Supervision system for emergency brake and traction-system isolation on train formations

Abstract

In the event of an emergency, railway safety systems typically work by isolating the traction-system and applying the emergency brake, causing logistic problems on the railway line where the train formation remains stopped. This paper presents the design of a supervision system that enables the train formation to be moved in a limited and controlled way to a repair workshop or to a safe place for dropping off passengers (in the case of passenger trains). This supervision system is considered critical, because it operates on the emergency brake and the traction-system. Thus, recommendations of the UNE-EN 50126 standard were followed during its design. In particular, hardware design techniques commonly used in other industries like automotive, aeronautics and aerospace, have been adopted.