ALL IMAGES: SIEMENS MOBILITY Welcome hat a difference a year makes! If tough challenges to meet. Net Zero by 2050 anyone had asked me last year will be no walk in the park, and UK. As a Wwhat my priorities might be in result, the Department for Transport is in the my first year as CEO of Siemens Mobility middle of consulting on its decarbonisation Limited, I’m not sure that my answers would plan. Eliminating diesel trains from the have been wholly accurate! network and looking again at electrifying Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic large parts of our railway is just one part of has been the number one topic on my mind. the solution. Investment in infrastructure Brexit has all but been forgotten by most and clever thinking is needed. Luckily I’m people as a result. COVID-19 has changed surrounded by very clever people! what we do and how we do it and, for our I hope that when we look back, a year industry in particular, the impact has been from now, we’ll see some very positive pretty phenomenal. Instead of capacity developments for our rail industry and our constraints we’ve been talking traveller (and country. Part of our job is to guide and advise staff) confidence. Instead of face-to-face on reaching productive solutions for us all. meetings we’ve become experts on video After all, we employ many thousands of people conferencing and collaboration platforms. here and have been present in the UK since I’ll be the first to admit it has altered my Victorian times, so we have a vested interest in views on productivity and effectiveness. WILLIAM WILSON helping the UK economy get back on track. To More generally, it has triggered the SIEMENS MOBILITY CEO UKI coin a phrase… build back better, build back reassessment of future working patterns greener, build back faster. ■ and places. For Siemens this has been a very our roads congested. We now have an clear message – even post-COVID-19 our opportunity to reassess and do this right. working model will mean people working And that means bringing about the best CONTENTS from home or other remote locations for two/ economic benefit for the UK. My colleagues three days per week. As a result we will very and I have spent many hours and days much focus on outcomes, rather than time looking at what we can do. In the following Mobilising the spent at the office. Of course, we’ve adopted pages you’ll be able to read about real-life economy flexible working policies for many years now, examples of what we’ve been doing. It may 38Squaring up to COVID-19. but this takes things a step further. We’ll involve using ‘blue sky thinking’ to come help our people choose where they are most up with new solutions, or considering what Green light productive and what works best for them. It’s already exists that could be used in different Helping the UK to meet its a win-win scenario. ways. I’m proud that Siemens Mobility can I mentioned traveller confidence at the be so innovative and entrepreneurial. 40targets for zero-emissions. start of my introduction. As an industry it One by-product of the global pandemic is clear we have a significant part to play has, of course, been the reduction in CO2 Innovation station in this. We need to help people feel safe to emissions. As fewer people have travelled, Siemens Mobility’s £200m travel. Whether that’s two days a week in the so pollution has decreased. That’s brought investment in Goole. future or whether that’s the pre-COVID-19 into sharp focus the topic of decarbonisation. 42 five-day commute. There are a lot of people It’s not that people weren’t aware of this who’ve been very nervous about passenger before, it’s more that they’ve had the time Digital Railway number reductions. I’m pretty clear about to consider it more and see the positive The benefits of intelligent this. Our railways were at bursting point, environmental impact. The UK has some 44rail systems.

37 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOBILISING THE ECONOMY he far-reaching effects of the coronavirus pandemic have been Siemens Mobility is poised to turn keenly felt in all areas of society, but adversity into opportunity as the rail Tperhaps nowhere more visibly than on public transport. industry squares up to the challenges Owing to a national lockdown of everyone except key workers from late March, combined of coronavirus and the lockdown with the continued need for social distancing, passenger numbers remain far below what education and leisure activities, public feel more confident.” they were just six months ago. transport is also vital to ensuring that the The solutions that have subsequently Travel restrictions have now largely been recovery is environmentally sustainable and been developed include a variety of journey lifted as we adjust to the ‘new normal’ of living that congestion and pollution arising from planning and contactless ticketing HAFAS web with the threat of the disease while mitigating private car use is minimised. apps from HaCon, a Siemens company, that the risk of transmission. Siemens Mobility recognises that people help travellers to make safe decisions about Demand for public transport is once more need to feel safe to travel by public transport their end-to-end journeys and to be better on the rise, although it is accepted that fully again and have approached the challenge both informed. restoring passenger confidence will take much from the point of view of the operator and of The apps allow users to keep away from longer to achieve. the passenger. congested areas by predicting occupancy levels Indeed, research conducted by Siemens It has subsequently developed a suite of for lines, stations and services more than seven comply with social distancing is its Digital Our on-board custom-made 3D-printed parts to replace Mobility in the UK indicates that some bespoke tools, products and options that will days in advance. Station Capacity Solutions software. frequently touched surfaces on trains. They are 86% of the public associate rail travel with a not only help to restore confidence but also In and around London these capabilities By gathering data from 3D sensors, wifi technology offers the made out of polymers which are easy to clean, heightened risk of exposure to coronavirus. increase the resilience of public transport to have been enhanced by the availibility of access points and more established customer install or remove. This rises to 95% of those who exclusively COVID-19. passenger loading detection and location systems such as CCTV or ticketing and operator detailed Options to reduce the spread of viruses and use the railway to commute in normal times, Alex Stewart, general manager Inter Modal technology installed on Siemens Class 700s integrated train sensors, the software enables bacteria include increasing fresh air volume despite separate research conducted by RSSB Solutions at Siemens Mobility Limited operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. operators to take action to avoid overcrowding, insight into flow rates and air filtration systems with pointing to the risk of infection being broadly explains: “When the first cases of coronavirus The real-time data that the ‘700s’ provide or in case the limit of people allowed in a usage. HVAC. The company is additionally piloting the same for rail as travelling by car. were confirmed in the UK in January, I don’t is designed to give operators a more detailed specific area, such as platforms, is reached. Simon Rennie, an innovative fan with a decontamination think that many people realised what it would view of the utilisation of their rolling stock This lack of confidence among passengers The Capacity Solution can be adapted to Head of Digital, chamber that uses a combination of has led to a difficult financial climate for mean for the country. But after most of us were assets, but can also be incorporated by meet operators’ requirements but will typically photocatalytic coating and UVC light to operators and also governments, with told to stay at home from March 23 we were passenger facing apps like the HAFAS multi- provide insights from live or historical data Siemens Mobility remove pollutants, pathogens and CO2. increased public spending often required to pretty quick to look at how we could make a modal tool. to help tailor train schedules to improve An active coating that can be applied to hard keep transport networks fully functioning. difference. Simon Rennie, head of digital for Siemens passenger flow or to provide guidelines and passenger flow can also be circulated via surfaces in driving cabs that prevents droplet This is compounded by uncertainty over “We saw very rapidly that at some point we Mobility says: “Our on-board technology generate instructions to passengers. passenger apps or to operator staff on handheld based infection by providing continually what permanent changes to travel patterns would need to get people back onto public offers the operator detailed insight into usage. Amar Sansoa, technology manager for devices because we have such a wealth of data sterilised surfaces, plus the use of UVC light, will now follow owing to the recent and well- transport and in early April published our Passengers want to be confident that social Siemens Mobility Limited, says: “Given that that can be interrogated and then relayed in a to rapidly disinfect surfaces using a handheld embraced rise in home working. ‘four Cs’ concept of cleanliness, confidence, distancing can be maintained, and we knew we all need to adhere to social distancing, succinct and accurate manner.” device is also on trial. But there is no doubt that the UK’s wider crowding and choice. We knew that it would be that a combination of weight and location we can flag it up at stations if people ignore it To help reduce transmission and to reassure Siemens Mobility Limited Innovation economic recovery from the current recession important for public transport to be clean, that data could create quite sophisticated views of and then have an automated announcement passengers on safety even further, Siemens Manager Lyndon Shaw says that the will depend on the increased mobility of people people had the opportunity to see how busy individual services, stations and routes. broadcasted via screens and the PA system. Mobility also offers several other practical repurposing of pre-existing Siemens software, and goods. services would be and that they had a choice of “That gives operators the power to answer “All of the information that we collate on and innovative on-board solutions, including on-board and station technology to address Connecting people to jobs, social networks, different modes of transport, so that they could any questions and to have a good grip on some of the new challenges posed by planning additional capacity and more services coronavirus is testament to the versatility and as passenger volumes increase. The technology flexibility of the company’s product portfolio. we use to capture data could also become an It is a portfolio that could go a long way in industry-wide solution and potentially be making us all feel much more confident when deployed on any other rail vehicle.” using the rail network. To help plan a route and to avoid longer He says: “We already had robust transfer times than necessary, the Mobility infrastructure and managing passenger flows Marketplace MaaS solution from Siemens was a key priority for us from an operational Mobility is also particularly helpful to perspective. But we now have a different passengers planning door-to-door journeys. priority on top of that to maintain social By allowing operators to offer flexible distancing and we have been able to repurpose mobility options, a wide variety of data and the analytics for a different business case. interfaces have been integrated into one “We could add things like thermal cameras comprehensive trip planner – from public to take passengers’ temperatures or to connect transport to road and traffic information, with other devices like UV sanitisers on car and bike-sharing providers, carpooling escalators to monitor that they are working, services, taxis and domestic flights. making sure we control the flow of people Another product that Siemens Mobility across the network with their safety at the is able to provide to operators to help them forefront.” ■

38 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 39 GREEN LIGHT Siemens Mobility will be leading the charge in helping UK rail meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050, says RUTH HUMPHREY, JUSTIN MOSS and GRAEME CLARK

ail has long been one of the most UK network that remains unelectrified. and hydrogen cannot, currently, play any role. environmentally friendly modes of Underpinning the recommendations is a Nevertheless, NR believes that the target can transport, but now it’s set to become ‘decision tree’ that has been developed using be met to remove all diesel-only passenger Reven greener. the various capabilities and cost implications trains from the network by 2040 and all forms That is because although it accounts for of these three technologies. of diesel passenger trains (including bi-mode) less than 1% of all the total UK annual That is because while they are all deemed a decade later. greenhouse gas emissions, the industry has sufficiently mature to replace diesel traction, To develop these proposals, both NR and TS the tools at its disposal to eliminate almost all not all are suitable for all types of rail services. have worked collaboratively with the industry of its direct contribution. For example, in the strategy, Network Rail and companies like Siemens Mobility to As one of the first countries to establish recommends that at least 11,700 single track gather evidence and leverage expertise. a legally binding net-zero emissions target kilometres (stk) should be electrified for Siemens Mobility has been highly across the entire economy by 2050, the UK powering long-distance high-speed passenger supportive of the process and the ongoing from an AC supply and then topped up He adds: “The TDNS is a good lead into Siemens Mobility’s Sicat system (pictured here government has set a target for the rail services and freight as these have higher work of the Rail Industry Decarbonisation through regenerative braking. that and extols the virtues of each technology at Stevenage) reduces the cost of OLE by industry to play its part by removing its largest energy requirements. The service frequency Taskforce, in addition to the development of According to Siemens Mobility, this provides and how it can replace diesel which, apart reducing the number of structures, requiring single source of emissions – diesel-only trains on these lines also strengthens the business an overarching Transport Decarbonisation an X-EMU with a usable range of 80km when from being dirty and noisy, has a high energy less track access and resources to install. – from the network by 2040. case for erecting overhead line equipment Plan by government that is due to be running on battery power alone, making it density and has always been quite a good way Meanwhile, in Scotland, an even more On the other hand, on less intensively published by the end of the year. well suited to running on short unelectrified of propelling a train. Transport Scotland is on how to do that. ambitious target has been set to fully used lines or where line speeds are lower, Ruth Humphrey, Siemens Mobility’s branch lines or in non-electrified sections. even more advanced in its thinking and has a “The first way is that we produce turbines decarbonise passenger operations by 2035. more than 1,300stk are deemed appropriate UKI head of business development and X-EMU battery technology has already been well developed strategy to remove diesel.” and electrolysers. The second is that we’re In order to achieve these targets, two for hydrogen and battery-powered trains, strategy says: “We chose to respond to the fitted to the roof of a three-car Desiro ML For longer stretches of unelectrified track, heavily involved in looking at ammonia documents were released earlier this year which avoid the capital cost of electrification Government’s transport decarbonisation Cityjet that entered passenger service with Siemens Mobility has designed EMU fleets that technology. to set out the options and various pathways while providing the same reduction in direct consultation and have worked closely with NR Austrian Federal Railways in August 2019, are capable of incorporating hydrogen fuel cells. “We can produce green ammonia which for the Department for Transport, Transport emissions. and other organisations because we feel that while there are also plans to convert a number Emitting only water vapour, a new allows us to store between four and eight Scotland and Welsh Government to consider The challenge to remove diesel traction from it’s a critical strategy and an important strand of vehicles in this country in the near future. generation of hydrogen fuel cells has been times as much hydrogen in a given space when making future funding decisions. freight is much greater, given that batteries within our global business. Graeme Clark, head of rolling stock business developed by the company in partnership before cracking it to separate it into hydrogen Transport Scotland published its Rail “It’s important not just in terms of our development, explains: “We’ve been working with Canadian manufacturer Ballard Power and nitrogen. We’ve already proven the Services Decarbonisation Action Plan in The technology responsibility to the environment, but because on battery technology for a number of years Systems to provide traction for Siemens concept and now we’re looking to move that July, while Network Rail released its interim this is the way that our clients and customers and already have it operating in Austria where Mobility’s Mireo train platform. into the pre-production phase to fuel a small Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy in is proven and are heading, and we want to help them as we are hoping to secure an order for additional Static testing has now been completed and set of vehicles on an experimental basis.” early September. a leader in providing sustainable mobility trains very shortly. We’ve also secured an a prototype is due to enter service on the Last but not least, in addition to developing The two documents recommend the large- deliverable solutions. order from the State of Baden Wurttemberg for European mainland in the next two years, alternative technology, Siemens Mobility scale deployment of electrification, hydrogen Graeme Clark, Head of Business “In terms of rail we had already decided 20 Mireo eco battery EMU bi-modes together before the technology becomes available to is committed to reducing the costs of and battery technology across the 62% of the Development Rolling Stock that it wasn’t the right thing to be building with a 29.5 year maintenance contract and customers in the UK by 2024. electrification in order to support its more new diesel fleets, so we’ve focused on electric guaranteed energy usage. In addition to the onboard technology, widespread installation across the bulk of the traction, which is lighter, faster, more efficient “But on parts of the network which look like Siemens Mobility will also be in a position to unelectrified network as a prime method of and a more pleasant way of travelling. We’ve they won’t be electrified, a mixture of solutions offer hydrogen manufacturing and fuelling reducing carbon emissions. also looked at alternative traction and, on will always be needed. Batteries only give us facilities by leveraging the company’s wider This is particularly important if the entire the infrastructure side of things, making a range of 40-50 miles, so then you need to capability to also build the wind turbines and network is to have net-zero carbon, and diesel the systems more cost-effective in order to look at hydrogen fuel cells for distances greater electrolysers that will facilitate production of traction is removed from freight as well as encourage more electrification schemes to be than that. the fuel using renewable energy sources. passenger services. pushed forward.” “You’ve got to look at it from a system Work on producing hydrogen from Justin Moss, UKI head of electrification Already a leading supplier to the UK of optimisation point of view and see it as a ammonia is also now under way - another strategy for Siemens Mobility, explains: electric multiple units (including more than whole to provide the value and operational method of creating the fuel that is expected “You’ve got pockets of new electrification 1,100 vehicles for Thameslink’s Class 700 benefits, rather than selecting one system over to produce zero carbon unlike traditional projects, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail fleet), Siemens Mobility now stands ready to another. Sometimes it will be hydrogen on its industrial sources. and HS2, but no decisions have yet been made offer other low-emission alternatives and will own, sometimes hydrogen or battery bi-modes Clark adds: “We’ve already got on a network-wide strategy. If you really want soon be offering its UK customers EMU fleets working in conjunction with an electricity productionised fuel cell technology that has zero carbon then the whole network needs to that can be part-powered by either batteries or supply, and sometimes just a pure EMU, but completed static testing, so we’re starting from be electrified. hydrogen. we have to consider everything as a complete a good position. Then it’s about the production “We are fully supportive of a rolling Battery technology is particularly system in order to get the best outcome.” of the hydrogen, and Siemens is well advanced programme of electrification. However, we advantageous. It can be fitted to either existing need to ensure it is procured in a consistent or new EMUs and will enable trains to utilise We’ve already got productionised fuel cell manner to avoid gaps. This should be more an overhead or third-rail AC supply where focused on output specifications to enable available, and to move independently of technology that has completed static testing, so designers and manufacturers to focus on electrified infrastructure as required. optimum delivery. We also need to look at this Siemens Mobility’s Desiro ML OBB Cityjet eco electric-battery hybrid trains have been in passenger The company has therefore developed we’re starting from a good position programme as a whole system rather than service with Austrian Federal Railways since August 2019. X-EMU ‘eco’ technology that can be charged Graeme Clark, Head of Business Development Rolling Stock procuring piecemeal” ■

40 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 41 INNOVATION STATION iemens Mobility’s planned rail facility Finbarr Dowling, project director manufacturing, harbour and service facility. in Goole may still be three years away Siemens Mobility also has Train Maintenance from completion, but the £200 million for Siemens Mobility’s £200 Depots in Leeds and York and opened a new Sinvestment is already starting to drive Bogie Service Centre in Lincoln in November change in the East Riding of Yorkshire. million investment in Goole, tells 2018. Such is its significance to the local economy “My team and I have a lot of experience in and the wider rail industry that none other RAIL how the company has set terms of what can be achieved in the region and than Prime Minister Boris Johnson opted to about creating more than just a good connections with local governance and visit the 67-acre rail-connected site in July to the key players in the area,” adds Dowling. mark the official start of construction. train building factory “We know it’s easy to work with these people The development of the site will be delivered so opting for Goole was a combination of local in three main stages and will support up to accelerate new products to market. “RaisE is a collaboration with BCRRE with commitment, physical connectivity and the 700 direct jobs, plus 250 during construction. A £6m building will be the headquarters the idea to create an innovation centre that strong tradition we have in the area. We’re very Once open in 2023, there will be an of RaisE (Rail Accelerator and Innovative has links with phases 1 and 3 to focus on familiar with the type of skills here and are very additional 1,700 supply chain opportunities. Solutions Hub for Enterprise) with a key digital-related projects in the industry. These happy with the quality of education that’s being Phase 1 comprises a three-storey office focus on providing research and development will include using data analytics to power the provided in the area.” block and business centre which will be support. 21st-century railway in the UK, using robotics, One education provider that the company partly occupied by Siemens Mobility with Both phases 1 and 2 will complement Phase and also augmented reality and artificial has developed close links with is Selby College, procurement, logistics and engineering staff to 3 at Goole, which is the construction of a new intelligence. which is Siemens Mobility’s chosen training support the company’s wider UK business. factory that will start life by delivering a £1.5bn “Those facilities will be open to anybody partner for Goole. Dowling adds: “We want to develop talent An artist’s impression of the Goole facility Space will also be provided for small and contract to manufacture 94 trains for London from the supply chain and we’re always The first cohort of 12 apprentices was from the region rather than import it, which is where 94 trains will be constructed for medium-sized enterprises, with a view to Underground’s Piccadilly line. looking at new ideas, so it’s a great opportunity welcomed on September 15 by Selby College, why the 12 apprentices (see panel) are broadly London Underground’s Piccadilly line. creating a ‘railway village’ collaboration area. Siemens Mobility Project Director Finbarr and really for our imagination to fill it. Goole where they will undertake a Level 3 Rail from within 5-10 miles of the site. We’re then Phase 2 is being delivered in collaboration Dowling explains: “On the main plot we are will be a lot more than just a factory for Apprenticeship programme. looking to put 700 people into our factory APPRENTICE PROFILES with the Birmingham Centre for Railway starting with the factory that will assemble building trains.” The new starters – who were selected from with further jobs to come from the business Research and Education (BCRRE) on behalf the new Piccadilly line trains from 2023. The site at Goole was chosen not just owing over 200 applicants - will spend the first year and innovation centres - bringing people Milly Johnston of UKRRIN (the UK Rail Research and The enabling works continue and the main to its rail connection and close links to the at the college to develop core engineering from academia into the town and having an Milly (18) had begun a car Innovation Network) which brings together contractor will be announced imminently with motorway network, but also for the ports on knowledge and competencies, and in the inspiring effect. mechanic apprenticeship at the rail industry, supply chain and academia to full works to commence in October this year. the Humber and both Doncaster/Sheffield and second year will spend one day a week at the “It’s also worth saying that we’re currently a local garage in Goole, but “But we are also looking at how to maximise Leeds/Bradford airports. college and the remaining four on placement at based in temporary site offices built and it came to a premature end These apprentices including Milly Johnston (far warehousing and logistics through some The company already has a large presence Siemens Mobility traincare facilities. assembled by people from East Yorkshire, and when the business ceased left) and Kate Rodley (second right) are among of our suppliers co-locating and we’re also across the north of England and particularly Their third year will be split between working when Boris Johnson visited recently we were trading. Undeterred, she the first of up to 700 employees who will work collaborating with a number of partners on in nearby Hull, where Siemens has previously full time at the Goole facility and a six-month able to show him what the factory will look kept looking for opportunities to work at at Siemens Mobility’s Goole rail facility when it innovation under the banner of RaisE, which invested more than £300m and created placement at the company’s rolling stock facility like using augmented reality technology from Siemens Mobility’s Goole plant by regularly opens in 2023. will be formally launched soon. 1,000 jobs at a new offshore wind blade in Vienna. a small, local, specialist software company. checking the website for apprenticeships. “Our enabling contractor (CR Reynolds) is She says: “This is brilliant for Goole based in Hessle (five miles west of Hull) so because Siemens Mobility is such a big we’re walking the walk and spending money company and there isn’t anything like it in primarily in East Yorkshire. We’re always this area. It will create a lot of new jobs, bring looking to create that local effect if we see more people into the town and encourage the opportunity, improving the daily lives of people to relocate to the area. It was people in the area, which is home from home interesting to meet Boris Johnson and it was for us.” good that he visited.” Beyond the delivery of the 94 new trains for the Piccadilly line, Siemens Mobility has Kate Rodley ambitions to make Goole a permanent fixture Kate (18) says that she on the landscape and to fulfil subsequent knew that she wanted to orders. work for Siemens Mobility London Underground has the option to since the age of 14, when make subsequent orders for new trains for its she took part in an electric Central, Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines, kit car race at Beverley while Siemens Mobility is also a shortlisted High School in East Yorkshire organised by bidder to build trains for HS2. Greenpower Education Trust and supported Dowling concludes: “We’ve been in the UK by Siemens. for more than 170 years and we are planning Now, after gaining a double distinction for the future. We don’t take anything for in engineering at Ron Dearing University granted though and know that if we don’t Technical College in Hull, Kate’s ambition deliver on our promises then we don’t has been realised. deserve a place at the table to help shape the She adds: “I’m so excited to start my future of transport in the UK with a focus on career and looking forward to entering innovation. an adult environment, being practical “We will bring all the experts into one place and independent, while with the other to produce world class rolling stock. That way apprentices. The apprenticeship offers travel we can help to shape the position of the UK opportunities too, which is also exciting.” for global rail success.” ■

42 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 43 DIGITAL RAILWAY Head of Digital for Siemens Mobility SIMON RENNIE and Operations Director for Digital Railway MARK FERRER explain what benefits intelligent rail systems are bringing for passengers and the wider industry

he entry into service of the first Class finely tuned to the condition of the train, and traffic management on the southern 700 with Govia Thameslink Railway giving you better reliability and availability.” portion of the East Coast Main Line between in June 2016 heralded the start of a To help manage and understand the Peterborough and King’s Cross. Tnew era for rail travel in the UK. ‘big data’ produced by the Desiro City and Operations Director for Digital Railway Making that maiden journey was 12-car other Siemens Mobility train platforms, the Mark Ferrer says: “When you look at the 700108, which was procured in 2013 as part company offers operators access to its Railigent railway itself, it is a system and the train is a of a 115-train order for the government- cloud-based mobile application suite. part of that, alongside the infrastructure and sponsored Thameslink programme. Part of the MindSphere Internet of Things operation. In order to get the best out of a But as well as being part of one of the largest (IoT) family, Railigent can integrate with train like the ‘700’ that has so much onboard ever train orders in UK history (worth some various applications which are then analysed automation, you need to facilitate that from the £1.5bn), it also marked an important step in and interpreted through a simplified trackside, such as the ability to automatically the evolution of Siemens Mobility’s Desiro dashboard. control trains and provide protection. City platform. Rennie says: “Railigent’s core function “Rather than being something that uses the The ‘700’ had been offered by the allows us to predict when routine maintenance railway, the trains become an integral part of company following an extensive research is required so you can optimise when you the system itself.” and development programme, during which do it without necessarily taking trains out of Away from areas that have ATO, driver more than 50 million euros was spent to service.” advisory systems can be connected with traffic create a bespoke solution for the Thameslink Siemens Mobility is also committed management systems to help trains keep to programme. to continuous improvement. Just like a time. Siemens Mobility’s engineers needed to smartphone, the software on Desiro City The resultant Connected Driver Advisory fulfil a demanding specification to not only trains is continually updated during its System (C-DAS) can be viewed as two increase capacity to carry an additional 50,000 lifetime. subsystems, with the TMS defining timetable passengers into central London per day, but to The Class 700’s compatibility with ETCS requirements in real time and the Driver also improve safety, security, comfort, cost and and ATO has also improved the passenger Advisory System providing information to the energy efficiency. experience and increased reliability and driver to stay within the timing requirements. The ‘700s’ also had to be fully digitally performance. Advantages of C-DAS include; fewer stops at enabled to integrate with new infrastructure, Not only does in-cab signalling increase red signals, improved train regulation, lower becoming the first main line trains in the the number of available train paths through energy consumption and reduced wear and world to operate using both ATO (Automatic central London by enabling trains to run much tear on rolling stock. Train Operation) and ETCS (European Train closer together, but it can also be integrated Ferrer explains: “Driver advisory systems Control System) in-cab signalling technology. with a traffic management system (TMS) to are pretty static in that it takes a timetable and The train’s intelligent software design also help keep performance as close as possible to says ‘this is the diagram of this train and this is offered other benefits, including increased the timetabled path of each train. the time it’s got to be there’. If the performance reliability and performance through data- Traffic management systems are currently of the railway degrades throughout the day, driven technology. being rolled out across a wider area than there is no real way for drivers to understand Head of Digital for Siemens Mobility Simon the Thameslink core in central London the impact of that along the route. Rennie explains: “The Class 700 is the first of (approximately 20 minutes’ travel time in “By coupling DAS up with the signalling a new generation of digital trains. It transmits each direction), while Network Rail has also control centre (C-DAS) then we can then start more than 100,000 different data sets in real commenced a programme to install ETCS to advise through traffic management how time that tell you key things such drivers should drive trains by as the condition of the train, its giving them more information occupancy and levels of passenger on the route ahead. comfort.” “As an industry, we want to The installation of thousands iron out performance issues of data-gathering sensors in each and we now have the tools and vehicle means that diagnostic data capabilities to do that as the day is streamed from each train to progresses and things happen. Siemens Mobility’s service centre, With traffic management and enabling preventative action to be ETCS combined with C-DAS scheduled while the train is still there is now an option to in service, and a new regime of maximise the capability of the predictive maintenance to operate railway and dynamically advise at Thameslink’s two depots at drivers of the constraints of the Hornsey and Three Bridges. railway ahead leading to a much Rennie adds: “It represents a more efficient operation.” ■ colossal change because your maintenance regime is more

44 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH