System Interface
Committees
What are System Interface Committees?
System Interface Committees (SICs) have been
established to assist the railway industry to manage
all aspects of identified system interfaces in the most
effective, safe and cost efficient way.
What are the aims and objectives of SICs?
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To identify opportunities for improving efficiency at railway system interfaces and consider how
to develop and implement them.
To commission studies or research or use other methods to seek solutions to interface issues
and to develop opportunities where appropriate.
To identify solutions to issues, and make
recommendations to the Technical Strategy
Leadership Group, industry (including RSSB) or the Department for Transport on the best
solutions. In so doing, recommendations should take into account: the benefits to the industry as
a whole; where the specific benefits will fall and the cost of implementing the recommendations.
• To promote solutions and implementation plans.
SICs have established subgroups to carry out remits in
support of their purpose.
Who are the SICs?
There are five SICs, representing each of the interfaces:
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Vehicle/Track SIC
Vehicle/Structures SIC
Vehicle/Train Energy SIC
Vehicle/Vehicle SIC
Vehicle/Train Control & Communication SIC
Membership of SICs
The SICs are chaired by senior industry
representatives who have been formally appointed by
the RSSB Board.
The SICs are formed of volunteers from across
industry, with representation from the following
industry categories:
• Passenger train operators
• Non-passenger train operators
• Rolling stock owners
• Infrastructure managers
• Infrastructure contractors
•Suppliers
• Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)
• Department for Transport (DfT)
•RSSB
An introduction to the SICs and the sponsored work
they have completed or are progressing, is presented
below:
Vehicle/Track SIC, Chairman Andy Doherty,
Network Rail
The Vehicle/Track SIC (V/T SIC) assists the rail industry
to manage all aspects of the wheel/rail interface, with
the aim of improving understanding of the interaction
between vehicle and track, including: vehicle track
dynamics; material behaviour; adhesion and noise.
Highlights
V/T SIC has a broad programme of work which involves
research that is conducted by the SIC Permanent
Project Group (PPG) and RSSB, which includes the
following:
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P12 wheel profiles have been implemented fleet wide on Class 390 Pendolinos and Class 395 Hitachi Javelins.
HALL variable stiffness radial arm bush has been fitted to the whole SWT Desiro fleet and 3 train sets of ECML Mark 4 coaches.
Development of the Vehicle Track Interaction Strategic Model (VTISM) now incorporates a wheelset management element for optimising vehicle fleet wheel maintenance and life.
The Track Ex (a simplified track design,
maintenance, and renewal software) training has been attended by at least 400 engineers and practitioners in Network Rail and contractors.
V/T SIC has reviewed the research it has sponsored
to assess the industry take-up and the benefits it has
provided. The review considered the impact of this
research on the operating railway at the vehicle/track
interface by assessing the influence on three areas:
rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and broken rails; adhesion
management and wheelsets management.
The analysis demonstrated that delivery of the
research in support of the V/T SIC research strategy
has cost approximately £11m. The predicted saving to
industry from improved maintenance, increased asset
life and improved availability is in the order of £160m.
Priorities
V/T SIC research priorities include: understanding
rail squats; new rail management techniques; the
further development of Track Ex; the future proofing
of the VTISM tools; adhesion and lubrication; merits
of progressing track braking; optimised wheelset
management and progress of RSSB research
projects.
Vehicle/Structures SIC, Chairman Tim Gilbert,
Porterbrook
The Vehicle/Structures SIC (V/S SIC) assists the rail
industry to manage all aspects of the interface between
vehicles and the fixed infrastructure in the areas of
physical clearance (gauging) and vehicle loading (route
availability).
Highlights
V/S SIC developed a vehicle gauging data methodology
that was published in a Rail Industry Standard. To
maximise the benefit of the methodology to industry, it
envisages a database of the gauging data which would
help with the introduction of new trains and cascading
trains around the network. The SIC seeks the industry’s
support to this proposal. The population of this database
would be mandatory where new vehicles have been
built. The work on the development of new or revised
gauges has continued. V/S SIC has recently developed
a lower sector vehicle gauge that will form the basic
requirements for new vehicles and should help to
reduce industry gauging costs.
To help the industry better understand the vehicle/
structures interface as it relates to gauging V/S SIC has
published the Guide to British Gauging Practice.
Priorities
V/S SIC will continue to focus on initiatives and
concepts to exploit gauge potential for the GB Network
and reduce industry costs associated with gauging.
A particular initiative is to develop a suite of standard
vehicle gauges that can be used for various types of
vehicles and on different routes.
Vehicle/Train Energy SIC, Chairman Tony
Mercado, Alstom
The Vehicle/Train Energy SIC (V/TE SIC) assists
the rail industry in evaluating and managing the
key power supply system interfaces as well as
identifying losses (and likely remedies) in the energy
transmission system, promoting more efficient energy
use and developing longer term, sustainable energy
strategies.
Highlights
V/TE SIC has worked to improve the understanding
of the pantograph/overhead line equipment interface.
It monitored trials on improved conventional
pantograph designs to enable rolling stock to travel at
speeds above 100 mph in multiple operation and
supported research and development of more radical
options such as a 25 kV AC auto-coupler and active
pantograph designs. As a short term measure to
improving pantograph performance it has
recommended, in line with wider EU research,
migration to lower weight resin impregnated plain
carbon collector strips. These have been shown to
be as good for current collection and have little or no
impact on contact wire wear compared to metallised
carbon.
V/TE SIC has also:
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Contributed to the energy chapter of the RTS.
Worked on the development of the Energy Technical Specification for Interoperability (ENE TSI) implementation strategy (and contributed to Network Rail’s TSI-compliant design for Great Western).
Monitored developments in energy storage
technologies and the justification for converting the third rail network to 25 kV AC.
• Commissioned knowledge searches into biofuels, energy risks and energy storage technologies.
Priorities
V/TE SIC’s priorities are:
• Developing a model that describes the overhead
line pantograph interface (provisionally titled
‘VOLISM’: Vehicle Overhead Line Interface System
Model). This is to be part of a suite of connected
models and tools that will make it possible to
evaluate pan-OLE performance, know the loads
imposed by the pantograph on the OLE and
evaluate its stress fatigue, wear and points of
failure which will drive preventative maintenance
and return a quantum improvement in OLE
reliability.
• Improving the in-service knowledge of the overhead electrified network, for example, through
greater use of and connection between train-
borne and infrastructure-mounted monitoring systems, with the end objective of improving
preventative maintenance and driving timely
interventions so reducing the number of OLE
incidents and associated train delays.
• Informing the specification of new electrification
schemes with the objective to reduce the
total lifecycle cost and complexity of new
electrification.
• Remaining abreast of the issues facing railway’s energy supply (fuel and electricity).
• Researching energy issues in support of the development of railway control systems, including smart grid technology and intelligent traffic management systems (FuTRO).
Vehicle/Vehicle SIC, Chairman John
Hawkins, First Group
The Vehicle / Vehicle SIC (V/V SIC) focusses on
the interface between railway vehicles and has
implications for the railway system as a whole, or with
the environment, such as weight, reliability and noise.
Highlights
V/V SIC completed research on cross interface
remote condition monitoring – acoustic bearing
monitoring and has started on phase 2 of the crossindustry remote condition monitoring programme.
The cross-industry remote condition monitoring
programme has input into detailed research on
review of selected remote condition monitoring
areas. This review was used to model scenarios for
implementation of acoustic axle bearing monitoring
with associated automatic vehicle identification. The
benefits from this research have been estimated as
circa £60m - £130m over a period of 10 years.
V/V SIC has steered RSSB’s contribution to the EU
TrioTRAIN programme, which includes, AeroTRAIN,
PantoTRAIN and DynoTRAIN. Collectively, their aim is
to propose innovative methodologies that will allow
multi-system network and route approval in Europe to
become a faster, cheaper and better process for all.
Full implementation of the TrioTRAIN project would
lead to savings as follows:
• From two years to six months for parts of the certification process.
• 80% effort for vehicles already accepted in another country.
• A potential saving of €20 – 50m per annum across the EU.
Publication of the research for the EU TrioTRAIN
programme is completed. Benefits from this research
have been estimated as circa £20m over a period of 10
years.
Priorities
The priorities of V/V SIC are:
• Standardisation of coupling arrangements for
passenger rolling stock - to support cost reduction and enhance performance.
• The potential for the use of emergency film for
bodyside windows broken in service - to reduce performance disruption.
• On-board injuries associated with internal train doors - in response to concerns raised by Passenger Focus.
Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
SIC, Chairman Clive Burrows, First Group
The Vehicle/Train Control Communications SIC
(V/TC&C SIC) assists the rail industry with managing
the interface between vehicle and train control
systems, telecommunications and signalling issues
and to develop a strategy for future control command
and communications systems to support the Rail
Technical Strategy.
Highlights
V/TC&C SIC has a wide portfolio and oversees
work directly and through a series of subgroups.
Through its Defect Reporting and Corrective Action
System (DRACAS) Steering Group, VTC&C SIC has
determined a DRACAS architecture and business
case. The ERTMS Programme is using this to
implement the first stage of a whole-industry CCS
DRACAS.
The Future Communications and Positioning Systems
Advisory Group (FC&PS) has supported a government
summit on communications with passengers, and
research conducted for FC&PS underpins the
government announcement in autumn 2013 for
better broadband access on trains.
VTC&C is, in conjunction with the national
ERTMS Programme, taking a role in the strategic
management of ERTMS. This involves the
combination of traffic management, the future of the
European Train Control System (ETCS), automatic
train operation, driver advisory systems and future
communications all working together. This builds on
the forward thinking developed by the Future Traffic
Regulation Optimisation (FuTRO) Programme Control
Board Subgroup of VTC&C SIC.
Priorities
V/TC&C SIC is developing a strategy to implement the
Control Command and Communications parts of the
Rail Technical Strategy. The SIC is increasingly focussing
on automatic train operation, traffic management,
telecommunications and positioning systems.
Conversely, there is a need to provide cost-effective
whole life support to existing technologies and to
identify migrations paths from old to new.
Strategic thinking for train control and traffic
management is focussed through the work of FuTRO
and FC&PS. Understanding the operational need is
important and work has been commissioned to develop
the operational philosophy. Information management is
important and key principles for the management
and exchange of data are being established. Train
positioning technologies that are capable of supporting
the long-term vision are being investigated.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is a challenge;
an EMC Subgroup has been established to provide
a strong cross-industry GB influence on the evolving
strategy being developed for Europe in the area of
frequency management. This strategy is expected to
address a key element of the interface between rolling
stock and CCS systems, thereby driving down costs.
This work is complementary to train positioning and
communication activities in FC&PS.
Radio frequency identification tags are increasingly
being used for rail applications. FC&PS is overseeing
development of a data structure to be initially applied
for selective door operation, but is expandable to other
applications. This is proposed to be defined in
a Railway Group Standard.
Track circuit assisters affect train reliability and might not
be necessary in some cases. The Track Circuit Assisters
Steering Group is undertaking research to objectively
determine the need for fitment and operation of the
devices and to improve testing arrangements. This
includes a risk advisor tool and has the potential to
reduce costs and improve system reliability, hence
improving performance.
The automatic warning system (AWS) and the train
protection and warning system (TPWS) are important
systems that provide safety benefits. Reliability, safety
improvements and integration with modern systems
such as the ETCS are a priority. The Train Control
Technical Subgroup has commissioned research to
improve AWS testing and is researching transitions
between AWS/TPWS and ETCS and integration of
AWS/TPWS with the ETCS driver machine interface.
Revised fitment criteria for the provision of trackside
TPWS equipment is being considered. The
opportunity to use ETCS Limited Supervision as a
cost-effective long-term replacement for AWS/TPWS
in locations where full ETCS fitment has not been
undertaken is being evaluated.
GSM-R has now been introduced nationwide. The
Vehicle Communications Advisory Group is providing
support for the whole-life management of the system,
including performance monitoring, and is overseeing
the decommissioning of older radio systems.
The RETB working group is supporting the industry
to re-engineer the radio electronic token block
(RETB) system used on remote lines in Scotland to
significantly extend its life.
What is the relationship between the SICs and
the Technical Strategy Leadership Group?
The Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG) is a
cross-industry expert body made up of senior executive
staff, who develop and champion implementation
of the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS), supporting
communication, research identifying opportunities,
barriers and actions. For more information about TSLG
and the RTS go to the TSLG page of the RSSB
website.
The Technical Strategy Leadership Group provides
guidance to the SICs, and has an overview of the SICs to
ensure the work they are involved in aligns with the RTS.
The SICs produce an annual report that is endorsed by
TSLG and approved by the RSSB Board. You may wish
to look at the SIC annual report which summarises their
achievements and sets out their planned activities for
the coming year. The report is available from the
RSSB website.
What is the relationship between the SICs and
the Standards Committees?
The work of the SICs may result in a proposal to create
a new Railway Group Standard or modify an existing
one. If this is the case, such proposals are considered
by Standards Committees. Further information about the
relationship between SICs and Standards Committees
is provided in an RSSB standards leaflet ‘Tell me about
Industry Committees dealing with standards’. This leaflet
can be found on the RSSB website.
RSSB has published on behalf of the SICs guides to
RSSB-managed research programmes. The guides
provide a general overview of research that is in
progress and has been completed. The guides are
available from the RSSB website.
For other SIC publications or further
information on SICs and their related groups,
or if you have any ideas for future research,
please visit the RSSB website:
www.rssb.co.uk