Researchers in China are investigating the key technologies needed for applying GNSS in train-centric railway signalling systems.

The train control system plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of railway operations and enhancing transportation efficiency. Train control systems have been widely implemented in China’s high-speed railways. However, the current use of balises for correcting the accumulative position error through the wheel speed sensor requires a large number of track-side equipment, making maintenance operations costly and inefficient.

This has raised concerns about achieving the desired cost efficiency.

To address these difficulties, various countries have been researching train state perception and operation control systems with a train-centric design. The primary focus is on improving transportation efficiency by reducing track-side equipment, construction costs and maintenance burdens. The goal is to create a more streamlined and cost-effective railway operation that maintains a high level of safety.

“Our investigations encompass multi-sensor data fusion, virtual balise capturing and messaging, train integrity monitoring, and system performance evaluation,” said lead author Baigen Cai from Beijing Jiaotong University. “By developing a novel train control system with dynamic configuration of the trains’ interval, reduced reliance on track-side equipment, and improved maintainability of the on-board train location determination system, we aim to effectively utilise and capitalise on the advantages of the train-centric mode for specific railway lines.”

Through the study, published in the KeAi journal High-speed Railway, the team hope railway operations will be enhanced.

“With the ongoing development of the global Beidou navigation satellite system, we anticipate a wide array of GNSS-based applications will be promoted in intelligent railway systems in the future,” said Cai. “This advancement holds great potential for enhancing the efficiency, safety and overall performance of railway operations through the integration of cutting-edge positioning and navigation technologies.”

Beijing Jiaotong University’s web site is en.njtu.edu.cn.

More about the KeAi journal High-speed Railway can be found at www.sciencedirect.com/journal/high-speed-railway.