The growing traffic on the railways as well as the demand for higher speed increases the safety systems requirements. The train control system is a vital part of the safety systems on the railways and is the link between landside equipment such as interlocking, line block etc. and rolling stock.

Siemens has many years of experience in the development, production and safety approval of train control systems. In Denmark, Siemens supplies train control systems for the national railway infrastructure network as well as combined systems for border-crossing traffic in and out of Denmark.

Danish ATC

In Denmark we use one of the most complex train control systems in the world: ATC (Automatic Train Control). The system was developed by the end of the 1980ies by Siemens in cooperation with DSB (the Danish state-owned railway company). ATC is based on an existing train control system in the “Siemens ZUB 100 family” which has been upgraded in accordance with the requirements and specifications of DSB.

The ATC system is technically referred to as ZUB 123 and has since the beginning been fine-tuned to handle all specific Danish traffic situations and rules. Today ATC has been installed in about 500 vehicles and on the majority of all Danish main sections and on some branch lines. ATC has been approved in compliance with Mü 8004 (the safety level that corresponds to CENELEC SIL 4.)

Combined Danish-Swedish ATC

In connection with the opening of the Oresund Bridge the need for a joint Danish-Swedish ATC system arose. It should be possible to operate with the same trains in both Denmark and Sweden where two different and not immediately compatible train control systems are used. Siemens has developed a combined system for DSB/SJ by means of which it is possible to make a so-called “flying” system switch, i.e. a switch from the Danish to the Swedish ATC and vice versa at full speed on the section.

The combined ATC-system has been approved by all relevant authorities and was put into operation at the time of the opening of the Oresund Bridge. The new components for the combined ATC system have been developed and approved in accordance with CENELEC SIL 4.

STM – Specific Transmission Module

During the migration phase of the planned ERTMS project in Denmark there will be a period where vehicles have to operate on lines still equipped with the existing ATC system as well as on lines equipped with the new ETCS system. Siemens offers an STM solution for vehicles equipped with onboard ETCS equipment enabling these to operate on lines still equipped with the Danish ATC system (ZUB 123). Our STM solution will be designed with standardized interfaces and is therefore suitable regardless of the supplier of the onboard ETCS equipment (as long as the onboard equipment fulfills the standards for interfaces specified by the EU). The STM solution will be ready by 2013.

Support and documents concerning ATC

Below you find technical information on the individual components of the mobile ATC equipment as well as standards and documents relevant for the installation and operation of the mobile ATC equipment. As far as the last part is concerned, the English version is found by scrolling down in the documents.

English articles on ATC