Communications-based train control
Communication - Based Train Control ( CBTC ) is a category of automatic train control and command systems, in which license and control commands are not displayed by signals but via data communication between railway vehicle and track equipment. The requirements and the overall system architecture of the CBTC system is defined in several IEEE standards. CBTC systems are mainly used in mass transit systems such as subways. With ETCS also exists such a system for full paths ( ETCS Levels 2 and 3 and ERTMS Regional) after the pilot project radio driving was set at a northern German regional routes after only two years in the year 2000.
Operation
Basically all CBTC systems operate in the same way: A track-side computer keeps track of all trains on the line that are connected to this computer. This allows the trains dense ride in single file rather than manually monitored routes. This trackside computer supplies the vehicle computer with corresponding guide data.
A CBTC system may cover different levels:
- Automatic Train Protection ( ATP) / train control
- Automatic Train Operation (ATO ) / Fully automatic train operation
- Automatic Train Supervision ( ATS) / Train Control
Depending on the type of transmission between track-side equipment and vehicles, a distinction between dependent seemed, loop -based and radio-based CBTC systems:
- Coded track circuits ( Schienenzugbeeinflussung )
- Line conductor loops ( Linienzugbeeinflussung )
- Radio transmission ( Funkzugbeeinflussung )
Use
CBTC is used in the New York subway. The line L on the line 14th Street - Canarsie is nearing completion.
On line 6 of the metro in Madrid CBTC is in passenger service and is to be inaugurated on the line 1 in the spring of 2009.
CBTC systems are used for mass transit systems in Toronto and SkyTrain in Vancouver, where loops are used for transmission.
In the MRT in Singapore are both based mass transit systems, the North East Line and the Circle Line to CBTC.