Level crossing protection using 'MIRA' - GFR approval and cross acceptance at DB AG

摘要

Nowadays, level crossings with full barrier closures are increasingly monitored by obstacle detection (Ge-fahrenraumfreimeldung - GFR) systems. These systems are used throughout Europe under similar conditions. Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems has thus developed a new radar-based GFR system called MIRA (Multi Inspection Radar Appliance) with the aim of deploying this system at various rail operators in Europe. This experience report looks at the NTZ process (New Type Approval) in Germany and the application of cross acceptance under the precondition of an existing system approval in Italy with the operator RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana). How great would the effort for the approval for this system at Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) be and to what extent could cross acceptance be achieved in order to minimise this effort?