A New Collision Avoidance Strategy for Chinese Train Control System

Abstract

There are still enormous amount of collision between trains even if comprehensive and complex technology, such as train control system, is extensively deployed in the infrastructure which should help to avoid such collisions. Experiences from aviation, maritime, and road transport systems have shown that the probability of collisions can be significantly reduced with collision avoidance systems basing on direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication on-board, which do hardly require infrastructure components. Additional Collision Avoidance System overlay Train Control System (CASOTCS) for Chinese railway, which is independent of the regular control mechanism, is provided in this paper. CASOTCS unit architecture and its key issues: position detection, direct train-to-train communication and collision surveillance resolution are also discussed. CASOTCS receives and evaluates the information broadcasted by other infinity trains, if a potential collision is detected, lead to collision alerts and avoidance resolution advisories. CASOTCS has the potential to increase safety and efficiency in the future, such as shorten the distance between trains.

NGCTCS : Next - generation Chinese Train Control System

“…At present, CTCS is divided into five levels based on the European Train Control Systems (ETCS) from level 1 to level 3. CTCS level 0 is for trains with speed less than 120 km/h with existing signal systems [2]. CTCS level 1, a theoretical level, is for trains with speed between 120 km/h and 160 km/h.…”

“…In this approach, without the necessity for extending the railway trackside infrastructure, each train determines its own running information and broadcasts this information with other important data on the region of its current location. This information can be received and evaluated by other trains, which may, if a potential collision is detected, lead to traffic alerts, resolution advisories, and direct interventions (usually by applying the brakes) [2].…”

“…Railway signaling systems include the centralized traffic control (CTC), train control system (TCS), computer-based interlocking (CBI), non-insulated frequency shift track circuit (ZPW-2000), and other signaling assistance systems, such as signaling microcomputer monitoring system, dynamic monitoring system, train number tracking and wireless tracking system, wireless system for scheduling transmission and power systems [1]. Although the Chinese railway TCS with different levels can meet the requirements of most railways in China, CTCS, with its high cost of construction and maintenance, are over-dependent on trackside infrastructure [2]. To improve the interoperability of different train control systems, cost-effective TCS projects implemented in Europe and the United States aim to enhance international competitiveness [3][4][5][6].…”

Template-Based Voting Logic for Dual Train Detection Systems

“…Development of a new algorithm involves the production of a new design of the system algorithm. In some studies, a new train detection algorithm has been developed, based on some information from the vehicles (11,12). As for the other type of software improvement, adding a debugging algorithm, several researchers have applied neural networks to develop a fault diagnosis system for a track circuit (13)(14)(15).…”