Signalling
Signalling probably has the biggest technological ‘bridge’ to deal with says Colin Porter, and as well as that the challenge is to embrace new developments to keep the profession moving forward
S
ignal engineering in a nutshell is all about the provision of equipment and systems to provide for the safe, efficient, reliable and cost-effective control of trains, whatever the type of train and whatever and wherever the type of railway. Needless to say, the means of achieving these apparently simple four features has evolved since railways were first invented and continues to do so. Get it right and all is well – get it wrong and disasters happen, so signal engineers, as with other railway engineering disciplines, have to be careful with what they do and how they do it to ensure the continuing safe performance of railways.
The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers, usually known as the IRSE, was formed more than a hundred years ago to help engineers and technicians involved in this quite specialised field of engineering by providing a forum for the exchange of technical information and good practice, and while it has its headquarters in London, its nearly 5000 members come from around the world, with almost half that number living outside the UK. The engineering topics embraced by the term ‘signal engineering’ are very broad and include electrical, electronic, mechanical, software, communications, systems and control, safety and reliability, and while not everyone can know everything about all these topics, the right blend of subject experts is needed to provide the end product. Perhaps one of the main features is the need for signal engineers to have a very clear understanding of railway operational requirements and practices – they are there to serve their user, the railway operator and in turn the end user, the customer, and the interface between railway operators and signal engineers is key to achieving the four goals listed above. It also requires a close relationship with all the other railway engineering disciplines. Track layout, points, types of traction systems, train characteristics – length, acceleration and braking performance - are just some of the factors
and increasing fragmentation of the railways and the changes in the supply industry, there is no longer one major player – the monolithic railway– to manage the demand. This is not the case everywhere, but it is a continuing issue raised when our senior members visit railways across the world. While there has been a tendency for railways to fragment, the opposite is true for the signalling supply industry, with moves to global players – Siemens being possibly the largest now - able to harness resources globally to serve projects in different countries.
Global standards needed
which influence the design of signalling systems and so knowledge of the railway as a ‘system’ is key.
It is a continuing debate within the IRSE whether the ‘S’ in the name should be ‘signal’ or ‘system’!
Signalling going global
The current major projects in the UK - Thameslink, Crossrail, the modernisation of London Underground, Reading station re-build, the resignalling and electrification of the Great Western etc. – all have their demands for signal engineers and technicians and of course, the development of railways is certainly not limited to the UK. New railways, whether metro, freight or high speed passenger, are being built around the world, and upgrades to existing railways to improve speed, capacity and standards are commonplace. Where do all these people exist - who trains them – to what standard - and how do they learn about technical developments taking place? In many countries, with the changing structure
October 2013 Page 57
Globally accepted standards and processes are needed to ensure that skills and knowledge, i.e. competence, is assured and the competence certification scheme operated on behalf of the rail industry by the Institution, known as the IRSE Licensing Scheme, provides a mechanism for doing this. Implemented nearly 20 years ago, there are around 6000 current licence holders in many countries,
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