28.04.17
RSSB publishes ‘technology roadmap’ to increase capacity on railway
A new strategy designed to increase the capacity of the railway by running trains closer together has been launched by the RSSB.
This includes developing a ‘technology roadmap’ for the closer running of trains and also the identification of technology dependencies. It also recommends future workstreams including opportunities for technology transfer from other industries.
Closing the gap between trains, known as ‘headway’, without compromising safety is a key challenge facing the railway. But today’s findings released by RSSB highlight critical improvements that could be made in terms of operations and rolling stock to accommodate for the closer running of trains.
This includes using a moving block signalling system, a method that uses computers to maintain a safe “envelope” around each train as it moves along the track, as opposed to less efficient blocks dictated by fixed signalling systems.
The report also states that capacity growth and the subsequent reduction in congestion that could come from it will be incremental.
Improvements could start within five years and are predicted to take up to 30 years to complete. RSSB said that until the changes are fully implemented, it will monitor compatible emerging technologies that could be adopted to expedite the changes.
The report states: “The purpose of this research has been to help provide a definition for ‘closer running’.
“It has also developed relevant background information to support the development and launch of an appropriately structured programme of work to take forward the idea of reducing the headway of individual trains, in order to increase capacity.”
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