A total of 21 ETCS trackside control centers are planned by 2038 to cover the main rail network. ÖBB aims to double the capacity of its rail network by 2040. Thanks to high-tech vehicle tracking, trains can run at shorter intervals – as is already the case on the Lötschberg line.
Siemens Mobility and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are jointly digitizing the Austrian rail network. Like the rest of Europe, rail travel in Austria is experiencing a renaissance and is facing a surge in passenger numbers. The European Train Control System (ETCS), a digital technology for train operations, has now been implemented on the 57 km long line between Linz and Vöcklabruck. This system monitors train distances, direction of travel, and speed in real time. As is known, this allows for more trains, both passenger and freight, to run more reliably, punctually, and safely on this section of track.
At a press conference in Linz, Siemens Mobility and Johann Pluy, CEO of ÖBB-Infrastruktur, presented a framework agreement for long-term cooperation, culminating in the successful commissioning of the first section of track. The agreement governs the expansion of the rail network with ETCS Level 2, the installation of the trackside control centers (Radio Block Centres, RBCs), which will be designed with redundancy in the future, as well as maintenance and service assurance
ETCS Level 2 was launched at the beginning of the month on the Linz–Wels–Vöcklabruck and Wels–Haiding sections of the line. The corresponding ETCS control center for this section is located in Vienna. Trains on this section are digitally monitored in Linz.
A. Wolfram / J. Pluy with Balise. Photos: ÖBB/Siemens Mobility
With ETCS Level 2, data from the Radio Block Center is transmitted to the train via GSM-R train radio. Data balises embedded in the track are used to determine the train's position and to relay constant track data. The associated interlocking system transmits the track occupancy indication and other information. From this, the movement authorization is generated and sent to the train. Driving "with electronic line of sight" across multiple track blocks increases track throughput and allows for faster headways at maximum speed. Without ETCS, trains must maintain greater distances due to longer braking distances.
Advantages that have already been utilized on the ETCS-equipped railway lines between Vienna-Breclav, Vienna-St. Pölten, and Kufstein-Brenner. The system is being continuously expanded – the goal is to equip all Austrian main lines with ETCS Level 2. ÖBB Infrastructure is already investing €200 million in the train control system by 2026. A total of around €900 million is earmarked in the framework plan under the heading "ETCS and Train Control." As a Europe-wide standard, ETCS is also intended to simplify journeys across national borders.
Siemens is using its DS3 platform here as an innovation; this platform has been running in a pilot project at the signal box at Achau station in Lower Austria since November 2020. DS3 stands for "Distributed Smart Safe System" and is Siemens Mobility's new software platform for safety-related logic. This platform serves to migrate existing applications to a standardized, high-performance, cloud-based platform that utilizes a new communication concept for a fully IP-based system architecture.
As part of the partnership between ÖBB and Siemens Mobility, in addition to the coupling computer already running on the DS3 platform, which represents the link to the signal boxes, the RBCs will also be moved to DS3 in the future.
