Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals · Sponsored by William W. Hay Railroad Engineering...
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Sponsored by William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar “Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals” Sean Robitaille Transportation Engineer CN Date: Friday, April 10, 2015 Time: Seminar Begins 12:20 Location: Newmark Lab, Yeh Center, Room 2311 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Transcript of Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals · Sponsored by William W. Hay Railroad Engineering...
Sponsored by
William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar
“Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals”
Sean RobitailleTransportation Engineer
CN
Date: Friday, April 10, 2015 Time: Seminar Begins 12:20
Location: Newmark Lab, Yeh Center, Room 2311University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals
Sean Robitaille
CN Transportation Engineer
University of Illinois
William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar
April 10, 2015
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Presentation Overview
The framework for Canadian control systems
Control without signals
Automatic Block Signals
Centralized Traffic Control
Interlocking
Questions
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Rail Traffic Control Framework
Canada: Canadian Rail Operating Rules, as overseen by Transport Canada
Complete document available on web http://www.railcan.ca/assets/images/regulations/rules/CANADIAN_RAIL_OPERATING_RULES__ENGLISH__TC_O_0-167.pdf
Provides the parameters
by which to operate all
railways in Canada
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Rail Traffic Control Framework
How did a single rule book evolve for an entire country?
– Early amalgamation into two transcon networks
– CP network effectively complete by 1915
– CN created from bankrupt roads
by 1924
– Individual railroad rulebooks
approved by Canadian Board of
Transport Commisioners until...
– Uniform Code of Operating Rules
1962
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Rail Traffic Control Framework
Railway Specific Instructions– Company-tailored rulebook
– Employee Time Table
Provides specific instruction for
operation on a rail company’s
individual lines of track
– “Subdivisions”
– Yards/Terminals
Identifies method of control
and who oversees the
application of rules
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Rail Traffic Control Framework
Sample Subdivision page from time table
Traffic
Control
Method
Number of
Main Tracks
Station Names
Siding Location
and Length
Direction
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Basic Control – Non Main Track
Movement governed by CROR 105
Trains operate at ‘reduced’ speed, being able to stop in half the range of vision of equipment, red flag or end-of-track
A ‘main track’ can be designated as Cautionary Limits (CROR 94) and be operated as yard track
Typical application:
– Yards
– Spur tracks
– Customer sidings
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Basic Control – Non Main Track
Non main track switches identified by yellow targets
‘Subdivision Track’ used to denote ‘through track’ at a location instead of yard limits
Yellow target
indicates
switch is lined
for diverging route
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Basic Control – Main Track
Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) supervises and directs traffic on specified territory
Most basic CROR system for main track authority is called “Occupancy Control System” (OCS)
Similar to ‘Track Authority’
method of operation on CN
in US, or TWC territory
elsewhere
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Provision to operate OCS
using CROR 301 – 315
Authority to use main
track in effect until
clearance:– Fulfilled
– Cancelled
– Superseded
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Procedure to operate trains at main track speeds without any signal protection
Each train movement and trackwork personnel must have authority to occupy the main track
Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) oversees the operation and issues authority to use main track
OCS Control Screen
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Main track authority limits defined by identifiable railway features:
– Milepost
– Station Sign
– Marked turnouts
(ends of sidings, junctions)
Milepost
Station Sign
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Addressed to
Wait instruction
Direction to operate
Bidirectional
authority
Instruction regarding
other authorities
Turnout Status
Turnout Permissions
Authority
CompletedAuthority Cancelled
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Turnouts generally
manually operated – some
may have push button
or radio controls
Efficiency of system dependent on:
– Forward thinking by train crew
– Workload/responsiveness of Rail Traffic Controller
– Effectiveness of radio tower communication system
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Example of OCS operation – time table station table
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Main Track – Occupancy Control System
Example of OCS operation – track diagram
Station
Sign
‘other track’
Train
(authorized to ‘Work’)
Siding
East
Switch
Kitchener
Siding 13,550’
Switch
Station
SignSwitch
Main
Track
Siding
West
Switch
Kitchener
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Signal Overlay for Main Track
CROR provides for three methods of movement utilizing signals:
– ABS (CROR 505-515)
– CTC (CROR 560-578)
– Interlocking (CROR 601-620)
ABS and interlocking common
since WWI
CTC first installed in early 1920s in USA with first significant installations
implemented during WWII
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Signal Overlay for Main Track
Signal Aspects & Indications provided by CROR 405-440 – speed signal system
Letter Markers
(“L”, “DV”, “R”)
used to upgrade
certain indications
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Automatic Block Signals
ABS currently only utilized by CP
– Single track in Ontario and Alberta
– Double track in Ontario and Quebec
Application essentially identical to US
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Automatic Block Signals
ABS usage covered by CROR 505-515
Used in conjunction with OCS Rules
– ABS provides the broken rail and following/head on train protection
– OCS provides the authority
for movement/occupancy
All signals identified with
number plates for identification
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Centralized Traffic Control
Canadian implementation of CTC followed the experiences of the US roads from 1920-1940
First installation on CP Medicine Hat –Dunmore (Alberta) 6-mile hill in 1928
CN commissioned first
long distance (185 miles)
single track CTC Moncton-
Halifax during WWII
to help with war effort
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Centralized Traffic Control
CTC installed on the core main lines and by the two heavy haul iron ore railroads in Quebec / Labrador
Western Canada (CTC highlighted)Eastern Canada
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Centralized Traffic Control
Example of CN RTC-II panel track layout
Main Track
Station Name
Controlled
Signals
Power
Switches
Trains
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Centralized Traffic Control
Typical plan view of a single track CTC arrangement – basically identical to US installations
Controlled Locations
Intermediate Signals
Station Name
(identifier only)
Industry track
Manual Entry/Exit
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Centralized Traffic Control
Canadian railroads have physically identified all signals with number plates to facilitate written authority procedures
Provides unique and efficient
method to identify signals
Controlled Signals
Signal Number plate
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Centralized Traffic Control
Written authority required:
– To pass a controlled signal at stop (CROR 564)
– To work between defined signals
– To enter main track at hand-operated switch
CN CTC Authority document
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Interlocking Control
CROR 601-620 govern interlocking operation
Four main types of interlockings in CROR:
– Manual – by special instruction only
– Locally controlled – local tower operation
– Remotely controlled – by RTC at control center
– Automatic – simple diamonds
CROR 620 provides for non-interlocked crossings or movable bridges
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Interlocking Control-Evolution
West Toronto interlocking
circa 1923 – locally
controlled CN/CP crossing
West Toronto circa 2012
remotely controlled
interlocking (CP RTC)
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Interlocking Control
Locally controlled interlocking
– Toronto – Scott Street Tower
Opened June 1931
78 signal levers
84 switch levers
192 levers total
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Future Control Systems
CROR provides for “Special Control System” (SCS)
– Basic framework provided by CROR 351-353
– Will be used to implement new methods of control as they are developed
– OCS was originally implemented through this method
Currently no mandate or requirement to implement PTC in Canada
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Conclusion
Canadian railroads continue to make a single-rulebook methodology work
Hardware effectively identical to US
Canada-US procedural differences for operating authorities will likely remain in force
