Ground transportation

The metro perspective

Metro and urban rail networks are amongst the most intensely automated environments on earth and supervision systems play a critical part in guaranteeing safe, smooth operations.

Current supervision architectures impose limitations on what can be achieved: critically, they lack the flexibility needed to allow deep integration between isolated ‘silo’ functions, such as train control, passenger information and video management.

Thales Hypervisor is an entirely new architecture for supervision systems offering massive potential for integration. “With Thales Hypervisor, we can link systems together to offer additional services that meet customers’ key needs, such as operational flexibility, overall safety improvements and reduced operating costs” says Gérard Basso, Product Strategy Director, Urban Rail, Thales.

Enhanced safety

Thales Hypervisor unlocks functional silos and allows operators to create sophisticated supervision systems that offer unprecedented new functionality. An example of this is ability of the solution to transform they way that major incidents are managed, such as floods and fires.

“For instance, with Thales Hypervisor, we can easily create links and automatic reactions between train supervision, the train control system (CBTC) and fire detection systems” explains Mr. Basso. “This ensures that, in case of fire, approaching trains are stopped at the previous stations and allows us to manage platform screen doors safely.”

The ability to automate safety functions is a key differentiator, stresses Mr. Basso. “We know from experience that most accidents are triggered by human error. By automating the response, we reduce that risk.”

Deeper integration

Additional systems can be brought into the equation too. By integrating video surveillance, access controls, communications and passenger information, the supervisors can take total control of an incident, monitoring and managing the situation from a unique human-machine interface (HMI).

“Our solution offers new freedom for customers”
Arnaud Besse
Marketing Manager, Thales

The ergonomic HMI also provides decision support tools, with on-screen checklists linked directly to functions. And it provides a common interface, with harmonised controls and visualisation for all applications.

“We provide the operator with the ability to send macro commands” says Arnaud Besse, Marketing Manager, Thales. “This could include setting a specific station in exit mode in the event of a crisis. If you had to do this manually, you would have to select every gate and every escalator individually. But with Thales Hypervisor, it’s just two clicks away.”

Multi-functional integration also improves recovery time after a crisis or disruption, allowing operators to schedule and initiate provisional train services within minutes. 

Transforming operations

Deeper functional integration achieved through Thales Hypervisor also transforms day-to-day operational efficiency. “There are direct benefits for the passenger” emphasises Thales’ Gérard Basso.

“We can improve the quality of the service delivered by linking Automatic Train Supervision, which knows exactly where the train is, with passenger information systems. But we can take this even further. We can also provide a link between Hypervisor and the SCADA system, so lifts and escalators at each station are activated only when they’re needed.” 

Energy savings

The ability to activate remote equipment on a need-to-use basis has significant implications for energy bills. With a typical escalator rated at around 7.5kW, turning off the power has clear money saving potential. “Thales Hypervisor means we can reduce the overall energy consumption of the system” stresses Mr. Basso.

Knowledge-based controls of this sort could also help operators to reduce the amount of energy used for air conditioning and ventilation. And because wear and tear is also reduced, maintenance costs are lower too.

Traction power

The most significant energy savings, though, are likely to come from smarter train control and scheduling. For many operators, power consumption is ‘capped’ – exceeding a pre-defined consumption threshold triggers penalties applied by the electricity supplier.

“If the energy management system detects that consumption is too high, it triggers a traffic regulation mode and the speed of the trains can be automatically adjusted by our onboard train control to reduce power demand” says Mr. Basso.

Thales Hypervisor also addresses customers’ needs for flexibility and scalability,
“Every transport operator has time and budget constraints” says Thales’ Arnaud Besse. “By adopting this architecture, customers can integrate applications step by step if they choose to, and they can add new applications and integrate them later.”

And, critically, there’s no supplier lock-in, emphasises Mr. Besse. “Thales can provide the connectors to integrate applications, but customers can also ask their existing application provider to do it. Our solution offers new freedom for customers to allow their systems to evolve without constraints imposed by the provider.”