Author(s)

C. Braban & P. Charon

Abstract

In November 2005, RATP – Paris Urban Transport Operator – awarded Siemens a contract to upgrade the oldest line of the Paris metro to driverless operation (with no driver onboard). This paper discusses RATP’s motivations and focuses on the technical challenges for upgrading the ATC from driver-based to driverless operation. This paper also presents the Communications-Based Train Control solution engineered by Siemens. Keywords: communications-based train control, re-signaling, driverless Automatic Train Control. 1 Introduction Since the beginning of the 2000s, RATP, Paris Urban Transport Operator, has undertaken a vast re-signaling program to modernize the automatic train control (ATC) systems installed on its metro network. The overall program aims to increase safety and transport capacity, and improve passenger comfort. The OURAGAN re-signaling program, focusing on driver-based train operation (Paris lines 3, 5, 9, 10 and 12) to which Siemens Transportation Systems already contributes is part of an overall modernization scheme. In addition to improving safety, capacity and passenger comfort, it aims to achieve high level of parts interchangeability in the communications-based train control system to insure its easy maintainability. In conjunction with OURAGAN program, feasibility studies have been conducted by RATP to upgrade the existing lines with strong transport demand to driverless lines, following the example of line 14 which is in revenue service since 1998 and driverless from day one.

Keywords

communications-based train control, re-signaling, driverless Automatic Train Control.