www.thalesgroup.com/germany
Thales Axle Counter
The Challenges for a modern
Train Detection System
Joachim Janle
Director Axle Counter Business
Axle Counter – Past Challenges
2/
THALES

World-Wide market leader in Axle Counter Technology

More than 80 years experience with Axle Counters
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Past Challenges
3/
System Evolution

Introduction in the 1930ies: First Inductive Rail Contacts
BUT: Axle Counters not as reliable as Track Circuits

Change in the late 1960ies: Introduction of Electronic Axle Counters
-> Drastic Improvement of reliability compared to Track Circuits

New Generation in the 1980ies: Introduction of Microprocessor technology
-> Introduction of redundant system concepts (2oo3) and fault tolerant data
transmission

1995: German Railways DB decides to go exclusively with Axle Counters
for Train Detection for two reasons


Economical: Application of Axle Counter much cheaper than Track Circuits

Operational: Much higher reliability than track circuits
2000: Introduction of CENELEC Compliant Systems

Modular and Scalable Thales Multi-Section Axle Counter AzLM
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Future Challenges
4/
What has in the past prevented the
widespread application of Axle Counters ?
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Past Challenges
5/
Broken Rail Detection

Track Circuits can detect broken rails, Axle Counters can not….
BUT:

Can Track Circuits really detect Broken Rails (reliably) ?

Example: Statistic by MTRC (Hong Kong), June 27th, 2001
Year
'91
'92
'93
'94
'95
'96
'97
'98
'99
'00
No. of Cracked Rails
-
61
52
41
65
38
39
45
22
22
No. of Broken Rails
2
1
0
1
1
2
0
0
4
0
No. of Detected by TC
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
SUMMARY:

Only independent Track Inspection (e.g. Ultrasonic) can reliably detect
cracked and broken rail

-> Track Circuits can NOT !
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Past Challenges
6/
Track Circuit Clips

A Track Circuit Clip can block a Track Circuit, e.g. in case of an accident,
Axle Counter can not….
BUT:

What happens in block lines without train detection ?

Stopping a train to block an adjacent track is a safety risk by itself
SOLUTION:

Train Radio is now widely available for driver communication

It is faster and safer than a Track Circuit Clip
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Performance Challenges
7/
How are Axle Counters today contributing
to Railways growth in safety and
operational efficiency ?
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Performance Challenges
8/
Full Redundant Axle Counter Applications

Train detection reaching 100% Availability !
Background:

Applications: Lines with extremely high train density, Operational
Bottleneck sections, Difficult site access in case of failure (e.g. tunnels)

Areas with high impact on railway operation

-> Driven by financial compensation for Non-Availability (delay Minutes)
Reference Projects:

Lötschberg Tunnel Project, Switzerland

HSL South High speed Line, Netherlands

Gotthard Tunnel Project
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Performance Challenges
9/
Full Redundant Axle Counter Systems

Highest availability of service critical railway lines
HSL South, NL

Proven and hardened solution

In service since 2005

The interface to the interlocking
is evolving over time
Lötschberg, CH
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Performance Challenges
10 /
Full redundant 2 x 2oo2 configurations
DP
DP
DP
DP
DP
DP
DP
DP
ACE 2oo2
ACE 2oo2
ACE 2oo2
ACE 2oo2
Section
status
Reset
Interlocking
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Section
status
Reset
Interlocking
Axle Counter – Redundancy Flexibility
11 /
Classical Application
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Section 1
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Computer
Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking
Power Supply

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Indoor 2oo2 ACE, Non-Redundant Outdoor
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
Relay or serial
interface
Redundancy concepts

Indoor redundancy

Outdoor redundancy

Full redundancy: indoor and outdoor redundancy
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Interlocking
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Axle Counter – Redundancy Flexibility
Indoor redundancy

Indoor 2oo2 ACE, Non-Redundant Outdoor

Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking

Section evaluation in Separate Circuitry or in the Interlocking
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
ACE 1
Interlocking
Section 1
ACE 2
ACE 2
Relay or serial
interface
Alternative: duplicated cable infrastructure
ACE 1
Interlocking
Relay or serial
interface
Axle Counter – Redundancy Flexibility
13 /
Outdoor redundancy
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Section evaluation in Separate Circuitry or in the Interlocking
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Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking
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Power Supply
Outdoor Redundant Concept 2 x Outdoor and 1 x Indoor
Power Supply

ACE
Section 1b
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Interlocking
Section 1a
Section 1b
Relay or
serial interface
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Axle Counter – Redundancy Flexibility
Full Redundancy

Full Redundant Concept 2 x (Indoor 2x2oo2 ACE + Outdoor).

Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking

Section evaluation in Separate Circuitry or in the Interlocking.
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
ACE 1
Interlocking
ACE 2
Relay or
serial interface
Proven and hardened solution: In service since 2005.
Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
15 /
What is making Axle Counters even
more effective ?
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
16 /
REDUCTION
of
OWNERSHIP
COST
SEAMLESS
INTEGRATION
into
IP NETWORKS
Text
STANDARDIZED
INTERFACE
to ELECTRONIC
INTERLOCKING
NEW value
adding AXLE
COUNTER
APPLICATIONS
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Key features
of the Thales
Az LM V6-series
Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
17 /
Reduction of Ownership Cost: The new Rail Contact SK30K

No disassembly for tamping and rail grinding

Mounting over sleeper in combination with large rail profiles (e.g. UIC60, S54, …)

Cable outlet on/beside the sleeper (protection of cables)

Electrically compatible with
the Sk30H Rail Contact

Improved compatibility with track
maintenance vehicles
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
18 /
Reduction of Ownership Cost: The new Rail Contact Sk30K

Improved Clearance at rail mounting
Sk30H
Sk30K
2-way
Vehicle Zone
26...50 mm
70mm
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT



4
4
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4
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IP connection to
the Electronic Interlocking
the Operation and Maintenance Centres
IP network
Relays / Opto couplers

No Relays and Parallel I/O cards in the indoor unit required

No relay / opto coupler interfaces at the interlocking required

Available for 2oo2 and redundant 2oo3 system
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Axle Counter Evaluator
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Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
Standardized serial IP interface to Electronic Interlocking
Axle Counter Evaluator
Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
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Seamless integration into IP networks

e.g. Ethernet right up to the Trackside Detection Points
2-Cu
IP network
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Evaluator
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2-Cu
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IP network
network
IP
2
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IP network
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Operation & Maintenance
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IP network
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Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
Seamless integration into IP networks
ACE-ACE connection via IP network.
Axle Counter – Efficiency Challenges
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Seamless integration into IP networks

Drastic reduction in Hardware

Serial Interface


Reduction of Relay boards
Detection Points via IP
network

Reduction of Serial I/O
Boards
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT
Axle Counter – Future Challenges
23 /
Operation and Maintenance

IP based diagnostic information

Remote Resetting

To full CTC controlled area
supervision…..
Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

From individually maintained
Stations…..