IBS on OFC & 1-Quad as backup using

Universal Fail-Safe Block Interface

(as per RDSO/SPN/147/2005)
with Automatic Media Changeover

This documents explores the

Cost & Implementation
Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.
benefits of working IBS on An ISO 9001:2008 Company
Office
OFC using Automatic media 26, Convent Road, Kolkata-700014
Works
fall back facility with RDSO 17, Canal Street, Kolkata-700014
Contact Details
Ph: (033)-22651778 / 22176467; Fax: (033)-22655903
approved Fail-Safe (SIL-4) Email: deltron.india@gmail.com

Mux - UFSBI (as per

RDSO/SPN/147/2005
amdt.1)
 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

About UFSBI

Universal Fail-Safe Block Interface (UFSBI) as per

RDSO/SPN/147/2005, is a fail-safe digital triple
modular redundant (TMR) multiplexer capable
of transferring 16+16 i.e. a total of 32 On-Off
relay states between locations physically
separated by a distance but connected through a
voice/data channel over OFC/Microwave or
Quad cable. The UFSBI can be effectively used to
replace the signalling cables required for
repeating relays between mid-section block huts
and end stations.
The system development had been initiated by
Ministry of Information technology, under
technical guidance from IIT, Delhi & Centre of
Knowledge Base Systems, Jadavpur University,
along with railway expertise and field trial
facilities that was provided by South Eastern
Railways.
The complete hardware and software are
indigenously developed by our team of
engineers and manufactured at our facilities in
Kolkata, thereby, ensuring prompt after sales
service and availability of spares over the entire
equipment life period.
The system had been initially designed and
approved by the Research Design & Standards
Organization of Indian Railway for interfacing
conventional Single & Double line Block
Instruments on OFC voice / data channels. But,
eventually it found its utility in repeating relay
states in Intermediate Block Signaling and
Automatic Block Signaling applications where
hundreds of copper conductors were replaced by
a pair of optical fiber cables and the UFSBI
equipment.
UFSBI is now being extensively used for The UFSBI
providing push button type block instrument as
per IRS Spn. No. IRS:S-105/2012 and for
Intermediate Block Signalling applications as a
replacement of laying signalling cables which has
proven to be cost effective and reliable.

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Fail-Safety Approvals
 UFSBI has been validated and approved by RDSO for use in railways, as per
RDSO/SPN/147/2005 (with latest amendments).
 Center of Knowledge Based Systems, Jadavpur University, has validated the system
Software as per CENELEC SIL-4 standards
 Hardware is evaluated and independently validated by Electrical Engineering
department of IIT, Delhi

Advantages
 Provides high level of reliability and fail-safety. Signalling relay states once exchanged
through UFSBI can be worked interchangeably on OFC or Microwave (voice/data
channel) with Automatic Media Changeover facility, to increase system availability in
case of cable disruptions.
 A single set of UFSBI mux system comprising of a pair each between IB hut and each
station, caters for IBS section both Up/Dn lines.
{ A typical IBS section approximately 12 Km long needs a dedicated 6-Quad / 24 Core
min. Signalling cable with cutting relays for exchanging IB states between IBH &
stations costing approx. Rs.30,00,000 and at least two month’s time. While with UFSBI
the same have been achieved by railway in less than 50% of cost and within 7 days, as
only indoor work is involved. Rate references from different zonal railways are annexed
for reference.
 Avoids additional block section cable laying, maintenance time and cost.
 Can work over very long Block Sections using OFC Mux / E1 channel or even using 1-
Quad copper cable up to 30 Km distance approximately.
 The same OFC fiber, that is used for inter-station link can be intercepted at IB Hut by
introducing a STM mux. The E1 thus derived between each station and the IBH, if used,
with a suitable dedicated VF mux (Maple-4 or similar), as backup media of UFSBI and
primary media being 1-Quad, then on the event of cable cut, the path protected E1 can
be used for seamless backup for relay repetition through UFSBI. In fact the same E1 to
VF mux can cater for back-up channel for Digital Axle Counter. Therefore IBS failure
owing to cable cut can be completely avoided.
 High level of noise and electro-magnetic immunity making the system suitable to work
in railway electrified area and hence is a onetime investment for the Railways.
 It reduces the cost of ownership as equipment forms can be changed just by mere
change of relay logic (placed in detachable relay racks) and the same set of cards can
be used for various applications.

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Usage of UFSBI:

Block Proving through Digital Axle Counter using Single Section Digital Axle
Counter with UFSBI & Block Panel as per IRS Spn. No. IRS:S-105/2012
 It is a non-co-operative, user-friendly push button type Block Instrument.
 The unique design of interlocking circuits and input/outputs through Q-series
relays provide galvanic isolation, making the system usable in both RE & Non-RE
sections.
 The use of UFSBI with Automatic Media Changeover Facility additionally
harnesses the true benefits of using HA-SSDAC.
 Can be easily converted from one form to another (Single Line to Double Line
and vice versa) by just mere change of detachable relay racks and block panels.

The diagrams below represents the block working in Single and Double Line Sections
respectively.

Station Interlocking STATION - A BLOCK SECTION STATION - B Station Interlocking

System (MACL, RRI, System (MACL, RRI,
PI, SSI PI, SSI
Status of Vital Status of Vital
Relay (through Relay (through
potential potential
free contacts) Typically 10-20 Km free contacts)
4 4 4 4
Push Button type Block Interlocking Block Interlocking Push Button type
Block Operating Circuit with AXLE AXLE Circuit with Block Operating
EVALUATOR 1/2 Quad Cable or
EVALUATOR
Panel (designed Q-type relays SENSOR SENSOR Q-type relays Panel (designed
2 Wire Voice
by RDSO ) (designed by RDSO) Channel on OFC
(designed by RDSO ) by RDSO )
SSDAC - 1 SSDAC - 2
Block Panel - 1 1 Quad Cable or 4 Wire Voice Block Panel - 2
Channel on OFC
2/3 Fail-Safe Digital 2/3 Fail-Safe Digital
Mux - UFSBI ( as per Mux - UFSBI ( as per Relay
Relay RDSO/SPN/147/05) RDSO/SPN/147/05)
interlocking ckt.-2
Interlocking ckt.-1 1/2 Quad Cable or
UFSBI - 1 2 Wire Voice
Channel on OFC
UFSBI - 2

Block Telephone Block Proving with single section Digital Axle Counter & UFSBI Block Telephone

STATION - A BLOCK SECTION STATION - B

Typically 10-20 Km
4 4 4 4

AXLE AXLE
EVALUATOR 1/2 Quad Cable or
EVALUATOR
SENSOR SENSOR
2 Wire Voice
Channel on OFC
SSDAC - 1 (UP) SSDAC - 2 (UP)
Station Interlocking STATION - A BLOCK SECTION STATION - B Station Interlocking
System (MACL, RRI, System (MACL, RRI,
PI, SSI PI, SSI
Status of Vital Relay
for UP & DN Line Status of Vital Relay for UP &
(through seperate DN Line (through seperate
potential potential free contacts)
free contacts) Typically 10-20 Km
4 4 4 4
Push Button type Block Interlocking Block Interlocking Push Button type
Block Operating Circuit with AXLE AXLE Circuit with Block Operating
EVALUATOR 1/2 Quad Cable or
EVALUATOR
Panel (designed Q-type relays SENSOR SENSOR Q-type relays Panel (designed
2 Wire Voice
by RDSO ) (designed by RDSO) Channel on OFC
(designed by RDSO ) by RDSO )
SSDAC - 1 (DN) SSDAC - 2 (DN)
Block Panel - 1 1 Quad Cable or 4 Wire Voice Block Panel - 2
Channel on OFC
2/3 Fail-Safe Digital 2/3 Fail-Safe Digital
Mux - UFSBI ( as per Mux - UFSBI ( as per Relay
Relay RDSO/SPN/147/05) RDSO/SPN/147/05)
Interlocking ckt.-1 1/2 Quad Cable or
Interlocking ckt.-2
2 Wire Voice
UFSBI - 1 Channel on OFC UFSBI - 2

Block Telephone Block Telephone

Block Proving with single section Digital Axle Counter & UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Design Features

i) The Interlocking circuits as well as the UFSBI inputs are taken through Q-series relays
(conforming to spec. BRS: 930), providing galvanic isolation, thus making the system
usable in both RE and Non-RE sections.
ii) The system is designed to work with MACL, PI, RRI or SSI installations.
iii) Triple Modular Redundant fail-safe multiplexer working on 2 out of 3 logic ensures
greater level of safety and availability.
iv) The automatic TOL and LINE CLOSED features considerably reduces the
operational time of the Station Master over any other block instrument used in
Indian Railways till now.
v) The software coding for inter-station signal transmission takes care of noise disruptions
generally encountered in the transmission system. It ensures safety of operation against
these noises by use of fail-safe data structure, message redundancy, minimum Hamming
distance of 5, etc.

UFSBI as a 16- Input & 16-Output Multiplexer

In the busiest sections of railway traffic movement, the signal & telecom department is
entrusted with the responsibility of increasing the line capacity without physically
increasing the number of railway tracks.
To implement this S&T experts have come up with Block Signalling schemes like
Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS) and Automatic Block Signalling (ABS). In order to
achieve this Single or Multi Section Digital Axle Counters are generally used for track
occupancy detection. Further outdoor signalling cables with cutting relays after every 2 Km
(approx.), are used for track/signal relay state transmission between block hut and stations.
As such throughout the block section a thoroughly knit network of cables and relay huts are
set up. This not only involves an immense cost but also difficult to maintain the system
throughout the year and protect against theft or acts of vandalism. In case of cable or relay
faults it becomes increasingly difficult to troubleshoot the distributed relay state
transmission system.

Acceptability of usage of UFSBI

Research Design & Standards Organization has closely observed the faultless performance
of UFSBI over different zones of Indian Railways for over last 7-8 years and has
recommended the usage of the same in the schemes of Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS)
and Automatic Block Signalling (ABS).

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

/ OFC VF 4W- E&M. / OFC VF 4W- E&M.

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Application of UFSBIfor Block Working on Microwave Radio

Telecom Room Telecom Room

Relay Room
Relay Room

UNIVERSAL FAIL-SAFE BLOCK UNIVERSAL FAIL-SAFE BLOCK

INTERFACE INTERFACE
E1 / Ethernet E1/ Ethernet
Radio Unit Radio Unit

E1
E1

Primary Mux Primary Mux

Tx Tx

Rx Rx

4-Wire E&M Voice Ch. 4-Wire E&M Voice Ch.

(Through 0.9 mm, (Through 0.9 mm,
dia STP cable) dia STP cable)

2-Wire E&M Voice Ch. 2-Wire E&M Voice Ch.

(Through 0.9 mm, (Through 0.9 mm,
dia STP cable) dia STP cable) Signalling Cable
Signalling Cable
(24 Core, 0.9mm dia) (24 Core, 0.9mm dia)

SSDAC SSDAC
Channel Characteristics Reqd by UFSBI:
1. SNR: 20dB min.
2. Channel loss: 28 dB max.
SM's Room SM's Room
The Microwave based E1 Radio provides end to end E1(G.703)
2.048Mbps connectivity. This when fed to the station Primary-Mux (30
Ch.), necessary E&M Voice and Data channel as required by railway
may be derived.

The Microwave ISM 2.4 / 5.8 GHz Radio can be of Radwin IDU-R / RAD
AirMux / AprisaXE or similar
Block The Primary-Mux (30 Ch.) can be RDSO approved products Webfil Block
Telephone Fleximux / Puncom VMX / MROTEK Maple 4 Telephone

BLOCK INSTRUMENT BLOCK INSTRUMENT

1. SGE Double Line 1. SGE Double Line

2. Diado Handle Type Tokenless Single Line 2. Diado Handle Type Tokenless Single Line
3. Neals Ball Token Single Line 3. Neals Ball Token Single Line
4. Block Panel with SSDAC & UFSBI 4. Block Panel with SSDAC & UFSBI

Inter-Station Block Working using Block Instrument & UFSBI on Radio (as per RDSO/SPN/147/2005)

System Layout for Interfacing Conventional Block using UFSBI with E1 Digital Radio & PDMUX

System Layout for Interfacing Conventional Block using UFSBI & Digital Radio Modem with
Voice & Data Transmission / Reception Facility

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Fig.3c. 24 dBi Grid Parabolic Antenna mounted on 30m

Tower in Rangiya at N.F. Railway

Fig.3a. Tower (30m) at Rangiya at N.F. Railway

Fig.3d. 2.4 GHz Microwave Radio and VOIP adaptor placed under physical
Lock & Key inside UFSBI cabinet in Rangiya at N.F. Railway

Fig.3e Neals Ball Token Instrument working on Radio in

Rangiya at N.F. Railway

Fig.3b. UFSBI at Rangiya at N.F. Railway with

2.4 GHz Radio & VOIP adaptor inside

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Media Independent IBS operation simultaneously on OFC/Quad

Scheme of Automatic Block Signalling using MSDAC & UFSBI on Quad/OFC
The scheme, utilizes the MSDAC for track detections, with detection points spread over the
entire auto section. Independent Evaluators are used for UP & DN Line. Quad cable (1 pair
conductor) is used for connection the each Detection Points to the respective redundant
Evaluators. In case the distance of the DP exceeds 5 Km, separate arrangement is used for
providing power supply. Due to the substantial cable requirement of repeating the signal
aspects and all vital relay states (SIL-4) pertaining to drive/control of Auto signals from the
Central Interlocking (at station), it has been proposed to use redundant UFSBI (separate for UP
& DN line) in lieu of Quad or signaling cable. This not only reduces project expenditure, it also
mitigates the possibility of service disruption owing to cable theft. Avoiding the use of copper
cable for relay repetition also eradicates the chances of electrical induction and false feed in
signaling circuits.
The scheme has been approved by RDSO and issued as a general guideline (vide publication
dated June 2006 to all zones) and has been largely followed in South Eastern Railway, along
with use of UFSBI in relay state repetition, over Haur – Panskura – Balichak (Howrah –
Kharagpur sub-urban section). The RDSO schematic details are provided below for reference.
Although some zonal railways have proposed the use of Object Controllers of distributed
Electronic Interlocking for merely repeating safe signaling relay states from field locations to
Central Interlocking (at station) and vice-versa, it’s an absolute overkill with almost double the
cost, as that of use of a simple fail-safe Mux UFSBI.
Further, using the Object Controllers of a particular make limits the user to keep on using the
same make of EI for station interlocking, even though, it may be functionally unimpressive or
costlier alternative. Also the maintenance of Object Controllers is much critical as compared to
UFSBI. In case UFSBI is used for relay repeating then railway to use any type of relay or
electronic interlocking.

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

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Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Scheme of Automatic Block Signalling using Dual HA-SSDAC & UFSBI on dual OFC
The scheme utilizing the MSDAC centralizes the all the track relays at the central location and
makes the maintenance of the critical signaling items at the central location, although it carries
with it a series of serious limitations.
Limitations of Automatic Block Signalling using MSDAC
1. The common mode failure at the central location, viz. a Quad cable damage /cut nearest to
station where Evaluators are placed (which is quite common) or a IPS module breakdown at
the station, geopodizes the complete Auto-Signaling operation over the entire section. Under
that case the trains are forced to mode on caution, reducing the line capacity, to levels even
lesser than Absolute Block working.
2. Use of costly Quad-cable for connecting the DP to central evaluator, is mandatory, owing to
the inability of the same to work OFC VF channel. Further, non availability of media
diversity in connecting the DP to central evaluator, is a major shortcoming in places where
the copper cable theft is quite prevalent.
3. Electrical induction from 25 KV traction line on copper Quad cable is many times the cause
of link failure in axle counters. Especially supervisory track circuits are seen to auto-heal the
auto track sections and even cause failures.
Salient Features of ABS using Dual HA-SSDAC & UFSBI on dual OFC
The same have been critically studied by some railways and complete copper-less scheme for
Auto-Signaling is prepared.
1. Dual HA-SSDAC (single detection dual communication link) is used in lieu of dual
centralized MSDAC evaluator. Complicated supervisory tracks for mutual resetting are
avoided with mutual auto-healing by the Dual HA-SSDAC.
2. The usage of Quad / signaling cable for relay state exchange is completely avoided by use of
dual redundant hot-standby UFSBI units for UP & DN Line on OFC, thus making the
scheme very cost effective and less theft prone.
3. Dual OFC is proposed one on each side of the track, with independent media converter /
Mux to achieve spatial / equipment diversity. Additionally it completely does away with
the negative effects of Electrical induction from 25 KV traction line on axle counter
communication
Advantages using Dual HA-SSDAC & UFSBI on dual OFC
1. Much lower cost as signaling / Quad cable usage is completely avoided. An estimated cost
saving of 25-30% approx. may be achieved, if compared with scheme with MSDAC on
copper cable.
2. Much higher Reliability, owing to very high level of redundancy provided.
3. Easy Maintenance and less theft prone, thus leading to high MTBF with less MTTR

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Automatic Media Changeover for Seamless operation of UFSBI on dual media

(OFC/Quad or OFC/Radio or Quad / Radio)

Automatic Media Changeover unit is an intelligent network switcher that continuously

scans both the communication line / channel connected to it and on the event of failure of
the working media; it automatically switches over to the backup media. The system is built
around a powerful 32 bit high speed microcontroller that continuously monitors the
network traffic reaching the host from the remote UFSBI. The microcontroller only sniffs on
the data path , without either intervening or modifying the safety data.
The data quality is decided by the microcontroller itself while the media switchover is done
by an isolated digital switch, thereby reducing the switching latency to less than 1 ms. The
changeover time being extremely small in term of UFSBI to sense, the channel switchover is
practically seamless. In order to indicate to the user/maintainer, the working channel, health
of both the working and non-working (secondary) channel etc. LED’s are provided on the
front panel. Further, potential free contacts are provided against each of the referred
indications, so that the same can be logged into the Networked Data-logger.
The system basically works on digital levels of the communication circuit. It accepts a serial
RS232C channel from the UFSBI and physically splits into 2 paths, which are transmitted
over 2 media. The Line side of the Automatic Media Changeover unit is front ended by
either a Modem to work through VF 4-wire E&M channel or Quad Cable as media. In case a
of direct optical fiber connectivity is provided, suitable media converter may be used. If a
low-speed data channel like microwave radio is provided, then the same can be directly
connected to the Line side serial port of the system.
On the receiving end, only one of the channels, both having identical data (since both are
coming from same source, but through different media), is forwarded to the UFSBI. In case
one fails, then only the working channel is shut off from the receiving UFSBI and the backup
channel is connected to the UFSBI.
Schematic diagrams provided below, shows the front and back panel view of the equipment,
as well and the connectivity details.
The functional advantages of the Automatic Media Changeover
a) Seamless changeover between the primary and the secondary media without human
intervention, only indications provided.
b) Very low latency media switchover (<1 ms), thereby ensuring no link failure of
UFSBI.
c) Continuous monitoring of both working / non-working media through intelligent
network processor and providing potential free contact for recording media
performance over networked data logger.
d) In-system network performance / failure logger for providing time stamped record
(in downloadable form) for network performance figures such as – active channel id.,
no. of channel switchover and duration of channel failures for each media.
Note: The same media changeover unit may be used for other devices like digital axle-counter provided the
communication packet format (like size, speed, number of Start /Stop bit etc. are provided

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 Provision of Cost Effective Block Solutions using UFSBI

Schematic related to the connectivity of the Media Changeover are presented hereafter.

Front View Back View

Deltron Equipment & Systems Pvt. Ltd.