www.thalesgroup.

com/germany

Thales Axle Counter

The Challenges for a modern
Train Detection System
Joachim Janle
Director Axle Counter Business
2/ Axle Counter Past Challenges

THALES
World-Wide market leader in Axle Counter Technology
More than 80 years experience with Axle Counters

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

3/ Axle Counter Past Challenges

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

4/ Axle Counter Future Challenges

What has in the past prevented the

widespread application of Axle
Counters ?

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

5/ Axle Counter Past Challenges

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
6/ Axle Counter Past Challenges

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

7/ Axle Counter Performance Challenges

How are Axle Counters today

contributing to Railways growth in
safety and operational efficiency ?

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

8/ Axle Counter Performance Challenges

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:
Ltschberg Tunnel Project, Switzerland
HSL South High speed Line, Netherlands
Gotthard Tunnel Project

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

9/ Axle Counter Performance Challenges

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

Ltschberg, CH

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

10 / Axle Counter Performance Challenges

Full redundant 2 x 2oo2 configurations

DP DP DP DP

DP DP DP DP

ACE 2oo2 ACE 2oo2

ACE 2oo2 ACE 2oo2

Sectio Sectio
nstatus Reset nstatus Reset

Interlocking Interlocking

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

11 / Axle Counter Redundancy Flexibility

Classical Application
Indoor 2oo2 ACE, Non-Redundant Outdoor
Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking

ACE
Power Supply
Power Supply

Interlocking
Computer
Computer

I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

Section 1 Relay or serial

interface
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot

Redundancy concepts
Indoor redundancy
Outdoor redundancy
Full redundancy: indoor and outdoor redundancy

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT





12 /

Section 1
Section 1
I/O -Slot Computer I/O -Slot Computer
I/O -Slot Computer I/O -Slot Computer
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
Power Supply Power Supply I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot Power Supply I/O -Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer
I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
Power Supply Power Supply
I/O -Slot Power Supply I/O -Slot Power Supply
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot

Section 1
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

ACE 2
ACE 1
ACE 2
ACE 1
Indoor redundancy

interface

interface
Relay or serial

Relay or serial

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

Alternative: duplicated cable infrastructure
Indoor 2oo2 ACE, Non-Redundant Outdoor
Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking
Section evaluation in Separate Circuitry or in the Interlocking

Interlocking
Interlocking
Axle Counter Redundancy Flexibility
13 / Axle Counter Redundancy Flexibility

Outdoor redundancy
Outdoor Redundant Concept 2 x Outdoor and 1 x Indoor
Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking
Section evaluation in Separate Circuitry or in the Interlocking

Section 1a Interlocking
Power Supply
Power Supply

Computer
Computer

I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot

Section 1a
Section 1b Relay or
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

serial interface
ACE
Section 1b

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT



14 /

Section 1b
Section 1a
I/O -Slot Computer I/O -Slot Computer

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot Power Supply I/O -Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot Power Supply I/O -Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
Full Redundancy

ACE 2
ACE 1

Relay or
serial interface

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

Relay Output or Serial Output to Interlocking

Proven and hardened solution: In service since 2005.

Full Redundant Concept 2 x (Indoor 2x2oo2 ACE + Outdoor).

Section evaluation in Separate Circuitry or in the Interlocking.

Interlocking
Axle Counter Redundancy Flexibility
15 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

What is making Axle Counters even

more effective ?

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

16 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

SEAMLESS
REDUCTION
INTEGRATION
of
into
OWNERSHIP
IP NETWORKS
COST Text

Key features
of the Thales
Az LM V6-
series
STANDARDIZED NEW value
INTERFACE adding AXLE
to ELECTRONIC COUNTER
INTERLOCKING APPLICATIONS

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

17 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

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

18 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

Reduction of Ownership Cost: The new Rail Contact Sk30K

Improved Clearance at rail mounting

Sk30H Sk30K

2-way 26...50 mm
Vehicle Zone

70mm

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

 19 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

Standardized serial IP interface to Electronic Interlocking

Interlocking Relay Output Axle Counter Evaluator Interlocking Axle Counter Evaluator

Power Supply
Power Supply
Power Supply
Power Supply

Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
4 IP network
4
4
4

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot
4

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
IP connection to
the Electronic Interlocking
the Operation and Maintenance Centres

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

20 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

Seamless integration into IP networks

e.g. Ethernet right up to the Trackside Detection Points

2-Cu

IP
IP network
IPnetwork
network 2-Cu
Power Supply
Power Supply

Computer
Computer

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot

I/O-Slot
Evaluator 2 Power Supply
IP
IPnetwork
network
Interlocking
Operation & Maintenance
IP
IPnetwork
network

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT


I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot Power Supply I/O -Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer
21 /
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot Power Supply I/O-Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O-Slot

ACE-ACE connection via IP network.

2
2
2
2

IP network

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT

Seamless integration into IP networks

I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot Power Supply I/O -Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot Computer I/O-Slot Computer
I/O -Slot I/O -Slot
I/O-Slot Power Supply I/O-Slot Power Supply
I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O -Slot I/O-Slot I/O -Slot

I/O-Slot I/O-Slot
Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges
22 / Axle Counter Efficiency Challenges

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

23 / Axle Counter Future Challenges

Operation and Maintenance

IP based diagnostic information
Remote Resetting From individually maintained
Stations..

To full CTC controlled area

supervision..

Axle Counter, Modern Challenges, 240412.PPT