Interlocking System for CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) System

In recent years,the environment of railways and the systems such as CBTC(communication based train control)have been changing.To respond the changes and the needs of customers,a UTCS(unified train control system)has been developed to realize a system that evolves with customers.Previous type systems consist of independent components such as ATC(Automatic train control)system,electronic interlocking system,and facility monitoring system,and there are a complicated overlap of system configurations and functions and difference in concept between the systems.On the other hand,the integrated train control system consists of horizontal layers such as function layer,network layer,and terminal layer.Therefore,the system has been developed to make it simple with no unnecessary redundancy and evolving to meet the needs of customers.In this paper,we explain a method that realizes the interlocking function for CBTC system in the function layer based on the concept of“securing a train travelling path”including path blocking and routing,and evaluate the safety of the method using STAMP/STPA.

Safety Assessment of Closed-Loop Level Crossing Control Systems by Means of STAMP(Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes)

There have been a large number of accidents at level crossings of railways and this has been considered to be a significant issue to be solved for the realization of safe and stable railway transport.A conventional level crossing control system is characterized by the use of two types of electronic train detectors;one detects a train approaching to a level crossing section and the other then detects the train having left the level crossing.By contrast,closed-loop level crossing control systems in which level crossing control equipment and train-borne equipment communicate with each other have been advocated and are expected to serve as an effective solution to the abovementioned issue.This paper describes the following three types of closed-loop level crossing control systems:decentralized level crossing control system,fully-centralized comprehensive level crossing control system and fully-centralized individual level crossing control system.This paper then assesses the safety of these systems in comparison to the conventional level crossing control system.For the purpose of the assessment of their safety,a new accident analysis model called STAMP(systems theoretic accident model and processes)that is suitable for software intensive systems is used to clarify the advantage of the proposed three types of level crossing control systems in terms of safety.