Siemens in €400m autonomous train software deal ...

Siemens Mobility and ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways, have signed a €400m deal for autonomous train software.

The project to digitize the Austrian rail network aims to double the capacity of the country’s rail system by 2040 to cope with increasing passenger numbers. The digital European Train Control System ETCS has been implemented and commissioned on the 57-kilometer route between Linz and Vöcklabruck.

The system controls distances between trains, as well as their direction and speed in real time. This enables the route to carry more passengers and freight, and ensures that the trains run more reliably, punctually and safely.

With ETCS Level 2, data is transmitted from the redundant ETCS Radio Block Centre to trains via GSM-R train radio. Data units in the tracks are used to determine a train’s position and relay unalterable route data. The corresponding interlocking transmits track vacancy data and other information to the RBC. The RBC then generates the driving permit and sends it to the train. This continuous bidirectional flow of data considerably increases the line throughput, allowing shorter headways at maximum speeds. In this way ETCS provides the basis for autonomous driving at optimum speed.

Siemens Mobility and ÖBB-Infrastruktur have signed a framework agreement for a long-term cooperation following the successful commissioning of a first route section. This includes plans for installing a total of 21 RBCs by 2038 to provide fail-safe coverage for Austria’s high-level rail network.

ETCS Level 2 operation began at the start of August on the Linz–Wels–Vöcklabruck and Wels–Haiding line sections, marking the first commissioning based on the new framework agreement. The ETCS Radio Block Center covering this section is located in Vienna, and trains operating on the route are digitally monitored and controlled in Linz.

“Efficient railway infrastructure is critically important for achieving Austria’s climate goals. To help us handle the expected increase in rail traffic and shift away from roads, we are relying extensively on digital initiatives, and ETCS Level 2 is an enormously important component for railways of the future. The framework agreement signed with Siemens Mobility is based on a Europe-wide tender and we’re looking forward now to working with the best bidder to equip further rail routes with Level 2,” said Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Johann Pluy, CEO of ÖBB-Infrastruktur.

“We are proud to be working with ÖBB to equip the Austrian rail network with ETCS Level 2, and the commissioning of this route marks an important milestone in ÖBB’s continuing expansion of ETCS coverage. The use of ETCS Radio Block Centers and our innovative software-based DS3 safety platform will significantly increase route capacity and make the Austrian railway system one of the most modern in the world,” said Andre Rodenbeck, CEO Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility.

ÖBB-Infrastruktur will invest €200 million in the train control system by 2026, and a total of around €900 million has been earmarked in the framework agreement for ETCS and train controls.

As a European standard, ETCS will also make cross-border travel much easier, and journeys to international destinations will be more comfortable and shorter. ÖBB will be using the Distributed Smart Safe System (DS3) software platform, which has been employed successfully since November 2020 in a pilot project for the interlocking at the Achau railway station in Lower Austria. The platform is used to migrate existing applications such as ETCS or interlockings to a standard high-performance platform based on COTS, which uses multicore technology and a new communication concept for a fully IP-based system architecture. DS3 will enable ETCS control centres to be further optimized and given greater flexibility.

Along with the coupling computer already running on the DS3 platform, which is the link to the interlockings, the ÖBB and Siemens Mobility partnership will also employ DS3 in all of the RBCs.

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