AGENDA ITEM: C1 MEETING: RSSB Board Meeting DATE: 14 January 2016 SUBJECT: Annual Report from the System Interface Committees SPONSOR: Mark Phillips AUTHORS: Kirstie Smith on behalf of Clive Burrows, Andy Doherty, Edgar Goddard, John Hawkins and Tim Gilbert 1.
Purpose of the paper 1.1
To update the Board on the activities of the five System Interface Committees (SICs). 2.
Background 2.1
SICs help the industry manage interfaces in an effective and efficient way; contributing to industry objectives on cost, performance, capacity, carbon and customer satisfaction. SICs are major users of RSSB’s resources in research, meetings management, facilitation and technical advice. Together, SICs and RSSB support the industry in the achievement of their objectives. 2.2
The Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG) asked the SICs to lead delivering elements of the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) as follows: RTS portfolio Assigned champion Control, Command and Communication (CCC) Vehicle/Train Control and Communications SIC (V/TC&C SIC) Energy (ENE) Vehicle/Train Energy SIC (V/TE SIC) Rolling Stock (RST) Vehicle/Vehicle SIC (V/V SIC) Infrastructure (INF) Network Rail 2.3
TSLG has endorsed the SICs’ reports for the 2014/15. They provide details of this year’s activities and the planned activities for next year. The five individual SIC reports are available on their respective web pages on the RSSB website. 3.
Summary of SIC activities in 2014 – 2015 3.1
V/S SIC has: 3.2
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Developed four gauges (PG1, PG2, Lower Sector Vehicle Gauge and Lower Sector Infrastructure Gauge) which have been published in Railway Group Standards. ‐
Commissioned research that established the stepping distances of all trains at all platforms at which they call. V/T SIC has: ‐
Reviewed the RTS to see how it aligns with the work being done by V/T SIC. ‐
Developed an approach on how to achieve the RTS vision. ‐
Continued to support the development of technology and modelling for variable track access charging. RSSB Board Meeting Final: 14 January 2016 Page 1 of 2 AGENDA ITEM: C1 3.3
3.4
3.5
V/TC&C SIC has: ‐
Continued to develop the Control systems portfolio of initiatives of the RTS, analysis of which has shown that there is the potential to deliver approximately £7bn of benefits over 30 years. ‐
Supported the longer term CCC activities. ‐
Supported the commissioning of the Next Generation ‐ Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB) system. ‐
Developed and tested a driver advisory system at Airport Junction. ‐
Provided continuous improvement of train control system interfaces and continued to monitor existing systems. V/TE SIC has: ‐
Continued to develop the Energy portfolio for the RTS ‐
Worked on the issues arising from AC/DC traction changeover ‐
Investigated the electrical corrosion of wheel bearings ‐
Investigated the effects of applying the EMF directive in the UK railway system. ‐
Looked into on‐going development of new and cheaper ways of electrification, continuation of the optimisation of 25kV electrification and understanding the resilience and weakness of the system leading to failure of overhead power lines. V/V SIC has: ‐
Identified work programmes to support delivery of the RTS. ‐
Completed research to enable remote condition monitoring to reduce delays associated with broken sidelights on trains in service and to improve the safety of interior power operated doors. 4.
Planned SIC activities for 2016 4.1
VS SIC has work underway on PG3 (26m) gauge which will be followed by a locomotive gauge. A “Gauging Strategy” is in the process of being formulated. 4.2
The V/TC&C SIC will focus on Automatic Train Operation, Traffic Management, Telecommunications and Positioning Systems. It will continue to influence the implementation of the CCC portfolio strategy. 4.3
V/TE SIC will explore opportunities to improve the mechanical resilience of the overhead electrified network; inform the design and specification of new electrification systems; highlight the issues facing the industry’s electrical supply in regard to future energy challenges and provide researched answers on energy issues that need to be included in the development of the railway system. 4.4
V/V SIC will continue to progress tactical research activities and support delivery of key projects identified as offering the greatest whole system benefits in delivering the vision described in the RTS. 5.
Recommendations 5.1
The RSSB board is invited to NOTE the report of the activities of the five SICs for 2015 and planned activities for 2016. RSSB Board Meeting Final: 14 January 2016 Page 2 of 2