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 RobitailleCN Transportation Engineer

University of Illinois William W. Hay Railroad

Engineering SeminarApril 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 Rules1962

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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

TrafficControlMethod

Number ofMain Tracks

Station Names

Siding Locationand 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 targetindicates

switch is linedfor 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 CNin US, or TWC territoryelsewhere

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Main Track – Occupancy Control System

Provision to operate OCS using CROR 301 – 315

Authority to use main track in effect untilclearance:

– 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 Completed

Authority Cancelled

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Main Track – Occupancy Control System

Turnouts generally manually operated – somemay 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

StationSign

‘other track’

Train (authorized to ‘Work’)

SidingEast

SwitchKitchener

Siding 13,550’

Switch

StationSign

Switch

East

MainTrack

SidingWest

SwitchKitchener

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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 commonsince WWI

CTC first installed in early 1920s in USA with first significant installationsimplemented 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 / LabradorWestern Canada (CTC highlighted)

Eastern Canada

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Centralized Traffic Control

Example of CN RTC-II panel track layout

Main Track

Station Name

ControlledSignals

PowerSwitches

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 trackManual 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 efficientmethod 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 interlockingcirca 1923 – locally controlled CN/CP crossing

West Toronto circa 2012remotely controlled interlocking (CP RTC)

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Interlocking Control

Locally controlled interlocking– Toronto – Scott Street Tower

Opened June 193178 signal levers84 switch levers192 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