RijnGouweLijn trials Sintropher WP1 workshop, 18 March 2010 Chris Mineur
Contents Periferal railway lines in the Netherlands RijnGouweLijn trials Aim of the trials, findings and conclusions ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 2
Periferal railway lines Geography Away from population concentrations Lower traffic volumes RijnGouweLijn 3
RijnGouweLijn Gouda Alphen a/d Rijn Leiden CS: heavy rail passenger and freight trains Leiden Centre Katwijk/Noordwijk: new extension New bypass through Leiden centre ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 4
Issues Support of all participants (Province of Zuid-Holland, NS, HTM and ProRail) but many risks Mixed traffic (tram-train+ train) between Gouda and Leiden Start of light rail in the Netherlands Communication Innovation RijnGouweLijn light rail pilot: tram-train trials ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 5
RijnGouweLijn light rail pilot Objectives: To achieve breakthrough for light rail in the Netherlands To gain knowledge, experience and solve problems with mixed traffic (tram-train+ train) To prove that mixed traffic is possible on heavy rail infrastructure To execute a research programme Innovation Tool for communication ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 6
Leiden Track layout Heavy Rail Alphen a/d Rijn Heavy Rail Woerden To Utrecht Boskoop Waddinxveen Noord Waddinxveen Heavy Rail(P +F) and Light Rail Heavy Rail Why Gouda Alphen a/d Rijn? To Rotterdam/ The Hague Heavy Rail Gouda Isolated from the main passenger network Modest load of freight trains (mixed traffic) Low risk ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 7
Characteristics of the trials (1) 2003-2005 Mixed traffic: Light Rail and Heavy Rail Platform width and height adapted for level acces to train Overlay of existing systems: Heavy Rail: ATB EG, Track circuit detection Light Rail: ATB NG, Axle counters ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 8
Characteristics of the trials (2) Bombardier Flexity Swift A32 Bought off the shelf Minor modifications: ATB NG, downchopper (1500 V 750 V), windscreen ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 9
Research Programme 1. Light Rail Safety Requirements 2. Collision safety Light Rail / Heavy Rail 3. Detection measurements 4. Wheel - rail behaviour 5. Noise production 6. ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 10
Light Rail safety policy and Framework Rail safety policy Allows mixed traffic Light Rail Safety Requirements (concept) Equal safety level Integral Safety Case ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 11
Collision safety light rail heavy rail Dynamic simulations, 3D computer model Crash situations: frontal, flank same direction, flank opposite directions Not continued because of validation problems ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 12
Train detection LR rolling stock does not meet the ProRail detection requirements Detection measurements Measurement of detection behaviour of HR and LR on the same track, under the same circumstances Statistical examination of data detection measures New ProRail standard for admission of rolling stock, more favourable for LR-vehicles Track circuit shunt assistant (TCSA) not required ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 13
Wheel - Rail behaviour (small wheels) Derailment in double slip switches Development of a 3D computer simulation tool to predict dynamical behaviour Modifications to switches ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 14
Noise production No standards available for evaluation of noise production of LR rolling stock Measurements were made LR rolling stock is more silent (-2.1 db) Formal new standard for noise production of LR rolling stock ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 15
Successes Light rail visible to the public Passenger acceptance Commitment of top management Technical and operational experience gained Innovations: cheaper and lighter systems, simpler procedures Breakthrough of light rail in the Netherlands ProRail - ambities in railinfra / 16