Content Galleries
|
Rail Transportation in Spain
Timely Arrival
Passengers in the Spanish train system are guaranteed that they
will arrive on time or their fare is refunded. That doesn’t happen
often; RENFE prides itself on a 98.5 percent punctuality
rate. This performance owes much to advances in information
systems and signaling.
At the AVE control center in Zaragoza, Indra—one of the
top European information systems companies—uses a complicated
network of track sensors, signaling technology, radio
transmitters, and computer systems to control Spain’s high-speed
network. The DaVinci system, which was developed for ADIF
and began operations in 2003, integrates information about the
trains and the rail system and updates all that information in real
time or within a few seconds.
High-speed rail demands precise information gathering and
transmission. Not only does the control center collect data on
exactly where each train is at any given moment, but it gathers
other types of crucial information as well. For example, data
from detectors that test the temperature of the brake boxes
helps the system avoid overheating and the resulting brake failure.
The system also collects information on electricity demand
in every part of the line. Fiber-optic sensors detect even small
fallen objects along rail paths and then sound an alarm.
Jose Miguel Rubio, DaVinci’s rail information system manager,
says new research focuses on automating even more features
of the control system, sidestepping human decisions. “So
if you have a conflict in real time, where two trains want to go
onto the same track,” says Rubio, “the automatic routing system
starts to scan the track for the best route to solve the conflict.”
The company is also involved in building a super control center
in Madrid, which will oversee all tracks in Spain, not just the
high-speed ones.
Newer, more accurate signaling
systems will allow trains to
run even faster. Says Javier Rivilla,
project manager at Indra,
“As we begin to increase rail
speed, I believe we will keep on
innovating and advancing within
this system, making everything
even easier to coördinate and even more automatic.” These
developments will increase the productivity of the entire rail
system, but they will also demand increasingly precise data and
data transmission.
Signaling presents one of the greatest challenges both in making
trains faster and in achieving interoperability across Europe.
Trains traveling at high speeds need at least 8 kilometers to brake,
and 12 kilometers to brake smoothly–something impossible with
road signals such as traffic lights.
“These signaling installations have to be designed in such a
way that if you have a problem in one site, the system has to
know at each moment where the rest of the trains are and get
the information to all the trains, allowing them time to slow
down and prevent a collision,” says David Sanz, account manager
for sales and marketing at Dimetronic, a Spanish signaling
company that has been involved in a variety of Spain’s highspeed
projects.
|
Articles |
 |
Rail Transportation in Spain 2008
Spain is involved in an unstoppable run to connect the entire country with high-speed trains. By 2010 Spain will have the most high-speed tracks in the world. |
 |
High-Speed Railways in Spain 2006
To meet the world's growing demand for high-speed rail networks, Spanish companies are innovating numerous new products and services. |
Webcasts |
 |
Ticketing technology and the consumer
From automated ticketing machines to new high speed control systems and floating door technology, see how Spain has created a modernized rail system that delivers “on-time” results. |
| Select your language below to view video. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Train car operations, attributes and repair
Take a closer look at the technological innovations in the Spanish rail systems, from switching systems to car construction and the science of advanced train maintenance. |
| Select your language below to view video. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
System development, management and growth
Spanish firms are pushing their expertise across borders by exporting technology and services, interconnecting rail systems with other countries, and devising multi language signal communications. |
| Select your language below to view video. |
 |
 |
 |
|
Multimedia |
 |
Map of High-Speed Railway Construction in Spain
View the major international operations of Spanish Railway companies. |
 |
Railway Slideshow
Click here to learn more about Spanish high-speed rail innovations. |
|