SelTrac ®

Communications-Based Train Control

For Urban Rail
RAIL SIGNALLING SOLUTIONS

www.thalesgroup.com
 SELTRAC SOLUTIONS FOR ANY TRAIN TYPE OR STYLE
World-leading SelTrac Solutions
®
Specializing in quality signalling and train control technology, we can apply our solutions
to any rolling stock. Examples include:
HIGH PERFORMANCE • SOUND INVESTMENT Dubai Metro Vancouver SkyTrain, Ankara RT, MTR’s Disneyland Resort Line
Kinki Sharyo Las Vegas Monorail and Cammell
With the constant pressure to minimize operating costs and the need to bring system improvements many others
Guangzhou’s Line 3 Washington Dulles Int’l Airport
on line faster, many transit operators are looking for the flexibility that our communications-based Bombardier
Siemens MHI’s Crystal Mover
train control (CBTC) technology provides. Answering the call for modern signalling, CBTC offers the London’s Jubilee, Northern
opportunity to enhance performance and safety and lower life-cycle costs. With SelTrac systems KoRail’s Seoul Bundang Wuhan
and Piccadilly Lines
around the world, our methodology and technology have been proven for over two decades. Rotem Changchun Car Co.
Alstom

From fully automated to upgradeable solutions and overlay re-signalling techniques to reach beyond
SelTrac can run different trains
the limitations of conventional fixed-block designs, SelTrac system solutions readily meet your needs
to move more people more quickly and increase revenue potential.
from different suppliers on the same line.

Applicable to any type or size of rolling stock and dedicated guideway, SelTrac system solutions are
flexible and adaptable enabling customers to incrementally upgrade functionality over time, without
disrupting operation. Transit operators retain the value of their original investment as they expand
and grow their systems. SelTrac can be configured easily to meet the specific functionality needs
of the operation. With built-in flexibility, SelTrac addresses the diverse requirements of operators
needing basic Automatic Train Protection (ATP), cab-signalling, or CBTC-based operations. From
simply replacing existing signalling, to improving the headway performance of an existing fixed-block
system, SelTrac is the convenient and cost-effective solution.
ENVIABLE TRACK RECORD
Continually evolving to meet the changing needs of mass transit operators around the world,
SelTrac technology has provided safe, reliable, revenue-efficient operation for over twenty years.
The leading communications-based train control technology on the market, SelTrac sets the quality
and performance standards that all others strive to reach. SelTrac systems are proven with over
10 million train operating hours of revenue service.

Our premium SelTrac solutions include “moving block” technology for driverless/unattended operation. SOLUTION EXCELLENCE FROM THE CBTC SPECIALISTS
These systems offer superb operational flexibility under even the most demanding of conditions. Real mass transit solutions begin with people. We assemble the right teams with the right people to
And, to meet high or increasing capacity situations, SelTrac has proven to deliver under sixty second tackle the unique challenges and complexities of your project. Our people listen and respond, tailoring
headway, better than normally required. our proven technology to your special needs and helping you make the right decisions now and for the
future. With more experience in advanced communications-based train control technology than any
other supplier, your project team offers exceptional expertise and integrated solutions for maximizing
SelTrac system solutions readily meet your capacity, minimizing cost and enhancing safety in partnership with your engineering, operations, and
maintenance departments. Our support is wide-ranging; our commitment is long-term.
needs to move more people more quickly and
increase revenue potential.

METROS, LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT, APMs

ENHANCED SAFETY • GREATER THROUGHPUT • SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS

 
 SelTrac IS ® Benefits
• Time proven solution
FULLY AUTOMATED OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT • Cost effective; best price to performance ratio
• High performance – no constraints from a signalling infrastructure
SelTrac IS is our integrated CBTC solution for customers wanting high performance • Minimum trackside equipment – simple installation
and a high level of automation and functionality all at once for their medium to • Low life-cycle cost
heavy rail systems. SelTrac IS integrates interlocking and central control functions • Fully protected bi-directional operation (requiring no additional hardware)
to provide fully driverless train control capability. Train supervision is optional – • High availability and reliability
either unattended/driverless or with an attendant/driver on board. All train control • Automatic route setting
operations are self-supervising. • Quick-start reset

SelTrac IS an economical, high-performance alternative for almost any fixed guideway or rail transit Existing fixed-block systems can be upgraded to SelTrac IS cost effectively to provide greater
system, new or existing. For high-capacity heavy rail metros and light rapid transit, it provides all the reliability and shortened headways. Installation is performed as an overlay in parallel with the
functionality and flexibility necessary for safe, automatic train supervision and is capable of delivering existing system. Our cut-over strategy allows operators to phase in the new system with the
under 60 second headway. Its unique capacity for remote health-status monitoring and for control of least amount of disruption.
all vehicle systems – including doors (both train and platform), couplers and auxiliaries – makes it an
attractive choice. Its proven ability to operate safely in mixed mode with unequipped trains makes it The SelTrac IS integrated design includes…
ideal for a suburban railway that must share tracks with mainline operators. • Driverless operation or operator-assisted and
cab-signalling modes
Runaway Accelleration Coasting
• Integrated moving-block technology
System Management Centre (ATS) • Automatic performance modification (including speed and station dwell)
Service Braking Emergency Brake Applied • Fully redundant train-to-wayside configurations
Wayside Controller • Data Communication option:
Emergency Radio*
Brake Cab
Display
• Inductive loop
Track Switch Control
• Radio offering increased bandwidth capacity
VOBC
Tag reader Obstacle
and loop* • Solid-state interlocking and remote point control
antenna
Propulsion and
Service Brakes
• Automatic coupling/uncoupling (option)
*alternatives

TAG
MOVING BLOCK

Worst Case Worst Case

Stopping Distance Positional Uncertainty
Safety Protection Point
Safety
Distance
Normal LMA
Stopping Point

TRACK COMPARE THE ADVANTAGES OF AN INTEGRATED CBTC SOLUTION

CIRCUITS/ TRAIN
AUTOMATION SIGNALS ATS OPERATION HEADWAY CENTRAL AUTOMATIC AUTOMATIC
CONTROL DRIVER INTERLOCKING DOOR ENABLE DOOR CONTROL
Automatic Train Not Required High Unattended; Optimized
Operation and Performance Driverless; minimum under AUTOMATIC TRAIN Integrated Not Required Integrated Included Included
Management Or Attendant 60 seconds OPERATION AND
on board MANAGEMENT
• Metros
• Intermediate
Capacity Transit AUTOMATIC TRAIN Optional Required Not Included Optional Not Included
• Automated OPERATION
Guideway Transit

 
 SelTrac LS ®
SelTrac MS ®

FULLY AUTOMATED OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT THE PROGRESSIVE SOLUTION FOR TRADITIONAL METROS
SelTrac LS is an ideal solution for customers with light to medium capacity systems SelTrac MS is our modular solution focused on those metro customers growing
requiring a high level of automation, simplicity, and low operating and maintenance their operation capabilities based on traditional signalling methods. For those
costs. SelTrac LS integrates interlocking and central control functions to provide specifying an upgradeable solution for new lines, or to overlay on an existing
unattended/driverless train control capability. interlocking infrastructure, SelTrac MS offers levels of automation from Speed
and Signal Safeguard, to continuous ATP, to ATO including driverless operation.
TRACK
CIRCUITS/ TRAIN More advanced SelTrac MS configurations bring additional functionality and features into play,
AUTOMATION SIGNALS ATS OPERATION HEADWAY
enabling operators to significantly enhance performance and service frequency with shorter headways
Automatic Train Not Required High Unattended; Optimized and automated operation. These solutions incorporate a moving or logical-block design – the system
Operation and Performance Driverless; minimum under is not dependent on, or restricted by track circuits. The operator can safely run two trains closer
Management Or Attendant 90 seconds together to improve throughput (i.e. two trains can occupy the same physical block). This technology
on board
• APMs is especially effective in resolving urban interoperability and mixed-mode requirements faced by major
• Light Rapid Transit
transit operators.
• Suburban railways

For new installations or upgrades, LockTrac electronic interlocking and NetTrac platforms are easily
added to the configuration to provide an all-inclusive train control solution.
Benefits
• Value for systems with limited traffic requirements or few stations. Benefits
• Minimum trackside hardware • Upgradeable up to any level of automatic operation including driverless
• Radio Data Communications System • Upgrade with no disruption to revenue service
• Allows phased installation and operation with minimum time to service
Flexibility and modularity of design make SelTrac LS an economical, high-performance alternative
• Allows phased investment towards improved safety, automation and operation efficiencies
for almost any light capacity system, new or existing. It provides all the functionality and flexibility
• Maintains traditional signalling principles
necessary for safe, automatic train supervision and is capable of delivering 90 second headway. All
train control operations are self-supervising. Its unique capacity for remote health-status monitoring
and for control of all vehicle systems – including doors (both train and platform), couplers and
auxiliaries – makes it an attractive choice for the operator with a fully automatic (unattended or
driverless) network in mind. Physical Blocks

• Driverless operation or operator- Emergency Brake Applied

Radio Radio Logical Blocks
assisted and cab-signalling modes Central ATS
Speed Supervision Curve
• Logical-block technology Braking Curve

Wayside Controller Interlocking Control

• Automatic performance modification
(including speed and station dwell)
• Fully redundant train-to-wayside
configurations
• Fully protected bi-directional operation
(requiring no additional hardware)
• High availability
• Automatic route setting
• Quick-start reset
• Solid-state interlocking and remote point machine control
Emergency Radio Cab Moving Block
Brake Display
Signals/Track Circuits/
Trip Stops
VOBC Tag
Reader
Propulsion and
SelTrac technology incorporates open designed to be independent of the com-
Service Brakes
architecture, system modularity, standard munication subsystem. Overlay designs
TAG LOGICAL BLOCK interfaces and commercial off-the-shelf data facilitate cost-effective system cut-over and
communication components based on Open deployment, allow mixed-mode operation,
System network solutions that facilitate and provide an easy evolutionary path to
component interchangeability strategies. higher level functionality.
Safe train control functionality is specifically

 
 Speed and Signal Safeguard Automatic Train Protection
This SelTrac solution vitally supervises speed profiles and signal adherence and provides all the functions Enhancing basic SelTrac MS capability with ATP functionality provides the added value of improved
of an intermittent ATP. It provides an entry-level computer based train protection mechanism that headway while maintaining safe train separation, without depending on axle counters or track circuits.
enhances operational safety by supervising driver actions. Monitoring and interfacing with conventional The system will automatically generate movement authorities based on the actual locations of
signals, it “emergency brakes” trains passing red signals and/or operating at speeds higher than moving obstacles (i.e. trains) and fixed obstacles such as point protection signals. It is used in
mandated by civil speed limits. Information is regularly transmitted to the train at specific locations. This conjunction with existing interlockings and provides a replacement for automatic separation signals
basic SelTrac MS solution is an ideal overlay enhancement for existing conventional signal systems. between the interlockings. It can operate seamlessly with existing track circuits which provide an
inherent mechanism to operate mixed-mode traffic (communicating and non-communicating trains).
Signal status and permitted speed information is sent through transponder tags to our Vehicle A display in the cab shows information about the operating conditions ahead of the train. Information is
On-Board Controller (VOBC) at key locations along the track. The advantage of this concept is its continuously transmitted to the train by means of a radio-based Data Communications System (DCS).
simple interfacing technique to the existing interlocking. It can be installed and brought on-line quickly
and easily without complicated tie-ins to the signal circuitry, and operators do not require new skills Progressive functionality…
to use and benefit from the system.
• Improves headway with moving-block or logical-block technology
• Provides continuous ATP and cab-signal
When the VOBC detects an over-speed condition, whether due to signal status or track restrictions,
• Provides high availability
it alerts the driver and monitors the driver’s reaction to the alert. Should the driver fail to respond
• Allows multiple trains per physical track circuit
properly, the VOBC vitally activates the braking system.
• Allows fully protected bi-directional operation (requiring no additional hardware)
Operating data is fed to a high definition Driver Display Unit, allowing the driver to confidently • Reduces track-side equipment
monitor train performance and status. By providing speed information to the driver in the cab, • Provides integrated, redundant communication capability between wayside and train
the system allows minimized headway while ensuring safety.
Automatic Train Operation
• Determines permitted and actual train speed
The SelTrac MS solution can include an automatic train movement controller offering the driver
• Determines travel direction vs. expected Emergency Brake Applied
the opportunity to operate “hands off” and thereby improve running performance. From one station
travel direction
(or predetermined operational stopping point) to the next, the train will follow the required
• Provides compensation for wheel slip/slide
speeds of the track and the operating conditions, ensuring safe operation. The additional
• Provides automatic wheel size calibration
functionality is considered non-vital, with the continuous ATP features providing the safety net.
to maintain accurate speed and position Emergency Cab
Display
Brake
determination ATP functionality plus...
• Supports temporary speed restrictions VOBC Tag

(e.g. Work Zone)

Reader • Provides automatic train movement control functionality
• Supports travel direction reversal • Governs automatic speed control to traffic and track conditions
Track Circuit Block
• Provides braking profile supervision TAG
• Can provide additional functions such as coordinated train and platform door control
SID
and enforcement • Driverless operation (optional)
• Records events in real time
• Can display distance travelled and distance to go
Emergency Brake Applied
• Can be configured for ETCS Level 1 function compatibility and compliance Radio Radio
ATS
Speed Supervision Curve

TRACK Wayside Controller Interlocking Control

CIRCUITS/ TRAIN Emergency Radio Cab
AUTOMATION SIGNALS ATS OPERATION HEADWAY Brake Display

ATO Optional Conventional Driver Constrained by

or High Supervised Interlocking design VOBC Tag
PROGRESSIVE CAPABILITY

Performance or Driverless Reader

Propulsion and
ATP Optional Conventional Drive by Cab Constrained by Service Brakes
Signalling driver response and
Interlocking design
TAG MOVING BLOCK
Speed/Signal Required Conventional Drive by Based on block
Safeguard Track and signal design
Signalling

 
 The Central Advantage of
Operating Fully Automated
NetTrac MT CENTRAL CONTROL
Through our advanced NetTrac MT platform, based on commercial off-the-shelf PC and LAN technology,
the System Management Centre supervises the automatic, cab-signalling or manual operation of the
entire rail fleet. NetTrac MT is designed to provide automatic control of all train operations under
normal conditions without operator intervention. It is easy to use and enables operators to handle
system disruptions quickly. Standard features include sophisticated failure management capabilities,
high system availability, redundancy, complex alarm handling, and data logging.
Workstations display the track layout together with icons individually identifying all elements under
SelTrac control. At a glance, central controllers monitor the location and schedule adherence of each
train within the system. Icon colour changes alert dispatchers to changes in the status of trains,
platforms, point machines and tracks. Situations requiring urgent attention activate visual and
audible alarm messages. Dispatchers use pull-down command menus, drag-and-drop, and point-and-
click options to perform functions including:
• Assigning and launching a schedule
• Monitoring status
• Routing trains to a specific track location or station
• Assigning trains to a ‘line’ or ‘run’ or to shuttle service
• Holding trains at specific locations or by-passing platforms
• Diverting trains around an impassable area
• Changing train velocity
• Triggering automatic announcements in stations and on trains
• Interfacing with third-party subsystems
10
DATA COMMUNICATIONS OPTION
Based on principles and techniques proven for decades with low frequency
inductive loop-based technology, SelTrac MS, LS and IS (option) solutions incorporate
high bandwidth, spread-spectrum radio communication technology to deliver the
most advanced, most efficient CBTC Automatic Train Control solution available today.
ComTrac® DCS Open-Standards
Radio Communications Technology:
Advanced signalling technology reached a new milestone in 2004 with the inauguration of the
Las Vegas Monorail, the USA’s first fully automated, wireless rapid transit system, and
the first of many SelTrac projects worldwide to apply reliable and secure open-standards radio
with its CBTC automatic train control solutions.
The driving force behind the advancement in applying broad-band radio technology to rail transit
has been the need to move train control to a more sophisticated infrastructure while maintaining
constant communication as trains move along the track.
Major benefits to a radio-based communication system include ease of installation and
maintenance, faster recovery times due to single component failure detection and replacement,
and low susceptibility to vandalism. The implementation of “free space” wireless communication
incorporates full redundancy through the use of overlapping radio coverage.
The communication technology follows an open-system philosophy that complies with well-recognized
industry standards and protocols, which provide a stable future migration path.
Thales advocates the use of open-standard data communication technology, believing that rail
transit operators should have the flexibility to buy future components from any supplier that
supports IEEE standards (Ethernet, computers, radios, antennas, etc.), and software for future
purposes. Meeting this demand allows the customer more supplier options primarily at less cost
than that of proprietary systems.
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Thales
Security Solutions and Services Division

Thales Rail Signalling Solutions

1235 Ormont Drive
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M9L 2W6
tel: 1.416.742.3900
fax: 1.416.742.1136
www.thalesgroup.com