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2003 C&S BUYER'S GUIDE
The number of CBTC (communications-based train control) systerms in development or deployed on main line passenger and freight railroads and rail transit systems worldwide is growing. In the U.S. alone, a half-dozen projects are well along. CBTC, once regarded as purely experimental, has now entered the mainstream of C&S technology.
NEW YORK FORGES AHEAD
NYC Transit is well along in its gradual migration from a simple automatic block system to CBTC. A joint venture led by Siemens Transportation Systems and including Union Switch & Signal and RWKS Comstock was awarded a five-year, $133 million "Leader" contract in December 1999 for the Canarsie Line CBTC project. Alcatel and Alstom, as part of NYCT's objective of developing open-architecture interoperability standards, were awarded $16 million "Follower" contracts.
NYCT is now into Phase II, which involves resignaling the entire Canarsie Line and equipping 212 new Kawasaki 8143 rapid transit cars. This work includes designing, furnishing, and installing CBTC equipment, six new interlockings, an Auxiliary Wayside System (AWS), and associated equipment rooms. Siemens is responsible for design and supply of the onboard, wayside, and central CBTC subsystems (including the data communications system) as well as overall project management and systems integration. Union Switch & Signal is responsible for the AWS (conventional signaling equipment including relay-based interlockings, track circuits, wayside signals, and automatic train stops), a fallback system in the event of CBTC failure. RWKS Comstock is responsible for installation. The CBTC system is based on the RATP Meteor Line technology that entered service in Paris in October 1998. The major changes are those required to accommodate NYCT's specific operating environment (a motorman controlling the train, radio-based train/wayside communications-- METEOR is driverless and uses inductive technology).
NYCT is currently in a final design review. The ATS subsystem is scheduled to be in service in August 2003. Initial CBTC testing begins in October 2003, with all cars equipped and ready for revenue service in November 2003. CBTC is expected to be in service on the entire Canarsie Line by December 2004, with Canarsie Yard following a year later.
Specifications are being produced by the Leader contractor to allow the Follower contractors to modify their systems to be interoperable with the Leader's. Siemens, Alstom, and Alcatel are expected...