ETCS Level 2 for the Gotthard Base Tunnel

Submission project for the by Banedanmark proposed total renewal of the Danish signalling infrastructure by the new European train control system ETCS level 2. Despite the train control system interlockings and central control shall be replaced too. The basics for the Submission have been set by the end of 2008 in a preliminary project which was proper designed also by Emch+Berger AG Bern.

The service contract was executed in a joint venture with Rambøll (DK), Atkins (DK/UK) and Parsons (UK). Emch+Berger AG Bern has been essentially responsible for the project management and development of technical issues of the long-distance rail network. This included the development of concepts, requirements and tender documents in the fields of ETCS, interlockings, traffic management systems, timetable concept 2020 or passenger information systems as well as the preparation and the execution of the offer evaluation.

The Norwegian railways are replacing all signalling assets until 2030 and are introducing ETCS level 2 at the same time. A first step is the network-wide introduction of a new traffic management system, in order to replace the inefficient patchwork of existing traffic management systems and locally controlled stations.

To obtain a basis for tendering and design of the new traffic management system, it was necessary to set up operational scenarios that describe how the new traffic management system will be used to deal with operational situations under the legacy signalling systems and ETCS level 2.

Banedanmark has undertaken the unprecedented move of replacing all signalling assets of the entire network at once, introducing advanced traffic management processes at the same time. This has resulted in the largest signalling project ever. The project execution is characterised by a high complexity with a large number of participants and stakeholders and the challenges caused by implementing the new signalling system in the changing railway environment within a time frame of 10 years. The consultancy provided by Emch+Berger (E+B) in the frame of a larger joint venture has allowed the customer to identify in an early stage all whereabouts of and all risks associated with such an undertaking, as well as the right ways of addressing them. Based on E+B’s experience in tendering large railway projects, it has been possible to produce tender documents encompassing more than 1000 pages within a year, and to run through the tendering process within two years. During the design phases, E+B staff brought to fruition its long-standing experience in running complex projects involving a large number of participants and disciplines over several years. E+B provided top-class expertise in several disciplines like railway business in general, considering management, operation, construction and maintenance, advanced traffic management and timetabling techniques, ETCS level 2, setting up a testing progamme.