Dec 18 2008
As part of its program to expand the Nuremberg-Fuerth line to four tracks, Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG), Germany has ordered an electronic interlocking from Siemens Mobility. Electronic interlockings are taking over from conventional mechanical and electromechanical systems. The order volume in this case is in the lower two-digit million euro range and commissioning will take place in stages up to the year 2011.
The Fuerth interlocking is a strategic nodal point of the railway network in Germany. By changing over to new interlockings, DB AG and other network operators are taking leave of decades-old, mechanically operated control centers. The Deutsche Bahn order encompasses the supply and installation of 420 connection units, including 94 axle-counting circuits and 87 signals. They will be controlled from out of the Munich operations control center.
Based on the new Simis D platform, the modern interlockings from Siemens can be used on important main lines as well as in the regional network. They are highly available and their components all function in an extremely reliable manner. Moreover, routes in a much larger area can be managed and controlled. The advantages of Simis D are to be found in its migration capability and the reduced amount of space that the interlocking requires due to the smaller amount of hardware and the absence of cabling coming from signals. Developed by Siemens Mobility, Simis D is a product that is designed to meet the demands involved in long phases of use as part of the railway infrastructure. Interlockings are renewed only every 25 years whereas the electronics change in much shorter cycles of just a few months. In spite of this, the technological concept of the Simis D makes it possible to upgrade an interlocking to the latest state of the art at any time.
Simis D offers a variety of useful solutions. The new generation of interlockings enables the replacement of integrated operating modules during ongoing operations. In contrast to previous systems, diagnostic information can be read directly at the modules, whereby a wider variety of details is provided. The interface module can also be diagnosed from inside the installation by means of a laptop or handheld computer without a maintenance worker having to work outdoors next to the track. The indoor and the outdoor installations are connected reliably via ISDN in compliance with all the technical signaling requirements. The use of LEDs ensures that no maintenance is necessary for approximately ten years and, thanks to the use of modules of the same kind for different applications in the control, signaling and safety systems, the range of spare parts is considerably reduced.