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| FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY |
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| Prioritizing Safety: Overhauling Automated Train Control in Atlanta |
| BY DWIGHT A. FERRELL, Deputy General Manager/Chief Operations Officer Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Atlanta, GA |
Throughout these difficult budgetary times, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has continued to prioritize its safety critical infrastructure projects toward cost-effectively investing in the most robust, sustainable, and technologically advanced systems available. In line with this focus, MARTA recently signed a contract with Alstom Signaling Inc., a global leader in transit technology and innovation, to completely overhaul its automated train control and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) computer systems.
At the contract signing, MARTA’s General Manager and CEO Dr. Beverly A. Scott said: “This project is a demonstration of our commitment to move forward with the next generation of automated train control and safety systems. It also positions MARTA to broaden its reach in terms of creating an integrated transit network that will have the capacity to serve the entire Atlanta region.”
Well prior to our rail system reaching its 30th anniversary, we recognized that it was imperative to plan for the complete replacement of these systems. While still in a state of good repair, they were becoming increasingly difficult to upgrade and maintain because of equipment and software obsolescence. The business processes were more manually intensive, time consuming, and prone to data-entry errors. Further, downtime resulting from equipment failure has increasingly had an impact on operations and service to our patrons.
MARTA’s new system will create a single integrated platform to direct all train movements, control third rail power, improve monitoring and communications capabilities, and allow for more immediate response times. The overhaul will completely integrate scheduling, CCTV, asset management, incident management, and customer information systems. New bi-directional system-wide wireless mesh technology for train-wayside communications will provide rail car health status and car tracking function in real time. Micro-processor-based systems will offer redundancy through normal/standby units. Programmable Logic Controller units will provide real time remote monitoring capability through ethernet connectivity from anywhere on the system. Of primary importance are the system’s safety and security features. Incident management capabilities will be significantly enhanced through the use of synchronized playback of audio, video, and data to assist in incident investigation and training of the controllers. In addition, these provide a means for MARTA to implement the National Transportation Safety Board recommendations regarding automatic train control system safety.
For customers, the new train control and SCADA systems will improve on-time performance, provide real time information, and increase overall reliability. Behind the scenes, the rail team will benefit from an increase in operational capacity and reduction in maintenance costs and downtime.
MARTA is re-engineering its business processes and policies to allow personnel to take full advantage of the capabilities provided by the new technology. Given the expansive change in technology and business processes, MARTA is also making a significant investment in comprehensive performance-based training of its workforce.
Through this project, MARTA is leveraging the latest technology to significantly improve the rail system’s core functionality, enhance safety and security, and provide an overall better quality transit experience to its customers.
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MARTA's new system will be an integrated Train Control and SCADA system, like the one pictured above. |
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