INNOVATION
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Rail Engineer • May 2017
The cab included the following: »» The spacious full width Class 800 cab behind a huge windscreen »» A main display screen measuring 213cm over the diagonal displaying detailed video imagery of GWR track network. »» Use of additional video displays on both side windows to provide a comprehensive visual driving experience. »» All the controls including a GW-ATP interface/ speedometer, a display for future ETCS, GSM-R radio, selectors for electric power and for diesel power, the Train Management System touch screen monitor. These are positioned in an arc in front of the driver, »» Touch screen monitors displaying simulations of the body mounted cameras), »» Controls for accessing saloon CCTV including simulations of the saloon cameras »» Driver’s and instructor’s seats »» Isolation switches and miniature circuit breakers on the cab backwall. »» smaller flat screen displays visible in the side windows »» A touch screen display outside the enclosure representing all the train equipment that a driver may need to access outside the cab, for example to rectify train faults. »» Controls and displays in the classroom outside the simulator room to allow the instructor to set up training scenarios and for other delegates to see how their colleague is performing.
Elizabeth line Class 345 The trainees using these simulators are MTR Crossrail drivers that will drive the Class 345s initially between Liverpool Street and Shenfield before the Elizabeth line opens through central London from December 2018. Ultimately 400 drivers will be needed across the railway.This is another full width Train Cab Simulator System, of similar size to the Class 800. The main differences are that: 1. There is no requirement for GW-ATP, but it will have to operate on ETCS level 2 in the Heathrow tunnels, Siemens Trainguard MT CBTC on the central, mainly tunnel
Andrew Tucker of Sydac at the Elizabeth line instructor's console. section, and AWS/TPWS everywhere else. The driver’s interface with the signalling is largely contained in a single touch screen Human Machine Interface. 2. DOO CCTV incorporates cameras on the platforms which transmit images to the train, again faithfully reproduced and simulated. Andrew Tucker, Sydac’s Support Engineer for London demonstrated how the controls can be manipulated by the instructor to make the trainee’s task easier or harder.
Train Cab Simulator Systems: Engineering and Simulation The standard Sydac hardware and software platform used by both simulators includes industrial PC type computers running the Windows operating system. The CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) of both GWR and Elizabeth line track network are developed using UniGine – a proprietary world leading vision engine. Also, in common with the vast majority of UK train simulators, these are static; however, the sensation of motion is convincingly conveyed by sound and vision alone. Dave Bradshaw emphasised the importance of obtaining the original parts (such as traction brake controllers) usually from the train manufacturer, Class 345 simulator cab back wall.
to ensure that the simulator provides a life-like experience. Krystian Malinowski, Sydac’s Support Engineer for the western area described the bespoke electronics that are usually necessary to interface these train parts to the simulator. Moreover, a huge effort goes into the video simulations. It is no longer acceptable to simply film the line and use that although such video capture is used to help develop the CGI. In response to the obvious question, Dave Bradshaw said that it is easier to control the variable elements, such as the layout of points and signal aspects, weather and day/night in a CGI simulation rather than in video. Equally, once the elements have been modelled in CGI, they can easily be adjusted. For example, if a new building is erected or demolished, it can easily be inserted into or removed from the simulation. Another important advantage of creating a virtual CGI world is the ability to train staff on track infrastructure that is not yet there in the real world. (e.g. the Elizabeth line underground sections where track is currently being laid or the GWR Paddington to Swindon simulation includes all overhead electrification in anticipation of it being completed). Brian Clark added that the flexibility of making some of the key features a little larger than scale size such as iconic buildings or locations drivers might use as braking cues. CGI simulations are built using a number of data sources; cab video, scale plans of the track (curvature, gradients, points, signals, stations), and information from sources such as Google Maps and Google Earth. Some operators want a faithful model of a route and for these a faithful rendering of lineside features is provided. The technical name for this is “geo-specific” and for GWR’s Class 800, Paddington to Swindon has been simulated as a geo-specific simulation. One huge advantage of simulators is to give drivers the chance to practice activities that they will only rarely experience in service, and