Signalling a change

A satellite-based command-and-control system for railway lines could dramatically cut the cost of operating quiet sections of track, according to its developers.

The system, developed by the Locoprol project, uses GPS technology, combined with an onboard digital map of the track, to pinpoint the train’s position with a high degree of accuracy but without the need for a range of expensive additional sensors. It also aims to plug the gaps in GPS coverage of a rail network caused by obstacles such as tunnels and cuttings.

Partners in the EU-backed project include engineering groups Alstom and Honeywell, and French train operator Connex.

According to project co-ordinator Michel Rousseau, existing control systems for busy sections of railway track are uneconomical when transferred to low-density lines — those that only carry one or two trains an hour.

The Locoprol system, which is now ready for roll-out following successful testing, employs a custom-developed positioning algorithm on board the train that uses satellite range signals and converts them into extremely accurate location data.