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Press Release26 November 2020Siemens Mobility GmbHBerlin
First hardware independent cloud-enabled interlocking in operation
"We are digitizing ÖBB's infrastructure
- the digital interlocking is a component of our comprehensive digitalisation
strategy. This and many other projects make it possible to increase the
capacity of our infrastructure and at the same time improve safety and security,
punctuality and cost efficiency," said Johann Pluy, Member of the
Management Board of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG.
Michael Peter, CEO Siemens Mobility, said: "The DS3 interlocking in the cloud for ÖBB in Achau is a real quantum leap for the railway industry. It enables the virtualisation of most signalling components, such as interlocking computers or ETCS computers. The trains send their position data by radio link to a central system which ensures safety, sets points, manages routes and sends authorisations to the vehicles. Siemens Mobility is proud to have developed this new signalling system, which will make rail operations more efficient, effective and flexible".
This technology creates various new possibilities
that were either entirely or nearly out of reach until now. For example,
signals and points can be smartly controlled, thus enabling innovative
diagnoses, predictions of malfunctions and also predictive maintenance. This
will make rail traffic even more punctual and effective, thus enhancing the
attractiveness of trains as a means of transport and increasing passenger
satisfaction.
DS3 makes signalling hardware independent
and cloud-enabled. When switching to this new technology, infrastructure operators
therefore have the opportunity to completely integrate existing installations
and systems. The platform fulfills the world’s highest safety standards for
rail safety and security and features other advantages like cost efficiency and
flexible maintenance. In addition, it contributes to sustainability, by
providing savings in terms of space and energy, compared to existing systems. In
the future, interlockings can be significantly reduced and combined into one
data center.
Benefits for infrastructure operators and passengers
DS3 allows the ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG to
benefit from a wide variety of economic advantages, such as predictive,
affordable maintenance of installations, while increasing its availability.
Increased cost efficiency is a particularly attractive asset: DS3 boasts lower
lifecycle costs compared to other solutions that are available on the
international market. Furthermore, this project presents the first-ever
approval of a SIL4 interlocking on a COTS hardware and is therefore an international
pilot and reference project. December 2018 already marked the start of the
first joint field trials between ÖBB and Siemens, which were conducted successfully.
Following approval of the system, the interlocking was able to be effectively
put into live operation at the train station in Achau on the 18th November
2020, while assuming full responsibility for security and safety.
Technology in detail
DS3 is the world’s first platform to
securely make signalling applications functional and operational on standardised
hardware. This means that unlike in the past, the need for creating special
hardware has been eliminated. For the first time ever, the DS3 platform can be
used on different, commercially available hardware for various applications and
interfaces of rail safety technology: It can form the basis for the digital
interlocking and for the radio block center (RBC) in the European Train Control
System (ETCS). Thus, DS3 represents the fundamental building block for flexible
cloud solutions. It enables the centralisation of interlockings, for example at
operation control centers, as well as the geo-redundant configuration of
systems. Moreover, it can be centralised and scaled and is compatible with a
wide variety of existing systems and supports standards such as Eulynx,
Neupro/RASTA. As a universally deployable platform, DS3 can be combined with
many rail safety technology products, when it comes to interlocking, train
protection/RBC, signal controlled warning systems, control technology and
others, and can be used in various safety levels (SIL).
For further information about Siemens
Mobility GmbH, please see: https://www.mobility.siemens.com/global/en.html
For this press release
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Siemens Mobility is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in transport solutions for more than 160 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio in its core areas of rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, turnkey systems, intelligent traffic systems as well as related services. With digitalization, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2020, which ended on September 30, 2020, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €9.1 billion and had around 38,500 employees worldwide. Further information is available at:
www.siemens.com/mobility.
Reference Number: HQMOPR202011176063EN
Contact
Silke Thomson-Pottebohm
Siemens Mobility GmbH
Nonnendammallee 101
13629 Berlin
Germany
13629 Berlin
Germany
+49 (174) 3063307