Invensys Rail on Display at InnoTrans and Further News
08 December 2010
Invensys Rail had its biggest ever presence at this year's InnoTrans exhibition, with a stand packed with demonstrations of the company's latest developments and innovations.
At the heart of the stand was the first showing of the company's new LYRA vital systems platform. Significantly smaller than existing equivalents, LYRA makes the installation of new signalling systems to legacy rolling stock in particular, easier and more cost-effective. LYRA is suitable for new train applications and particularly for European rail traffic management system (ERTMS) applications.
New developments in Invensys Rail's comprehensive range of signalling solutions proved to be of interest to railways and operators from across the world. An ERTMS demonstrator showcased the company's high-profile and rapidly expanding work, the company's groundbreaking communications-based train control (CBTC) systems was 'road tested' by visitors on a driver machine interface.
The latest iterations of the WESTRACE interlocking formed part of a fascinating demonstration of Invensys Rail's Modular Signalling solution, developed to make the design, installation, operation and eventual upgrade of signalling systems simpler, cheaper and more effective.
One year on at London Underground's Victoria line
It's now been a year since the first in a new fleet of trains carried passengers on London Underground's Victoria line under Invensys Rail's radio-based train control DTG-R (distance to go – radio) solution. Over a period of time, the first new trains have been moved from late-night running into peak service hours. As each of the 47 trains arrives from Bombardier with the on-board equipment already installed, it is put through an initial period of proving before beginning its introduction to full service.
As each new train arrives the software is loaded and tested on the line during engineering hours until the engineering team is satisfied that it is ready to enter passenger service. So far 11 trains have been tested and delivered into passenger service since Christmas, and this process will continue to the end of May 2011 when all the new trains will have arrived.
When completed in 2012, the Victoria Line upgrade will have improved line capacity by 21% and reduced journey times by 16%. This leap in performance has been achieved without any disruption to trains, with the DTG-R system being overlaid on top of the existing control system, without the need for a more challenging 'big bang' switch from old to new.
Invensys Rail has a large team working to deliver the new Control Centre and has already successfully controlled the line in passenger service for periods of 10hr-15hr before changing it back to the original system. By Christmas 2010, it will be controlling the line on a daily basis, with a series of nine commissionings in 2011 (for assets such as track circuits and signals) enabling the whole railway to be put under the control of the new signalling system.
Invensys signs agreements with CSR
Invensys Rail has entered into significant agreements with a division of CSR, a leading Chinese manufacturer of rolling stock.
Under the terms of the agreements, Invensys will licence Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric, (TEG), CSR's train control and signalling company, to manufacture and sell Westrace, the company's class-leading interlocking solution, in China. TEG and Invensys will work together to sell their broader train control and signalling solutions through TEG into the expanding Chinese domestic mass transit market, worth an estimated €670m a year and CSR's rolling stock companies and Invensys Rail will jointly bid a number of major international contracts.
Commenting on the agreement James Drummond, CEO of Invensys Rail said: "China is a strategically important market for us. The country is investing heavily in its railway infrastructure and represents a significant growth opportunity for us in Asia. We are therefore delighted to enter into these agreements with CSR and TEG, who are not only key players in China but are becoming an increasing force in the global railway market."
