The new line between cologne and the Rhine/Main region and a new technical concept for controlling train movements and safety

摘要

The new line being built between the city of Cologne and the Rhine/Main conurbation is to be the first route in Germany on which a completely new concept is to be implemented for controlling train movements and safety. Its salient features are:centralization of line monitoring, automation of operations and a wireless system of train protection.The new wireless continuous automatic train control system is known as 'FZB' (Funkzugbeeinflussung) and is destined to replace conventional trackside signals with their familiar coloured lights. The particular version presented in this article is one that satisfies ETCS-Level 2+ for automatic train control, cab signalling and fixed block intervals, but dispensing with physical station and block signals. The migration to ETOS-Level 3, with the introduction of variable block intervals, is envisaged for sometime in future.