Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals Sean Robitaille - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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 Sponsored by

Canadian Rail Traffic Control Fundamentals Sean Robitaille CN Transportation Engineer University of Illinois William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar April 10, 2015

Presentation Overview The framework for Canadian control  systems Control without signals  Automatic Block Signals  Centralized Traffic Control  Interlocking  Questions  3

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 4

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 5

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 6

Rail Traffic Control Framework Sample Subdivision page from time table  Station Names Direction Number of Main Tracks Siding Location and Length Traffic Control Method 7

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 8

Basic Control – Non Main Track Non main track switches identified by  yellow targets Yellow target indicates switch is lined for diverging route ‘Subdivision Track’ used to denote ‘through  track’ at a location instead of yard limits 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

Main Track – Occupancy Control System Example of OCS operation – time table  station table 16

Main Track – Occupancy Control System Example of OCS operation – track diagram  Siding Station Switch East Sign Switch Switch Station Kitchener Siding Sign Main West Track Switch Kitchener ‘other track’ Siding 13,550’ Train (authorized to ‘Work’) 17

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 18

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 19

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  20

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 21

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 22

Centralized Traffic Control CTC installed on the core main lines and by  the two heavy haul iron ore railroads in Quebec / Labrador Eastern Canada Western Canada (CTC highlighted) 23

Centralized Traffic Control Example of CN RTC-II panel track layout  Station Name Trains Main Track Controlled Signals Power Switches 24

Centralized Traffic Control Typical plan view of a single track CTC  arrangement – basically identical to US installations Station Name (identifier only) Controlled Locations Intermediate Signals Industry track Manual Entry/Exit 25

Centralized Traffic Control Canadian railroads have physically  identified all signals with number plates to facilitate written authority procedures Controlled Signals Provides unique and efficient method to identify signals Signal Number plate 26

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 27

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 28

Interlocking Control-Evolution West Toronto interlocking  circa 1923 – locally controlled CN/CP crossing West Toronto circa 2012  remotely controlled interlocking (CP RTC) 29

Interlocking Control Locally controlled interlocking  – Toronto – Scott Street Tower Opened June 1931 78 signal levers 84 switch levers 192 levers total 30

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 31

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 32