Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut: NCRTC Successfully Tests New Signal System On RRTS Corridor

The NCRTC has successfully initiated a test run of the trainset with the European Train Control System (ETCS level-2) signalling over the long-term evolution (LTE) communication network.

The test was conducted at the Duhai depot in Ghaziabad.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is developing the 82-km long Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project to connect Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut on faster mode.

The new signalling system will provide the backbone for operation of high-speed RRTS trains, automatic train operation, automatic train protection, communication of the control centre with the trains and also with other control centres for a seamless and smooth train operation.

According to NCRTC, trains on the RRTS corridor will have a design speed of 180 kmph and an operation speed of 160 kmph, while the average running speed will be 100 kmph.

This requires a reliable and high-speed network which is critical for train operation. It is for the first time that ETCS level-2 signalling has been tested and synchronised on the LTE network.

NCRTC Managing Director Vinay Kumar Singh on-board RRTS trainset along with all senior officials, recently initiated the first dynamic test run of the RRTS trainset with ETCS level-2 signalling over LTE communication network.

European Train Control System

ETCS technology is widely deployed globally on GMS-R communication networks in Europe and other countries. GSM-R technology will become obsolete in near future.

LTE provides a high throughput communication link which will be used for mission-critical data, voice, IoT, important video and other important message exchanges between the train to the trackside and the operation control centre.

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has temporarily allocated a spectrum in the 900 MHz band for the commissioning of the LTE network for the priority section of Delhi-Meerut RRTS.

For the allocation of spectrum in the 700 MHz band permanently, a reference has been made by DoT to TRAI and the recommendation of TRAI is expected soon.

Commuter-centricity being a core value of NCRTC, it has strategically planned for interoperability between all three priority corridors of Phase 1 and the adoption of ETCS Level-2 signalling technology was crucial for enabling it.

ETCS Level-2 signalling is vendor agnostic and it is not essential to go back to the same vendor for future extensions of the corridor.

This technology will allow the RRTS trains to move seamlessly from one corridor to another. This will help passengers travel comfortably without the hassle of changing trains and promote a modal shift to public transport.

ETCS signalling will be integrated with the Platform Screen Doors at all the RRTS stations of the corridor. PSD will safeguard commuters on the platform by providing a barrier between the platform and the track.

While congratulating the team NCRTC and engineers of Alstom and Nokia, Singh said, “This is for the first time in the world that a combination of the latest ETCS Level 2, having Automatic Train Operation (ATO) over Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio is being deployed.

I am happy that despite technological challenge and serious supply-chain constraints posed by the pandemic, NCRTC successfully procured the ETCS Level 2 Signalling system under Make in India guidelines and implemented it within the stipulated timelines.”

He also said that “this step will be instrumental to create indigenous capacity for similar systems in the country.”

Officials said that the automatic train operation, in which drivers will have a minimal role, will be controlled by the control centre which has come up at Duhai for the 17-km priority section.

Two other control centres will come up at Jangpura in Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut.

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