Digitalisation of Communication Links for Signal Boxes
As the operator and maintainer of railway infrastructure in the greater Chemnitz area, Regio Infra Service Sachsen GmbH strives to modernize existing technical systems and operate them cost-efficiently. One area with potential for cost savings involves the signal paths between various trackside infrastructure units, such as those controlling level crossings. Currently, the various components communicate via cables laid along the track; maintaining these cables—or replacing them following theft or vandalism—is costly. Similarly, the process of making track sections operational, or potentially even constructing new ones, becomes expensive and thus unattractive due to the need to lay many kilometers of cable. These cables are required, for instance, to automatically close level crossings as a train approaches. Specifically, an approaching train is detected approximately one kilometer from the crossing, and the information is currently transmitted via cable to the crossing, triggering it to close. As part of efforts to modernize and digitize railway systems, there is a push to replace these wired signal paths with wireless communication. The challenges involved include ensuring system reliability—given that level crossings are safety-critical installations—and securing the wireless communication to prevent, or at least detect, tampering or interference by third parties.
The "Digitization of Communication Links for Interlocking Systems" project aims to investigate the extent to which existing signaling equipment and interlocking systems—which primarily rely on analog technology—can be gradually digitized.
In addition to ensuring functionality equivalent to that of the current solution, the priority is to minimize interference with the existing system. The fundamental objective is to develop a demonstrator platform that implements wireless communication for the operation of level crossings.
