF

MRU

ND

ND

ND

IEEE 802.3

CAN

Rail Signalling Solutions

ND

MRU

VOBC

2 x twisted pair copper

Igor Silajev

2 x twisted pair copper

CAN

Physical component of communication system

Mobile Radio Unit (MRU, OBRU, DCU)
Station Adapter (SA)
Wayside Radio Unit (WRU)
Access Point (AP)

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

CBTC Automation Control Subsystems

Central control subsystem (System Regulation Servers -SRS):
Man Machine interface
of tracks and train positions and status
Headway and schedule regulation
Automatic and Manual Train Routing and scheduling

Overview

Wayside control subsystem (Zone Controller - ZC):

Zone Controller on the trackside is the recipient for all position messages sent from the trains
within its region of control and the status of the obstructions such as axle counter blocks, signals,
switches, floodgates, guideway intruder detection.
The ZC is responsible for route setting based on the commands received from the Central control
subsystem. It supports fully bidirectional operation.

On-board vehicle control subsystem (Vehicle On-Board Controller VOBC):

The

vital component of the system is a Vehicle On-board Controller (VOBC) on the train
Vehicle On-board Controller establishes the position of the train on the guideway by detecting
transponders located in the track bed, and uses the transponder data to extract information from the
database
The database on the Vehicle On-board Controller contains all relevant guideway information,
including station stops, gradients, civil speed limits, switch locations, axle counter blocks locations
and trackside signal locations.
The

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

Overview of all CBTC Control Subsystems

OCC

Mimic Display
Line Controller
Workstation

Line Controller
Workstation

Line Controller
Workstation

Data
Recorder/
Viewer

Network
Printer

Network
Monitoring
System

Backup OCC

Mimic Display
Line Controller
Workstation

Line Controller
Workstation

Line Controller
Workstation

Data
Recorder/
Viewer

Network
Printer

Network
Monitoring
System

Terminal
Server
Network
Printer

ATS
Server s

ATS
Workstation

Network
Printer

Backup ATS
Servers

External Devices

Network
Printer

ATS Schedule
Display Workstation

ATS
Workstation

ATS Workstation 2

Certification
Authority

Timetable
Compiler

Network
Printer

ATS Schedule
Display Workstation

VOBC & ZC
Simulator

Terminal
Server

Certification
Authority

Timetable
Compiler

Training Centre

External Devices

Router
(Firewall)

Environment
Simulator

ATS Workstation 1

Network
Printer

Router
(Firewall)

DCS

DCS

DCS

DCS Backbone

Interlocking Station

Depot

Test Track

DCS

DCS DCS

DCS
Zone
Controller

Interring DCS

ACE

ACE
Zone
Controller

ATS
Server

Data
Logger

Router
(Firewall)

ATS

Data
Recorder

Non-Interlocking Station
Data Recorder

Workstation

Depot
Interlocking
equipment

Relay Rack
Interring DCS

AP

Relay Rack

AP

Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11

Crew
Protection
Switches
CTF

CTF

CTF

Switch
Machines

Signals

PSD
Sim

Crew
Sw

Transponders

Depot I/L

Trackside Equipment

PSDs

Axle Counters

APs

Crew Sw

DIs

GIDS/PIDS

Switch
Machines

Signals

PSDs

Crew Sw

DIs

GIDS/PIDS

Cab A

30 C20 Existing Trains

54 C30 New Trains

Cab B

2oo3
VOBC

Proximity
Plates

Maintenance Centre

Interring DCS

DCS

Trackside Equipment
Wayside
SLMD

ATS Maintenance
Workstation

Network
Printer

ATS Fault Report

Workstation

Depot
Maintenance
Workstation

Legend:

IPS Server

Transponders

Provisioned for Future Upgrade

VOBC
SLMD

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

Proximity Plate s

CBTC Man Machine Interface capabilities

Central control Man Machine
interface. Line overview

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

CBTC Man Machine Interface capabilities

CBTC MMI operations menu

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

CBTC Man Machine Interface capabilities

Assigning a Train

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

CBTC Man Machine Interface capabilities

Schedule definition, assignment and adjustment
Predefine

different schedule for weekday, weekend, holiday, etc.

Predefine

distribution of trains between buildups and reductions

throughout the day
Assign

/ clear predefined schedule for System Regulation Server

to implement
Apply

automatic or manual global schedule slide

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

THALES CBTC implementation

THALES CBTC implementation worldwide:
Canada
Toronto Scarborough LRT and Subway
Vancouver Canada-Line
Vancouver SkyTrain
Korea
Busan-Gimhae Line
Seoul Sin Bundang Line
Malaysia/Asia
Kuala Lumpur LRT II
Beijing Line 4
Guangzhou Line 3
MTR Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong
MTR Ma On Shan Rail , Hong Kong
Wuhan LRT
United Arab Emirates
Dubai Metro: Green Line
United Kingdom / Europe
London Dockland
London Underground: Jubilee Line
Paris Line 13
USA

AirTrain JFK
Detroit DPM
Las Vegas Monorail
NYC Flushing Line
Washington Dulles Airport

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev

Questions / Answers

Q & A

Rail Signalling Solutions

Igor Silajev