SDO - could we do better?

[a_c_skinner]

Could we not have a national system for SDO that actually works properly? What I have in mind is something like the RFID systems in shops and credit cards along the length of the platform and detectors on the train. I know there isn't an off the shelf solution but in the medium term the RFID stuff is now cheap as chips and passive and it and the detectors are mature technology.

 

[swt_passenger]

Could we not have a national system for SDO that actually works properly? What I have in mind is something like the RFID systems in shops and credit cards along the length of the platform and detectors on the train. I know there isn't an off the shelf solution but in the medium term the RFID stuff is now cheap as chips and passive and it and the detectors are mature technology.

A number of SDO systems do already use RFID along the length of the platform, or beacons passed at the entrance to the platform. Like any other developing technology it’ll probably settle down to something more like a standard system eventually.

 

[ComUtoR]

What do you want the SDO to do and why do you want it ? Is there a cheaper or easier option ?

 

[randyrippley]

Would make more sense just to ensure that all new purchase of rolling stock was compatible with a national control standard, the same length and have the same door positions

 

[MarkyT]

Would make more sense just to ensure that all new purchase of rolling stock was compatible with a national control standard, the same length and have the same door positions

I'm all in favour of an emerging standard technology for SDO/correct side opening interlock, probably based on the Eurobalises that all new trains have to be able to read anyway, but same length trains/platforms and standard door positions will never be practical everywhere on a multi-traffic railway, which is why the various flavours of SDO were devised in the first place.

 

[randyrippley]

I'm all in favour of an emerging standard technology for SDO/correct side opening interlock, probably based on the Eurobalises that all new trains have to be able to read anyway, but same length trains/platforms and standard door positions will never be practical everywhere on a multi-traffic railway, which is why the various flavours of SDO were devised in the first place.

But at least you can eliminate some of the stupidities, such as Northern and TPE buying almost identical units for working over the same core routes -but fitting them with different length cabs so - at face value - the doors will have different stop points

 

[6Gman]

Could we not have a national system for SDO that actually works properly? What I have in mind is something like the RFID systems in shops and credit cards along the length of the platform and detectors on the train. I know there isn't an off the shelf solution but in the medium term the RFID stuff is now cheap as chips and passive and it and the detectors are mature technology.

What is RFID ?

 

[a_c_skinner]

A number of SDO systems do already use RFID along the length of the platform

No fortune for me then! It seems so obvious that RFID can either say safe to open door or not - each door could be allowed to open by the platform it faces so all the things that seem to throw SDO systems wouldn't be a problem, nor would door placement, stopping a bit wrong, units coupled together and so on.

 

[The Planner]

What is RFID ?

Radio Frequency Identification.

 

[a_c_skinner]

What is RFID ?

Apologies. Radiofrequency ID. The sort of technology in contactless cards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification .

If it were used along platform faces the advantage is that it is passive for one side of the system.

 

[hwl]

There is now a suggested UK standard for how it should be done for new installations that has gone into the ETCS standard too.

(Positioning using ETCS balise as per Thameslink/700s*, similar to TASS for tilt on WCML) this hasn't stopped some recently arriving rolling stock from very new to the UK manufacturers not using the suggested method...


*also includes auto door opening in the core when the wheels stop turning and the train is in the right place

The original RFID installation was 18 years ago (southern 377s (no GPS in Victoria P9 upwards!) but that was a proprietary RFID system (Hima-Sella TracklinkII), several operators went for TracklinkIII: FCC for 377s/387s on thameslink, SWT for 458s etc retrofit on the Windsor line and LU as an interim measure on SSR (S Stock).

Most of the implementation with balises also include Correct Side Door Enabling (CSDE).

Longer term as all stock will have ETCS equipment this will be cheaper as it will be software on train + install 10year lifespan balises in the correct place on the tracks.

Also look for Automatic Brake and Door Opening (ABDO) on the SWR 701 taking the technology to a new step.