Command, Control and Signalling
Esure and facilitate safe and efficient railway operations
Cross-border passenger and goods transportion constantly increases. Different users, operators and historically evolved systems puts pressure on people and material. Command, control and signalling is there to ensure safe operation of the railway and also efficiently facilitate the process. Both cross state/nation border as well as for railways, street cars and other e-transportation systems.
Command, control and signalling has two central tasks. Firstly, it must ensure the safety of operation of the railway. In other words it must protect people, goods, rolling stock and installations from danger and damage resulting from the railway operation. Secondly, it has the aim of facilitating efficient and safe operation. It becomes more important than ever before for local, long-distance and cargo transport. In addition to the goal of facilitating travel at high speed and in safety, high levels of capacity utilisation, and thus shorter train headways, are of decisive significance for reasons of cost. A wide range of signalling and points control systems and techniques have been developed over more than 100 years.
A wide variety is still in operation. Over the years, mechanical and electromechanical systems have given way to electronic systems. The philosophy concerning the various generations of technology varies from country to country. But train control and signalling systems are still developed in parallel. Apart from centralising control and monitoring, the current task facing signalling technology is creating a unified signalling system for important (European) transport corridors.
Cross-border passenger and goods transport is constantly increasing. Varying international signalling systems constitute a barrier from an operational viewpoint - and also a cost issue when equipping rolling stock. By introducing the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and the most important components the European Train Control System (ETCS) and the Global System for Mobile Communications - Rail (GSM-R) an European network with high-speed and goods corridors will be created, along with other developments in control technology and operations.
KEMA offers both services in the traditional market of control, command and signalling including systems for railway crossings and automatic block sections and national train control systems and as well as services for ERTMS/ETCS. These services are not restricted to the infrastructure. For instance, KEMA is in a position to apply this expertise effectively to rolling stock projects. KEMA is able to provide engineering services for a broad spectrum of services in command, control and signalling technology. Where necessary, operational simulation exercises with counterparts will be conducted on existing and planned infrastructure.