How Centralized Traffic Control makes rail traffic more efficient

00:04:32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpCsAQuWaH8

Resumo

TLDRThe video explains the benefits of Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) in enhancing the efficiency of railway operations. It replaces the manual processes of Track Warrant Control (TWC) with automation, allowing dispatchers to remotely control signals and switches. This transition helps increase train speeds from 49 mph to potentially 70 mph. In double-track regions, CTC enables trains to move bidirectionally on both tracks, enhancing capacity and flexibility. Additionally, the implementation of powered crossovers allows for better track maintenance management and smoother traffic flow, thus improving system fluidity and velocity.

Conclusões

  • 🚂 CTC stands for centralized traffic control, streamlining railway operations.
  • 🔄 Dispatchers can remotely control signals and switches, improving efficiency.
  • 📞 TWC requires verbal radio communication, slowing processes.
  • ⚡ CTC allows train speeds to increase up to 70 mph.
  • 🛤️ Crossovers enable trains to switch between tracks.
  • 🔀 Powered crossovers simplify lane-switching.
  • 🚦 Automated signaling optimizes traffic flow.
  • 🔄 Bidirectional use of tracks maximizes capacity.
  • 🔧 Track maintenance is smoother with CTC.
  • 📈 CTC improves system fluidity and velocity.

Linha do tempo

  • 00:00:00 - 00:04:32

    CTC or centralized traffic control is a system that allows BNSF Railway to maximize capacity through automation. Dispatchers remotely control signals and switches for their assigned territories, enhancing efficiency in track warrant control (TWC) territories where trains wait for dispatcher permission over radio to move. Manual processes like aligning switches slow down train operations, maintaining speeds up to 49 mph. CTC speeds up operations with automated control, increasing train speeds up to 70 mph, providing more flexibility especially in double track areas, and ensuring more efficient movement of trains.

Mapa mental

Vídeo de perguntas e respostas

  • What is CTC?

    CTC stands for centralized traffic control, a system where a dispatcher remotely manages signals and switches.

  • How does CTC benefit railway operations?

    It increases efficiency, allows for higher speeds, and provides more operational flexibility.

  • What is track warrant control (TWC) territory?

    In TWC, trains can only move with permission from the dispatcher, communicating via radio.

  • What are the disadvantages of TWC?

    It requires time-consuming verbal communication and limits train speeds to 49 mph.

  • How does CTC increase train speed?

    It automates processes allowing train speeds to increase up to 70 mph for some trains.

  • What is a crossover in railway terms?

    A track configuration that allows trains to switch from one track to another.

  • How does CTC improve double-track operations?

    It allows for bidirectional use of both tracks, enhancing flexibility and capacity.

  • What are powered crossovers?

    Mechanically operated switches that enable easier lane switching for trains.

  • How does CTC assist with track maintenance?

    Shorter track segments can be shut down, accommodating maintenance without major disruptions.

  • How does traffic flow planning improve with CTC?

    The dispatcher can set up switches and signals automatically to optimize train movements.

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Legendas
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  • 00:00:00
    [Music]
  • 00:00:00
    CTC or centralized traffic control helps
  • 00:00:03
    BNSF get more capacity out of our system
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    through
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    automation with CTC the dispatcher
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    remotely controls the signals and
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    switches for Crossovers and sightings
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    for his or her
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    territory to understand how this
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    technology makes us more efficient let's
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    look at how a train operates in what is
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    known as track warrant control territory
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    with single
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    track in TWC territory trains can move
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    only when the dispatcher has given
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    permission over the radio to proceed so
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    for example when a train needs to move
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    into a sighting the crew must stop the
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    train just short of the sighting a crew
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    member has to get off the train and
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    manually align the
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    switch meanwhile a train 25 M away
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    approaching from the other direction
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    reaches the limit of its previous track
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    Authority that crew then calls the
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    dispatcher over the radio for a track
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    warrant to continue moving on the Main
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    Line 48 48 the dispatcher instructs the
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    first train to move into the sighting
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    after that train has verbally confirmed
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    its safe movement into the sighting off
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    the main track the dispatcher can then
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    provide permission to the other train to
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    continue movement on the main line as
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    you can imagine this process takes time
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    with all the voice transactions needed
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    to ensure safe movement of trains and
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    train speeds are limited to a maximum of
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    49
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    mph once the tech technology for CTC has
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    been installed the process moves much
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    faster and maximum train speeds can
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    increase up to 70 mph for some trains
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    the dispatcher uses the view of the
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    territory to plan traffic flow and to
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    set up switches and signals
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    automatically to keep trains
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    moving as we install an upgrade CTC
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    across our system we create more
  • 00:01:52
    flexibility especially in areas of
  • 00:01:55
    double
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    track CTC provides flexibility because
  • 00:02:00
    it allows both tracks of double track to
  • 00:02:02
    be used bir
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    directionally to understand how this
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    adds capacity let's look at some double
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    track without CTC or powered
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    crossovers when the double track is
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    constructed it is signaled to run trains
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    only on the right hand side tracks so
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    essentially we have two one-way tracks
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    manual or hand throw crossovers are
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    placed 25 to 30 m apart when a section
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    of track needs to be maintained the
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    dispatcher protects the section of track
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    between the closest crossovers
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    essentially closing a 30m stretch of
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    track to all traffic but train traffic
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    still needs to move in both directions
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    the other open track is signaled in Only
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    One Direction so all trains moving
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    against the flow then must operate as
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    they do in track warrant controlled
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    territory remember all those verbal
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    transactions over the radio
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    so the dispatcher instructs the
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    westbound trains to stop just before the
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    East crossover the eastbound train must
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    stop at the West crossover and the
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    conductor requests permission to
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    manually throw the switch on the
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    crossover once permission is granted the
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    crew member then exits the locomotive
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    and manually throws the switch on the
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    ground so that the train can move
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    through it onto the opposite track
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    before the train can move again the crew
  • 00:03:28
    must get permission or track Authority
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    from the dispatcher via radio because it
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    is now on the opposite track running
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    against typical traffic meanwhile
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    westbound traffic is held by the
  • 00:03:40
    dispatcher until the eastbound moves
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    over the 30 miles between the Crossovers
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    and repeats the track warrant process to
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    travel through the hand thrown crossover
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    on the east
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    side once CTC is installed on a stretch
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    of double track and powered crossovers
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    are added trains can move both
  • 00:04:01
    directions on both tracks and more
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    easily switch
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    lanes the crossover option helps with
  • 00:04:07
    velocity as trains do travel at
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    different speeds depending on the cargo
  • 00:04:11
    they are moving and when crossovers are
  • 00:04:14
    spaced closer together shorter segments
  • 00:04:16
    of track can be shut down to safely
  • 00:04:18
    accommodate the maintenance
  • 00:04:21
    crew CTC and crossovers help BNSF more
  • 00:04:24
    efficiently use our existing capacity
  • 00:04:27
    and improve velocity and fluidity across
  • 00:04:29
    our our system
Etiquetas
  • CTC
  • railway
  • automation
  • efficiency
  • BNSF
  • dispatch
  • crossovers
  • TWC
  • track maintenance
  • train speed