RAIL-BOUND TRACK SECTION EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRAIN PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

Abstract

A rail-bound track section is equipped with an automatic train protection system. The train protection system is a combined train protection system with the functionality of a first automatic train protection system and the functionality of a second automatic train protection system. The combined train protection system takes trains equipped with the second train protection system in the track section into account during a control of trains equipped with the first train protection system, and also takes trains equipped with the first train protection system in the track section into account during a control of trains equipped with the second train protection system. A method for operating a rail-bound track section equipped with an automatic train protection system is also provided.

Claims

1. A rail-bound track section, comprising: a combined train protection system having a functionality of a first automatic train protection system and a functionality of a second automatic train protection system, said combined train protection system being: configured to take into account trains equipped with said second automatic train protection system in the track section during a control of trains equipped with said first automatic train protection system, and configured to take into account trains equipped with said first automatic train protection system in the track section during a control of trains equipped with said second automatic train protection system; and said first automatic train protection system having first wayside train protection facilities disposed at the track section, configured to transmit data to trains equipped with said second automatic train protection system and configured to receive data from the trains equipped with said second automatic train protection system.

2. The rail-bound track section according to claim 1, which further comprises a wayside centrally located train protection facility configured to simultaneously track trains equipped with said first automatic train protection system and trains equipped with said second automatic train protection system on the track section.

3. The rail-bound track section according to claim 1, wherein said first automatic train protection system is a CBTC system and said second automatic train protection system is a PTC system.

4. The rail-bound track section according to claim 3, wherein said combined train protection system is configured to provide trains equipped with said PTC system with a mission which, during a passage through the rail-bound track section, relates to a track length for which a track clear signal exists.

5. The rail-bound track section according to claim 3, wherein said combined train protection system is configured to transfer trains equipped with said PTC system to immediate and gradual or immediate and absolute braking.

6. The rail-bound track section according to claim 3, wherein said combined train protection system is configured to transfer switch settings and signal aspects having been determined and transferred by wayside safety facilities of said CBTC system to trains equipped with said PTC system.

7. A method for operating a rail-bound track section equipped with an automatic train protection system, the method comprising: operating the automatic train protection system as a combined train protection system having a functionality of a first automatic train protection system and a functionality of a second automatic train protection system covered by the combined train protection system; using the combined train protection system to: take trains equipped with the second automatic train protection system in the track section into account during a control of trains equipped with the first automatic train protection system, and take trains equipped with the first automatic train protection system in the track section into account during a control of trains equipped with the second automatic train protection system; and using first wayside train protection facilities of the first automatic train protection system disposed at the track section to transmit data to trains equipped with the second automatic train protection system and to receive data from the trains equipped with the second automatic train protection system.

8. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises operating the combined train protection system to: use a communication protocol of the first automatic train protection system for trains equipped with the first automatic train protection system, and use a communication protocol of the second automatic train protection system for trains equipped with the second automatic train protection system.

9. The method according to claim 8, which further comprises: operating the combined train protection system for an acquisition of data by using the first automatic train protection system as a wayside train protection system; and operating the combined train protection system for an output of data to trains equipped with the second automatic train protection system by carrying out a transformation of the data to permit it to be used for the communication protocol of the second automatic train protection system.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first train protection system is a CBTC system and the second train protection system is a PTC system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 each illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the track section according to the invention on each of which an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention can operate, wherein the track sections and the functional units of the combined train protection system necessary for applying the method are shown as a block circuit diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a track section SA on which two trains are moving. The train TCBTC is a train which is equipped on the train side with the train protection system CBTC. This can be, for example, a local traffic train which operates in a metropolitan area. A further train TPTC is also underway on the track section SA. This further train is equipped with the train protection system PTC and could be, for example, a goods or freight train which must cross the metropolitan area on its country-wide route, specifically on the track section SA. These two trains represent a mixed train traffic on the track section SA. Naturally, further trains can be underway, which are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0051] The train TPTC communicates through a first radio interface FS1 with a back office or a control center of the second train protection system, wherein the second train protection system in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is the PTC system.

[0052] Otherwise, apart from the wayside centrally located train protection facility of a control center PTCBO, wayside train protection facilities PTCWS which can be activated through a fifth interface S5 by the control center PTCBO are also provided. Additionally, these wayside train protection facilities communicate with the train TPTC through a second radio interface FS2. In this way, commands which are preferably exchanged through human communication between the train TPTC and the control center PTCBO, can be passed on, for example, at signal installations (not shown) which are an example of wayside train protection facilities PTCWS.

[0053] The first train protection system that is represented in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 by a CBTC system functions automatically in a manner known per se, wherein a wayside train protection facility CBTC communicates through a third radio interface FS3 with the train TCBTC and issues to the train an individual clear (moving block) for a particular subsection of the track section SA.

[0054] Furthermore, a signal box IXL is provided which can control train protection facilities such as signal installations, but also, for example, switches, through a sixth interface S6. The sixth interface S6 is thus located between the track section SA and the signal box IXL.

[0055] The first train protection system with the wayside train protection facility CBTC, the second train protection system with the wayside train protection facilities PTCBO and PTCWS and the signal box IXL function in a manner known per se, so that they will not be described in detail. A communication of the first train protection system CBTC with the signal box IXL through a second interface S2 or a communication of the wayside train protection systems PTCWO through a third interface S3 and of the wayside train protection systems PTCWS through a fourth interface S4 are each known per se. This ensures a functioning of the individual components.

[0056] It is additionally provided, according to the invention, that the first train protection system CBTC and the second train protection system PTC are grouped together in a combined train protection system TCC. This therefore represents an innovation since thereby, a mixed operation of the trains TCBTC and TPTC on the track section SA is possible. This is assured by a first interface S1 between the wayside train protection facility CBTC and the wayside second train protection facility PTCBO, which enables the trains of the respective other train protection system to be tolerated on the track section SA during the mixed operation and to be taken into account in the train protection. Otherwise, a foreign train would either not be recognized by the relevant other train protection system (and would thus become a safety risk), or would be interpreted as a danger (so that train operation would be discontinued).

[0057] FIG. 1 shows that the first interface S1 is operated by the control center of the second train protection system PTCBO. In this case therefore, a manual conducting of the train TPTC equipped with PTC through the track section SA is possible since, by using the first interface S1, the presence of the trains TCBTC equipped with the first train protection system CBTC can be communicated. On the other hand, the automatic first train protection system CBTC can be supplied with the required data through the first interface S1, so that the trains equipped with the second train protection system PTC can be taken into account automatically.

[0058] However, the embodiment according to FIG. 1 requires that the track section SA be equipped with both the wayside train protection facilities of the first train protection system CBTC and also with the wayside train protection facilities of the second train protection system PTCWS. This implies a certain expenditure on functional components, which makes the configuration described more expensive.

[0059] In FIG. 2, another embodiment of the combined train protection system TCC is shown. Insofar as the embodiment of FIG. 2 overlaps with the embodiment of FIG. 1 in its communication with the trains and with the signal box IXL and the track section SA, the same reference signs are used for similar functions. Merely the differences between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will now be considered.

[0060] In contrast to FIG. 1, the combined train protection system TCC completely takes over the control of the train TPTC equipped with the second train protection system PTC. In other words, the control center PTCBO is excluded during the passage of the train TPTC and is only responsible for the train TPTC in a manner known per se outside of the track section SA. The combined train protection system TCC can be formed, for example, of a computer in which both the wayside train protection facility CBTC and also the wayside train protection facility PTC are realized. The first interface S1, which indicates that for an orderly operation, data of the respective train protection system must be transferred to the other unit, is also represented in FIG. 2.

[0061] The combined train protection system TCC communicates with the signal box IXL, but through a combined interface S23. This interface also transfers data for control of the trains equipped with the second train protection system TPTC, with the trains being configured in a suitable manner so that trains equipped with the second train protection system TPTC understand the instructions. The communication with the trains TPTC equipped with the second train protection system takes place directly through the combined train protection system TCC (through the PTC part), and also for the transfer of the instructions at least as an auxiliary measure, a facility PTCWSAUX must be provided. However, the component cost is significantly lower than in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, where the wayside facility PTCWS on the track section SA must be completely reserved. Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the component cost is reduced as compared with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0062] SA Track section [0063] TCBTC Train equipped with the first train protection system (e.g. CBTC) [0064] CBTC Wayside first train protection system (e.g. CBTC) [0065] IXL Signal box [0066] TPTC Train equipped with the second train protection system (e.g. PTC) [0067] PTCWS Wayside facility of the second train protection system (e.g. PTC) [0068] PTCWSAUX Auxiliary facility of the second train protection system (e.g. PTC) [0069] PTCBO Control center of the second train protection system [0070] TCC Combined train protection system [0071] S1 . . . S6 First interface . . . sixth interface [0072] FS1 . . . FS6 First radio interface . . . third radio interface