Concept-Oriented Research and Development in Information Technology

8

Future of Railway Signaling and Train Control

Tang Tao and Xun Jing

State Key Laboratory of Rail Traffic Control and Safety, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China

Abstract

With expanding implementation of the enabling 3C (computer, communication, and control) technologies in more recent years, increasingly wider public railways have become more ergonomic or user-friendly. Innovative technology, such as communication-based train control (CBTC), can increase the track capacity and improve the operational efficiency while ensuring a high level of safety for train passengers. In the future, the development of greener, smarter, and safer railway transport systems is expected to further increase railway efficiency and safety. The history of railway control developments is summarized in Section 8.2. The basic principles of CBTC and its application are discussed in Section 8.3. Some of the key technological trends in train control based on 3C technologies are analyzed and discussed in Section 8.4.

8.1 Introduction

The railway is a public transportation system featuring high-capacity, punctuality, weather robustness, low-carbon emissions, and environmental protection. It plays an important role in driving sustainable economic growth. For the achievement of railway's sustainable development, the authors would like to define the 4C requirement. We need transportation systems in which unit cost and carbon footprint are reduced, while capacity and customer satisfaction are increased. ...