WO2019052967A1

WO2019052967A1 - Method and system for managing railway traffic on a railway track

Info

Publication number: WO2019052967A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/074351
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fayçal AHMED ZAID; Frédéric BALLEREAU; Franck Martin; Matthieu Thibault
Original assignee: Sncf Mobilites
Priority date: 2017-09-18
Filing date: 2018-09-10
Publication date: 2019-03-21
Also published as: FR3071213B1; FR3071213A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for managing railway traffic on a railway track divided into blocks stored in a database, comprising at least one iteration of the following steps, for at least one vehicle travelling on said railway track: - determining (102) the current position of said railway vehicle on said railway track, - estimating (104) a theoretical stopping position for said vehicle according to said current position and the speed of said vehicle, - identifying (106) the next block, referred to as the subsequent block, according to said theoretical stopping position by consulting said database, - retrieving (108) from the database the occupancy status relating to the presence or absence of a vehicle in said at least one subsequent block, and - when said next block is occupied, triggering (110) a braking action of said vehicle. The invention also relates to a rail traffic management system.

Description

"Method and system for managing railway traffic on a railway line"

The invention relates to a method and a system for managing rail traffic on a railway line.

The field of the invention is the field of rail traffic management on railways, in particular the field of rail traffic management on single railways.

STATE OF THE ART

Methods and systems for managing single-track rail traffic requiring the intervention of a human operator, for example a vehicle driver or a traffic controller, are known according to pre-established procedures. These methods and systems additionally utilize large installations of track circuits, axle detectors, signaling beacons and / or signaling along said track.

However, the level of safety to avoid nose-to-nose or catch-up on the single track remains insufficient, as it depends on a human factor and the number of installations on the track. In addition, these methods and systems are expensive and complex to implement because they require complex facilities to achieve and maintain. In addition, these methods and systems are not suitable for low traffic single lanes that are not equipped with facilities such as track circuits, axle detectors, etc.

An object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a more secure rail traffic management system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a rail traffic management system that is less expensive to implement. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a rail traffic management system less complex to implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved by a method of managing rail traffic on a railway broken down into cantons stored in a database, comprising at least one iteration of the following steps, for at least one vehicle traveling on said railway:

- determination of the current position of said railway vehicle on said railway,

estimating a theoretical stopping position of said vehicle as a function of said current position and the speed of said vehicle,

identification of the next block, said next block, according to said theoretical stopping position by consulting said database,

reading in said database a state of occupation relating to the presence or absence of a vehicle in said at least one following block, and

- when said next block is busy, triggering a braking of said vehicle.

With the method according to the invention, the states of occupation of the cantons of the railway are centralized in a database. In addition, the method according to the invention triggers the braking of the vehicle when it goes to a block occupied by another vehicle. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to stop a vehicle located on a busy township without the intervention of an operator. The method according to the invention is therefore more secure.

In addition, the method according to the invention does not require a signaling installation on the track to determine the occupation of the cantons of said railway. The method according to the invention can be used on single lanes and / or low traffic lanes. The method according to the invention is therefore less complex and less expensive to implement. In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the theoretical stopping position can be determined in addition according to at least one:

- estimated braking distance, or

- constant predetermined braking distance.

For example, the theoretical position may be the current position to which is added an estimated or constant braking distance.

The predetermined braking distance may be between 10 m and 2 km, for example.

The estimated braking distance can be determined according to at least one of the following parameters:

an acceleration of said vehicle,

a dimension of said vehicle,

a braking characteristic of said vehicle,

- a direction of movement,

- at least one meteorological condition.

The braking characteristic of said vehicle may be the deceleration gamma of said vehicle, the type of the vehicle, its load, a time of establishing a braking of the vehicle, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention may comprise a step of updating a state of occupation of at least one block according to the current position, the theoretical position of at least one vehicle and / or a characteristic of said vehicle, in particular its length.

A block can be considered occupied when the current position and / or the theoretical position of the vehicle is in said block, in particular considering the length of said vehicle.

A block may be released when a vehicle leaves the boundary of said block.

Preferably, the method according to the invention may comprise a step determining if the current position is in a zone, called maneuver, or a zone, called station, by consulting the database. If the current position is in a station area or a maneuver area then the theoretical position is determined according to the current position and a predetermined distance.

The maneuvering zone can be a maneuvering zone of said vehicle, for example to change lanes, to enter a railway station, etc. The speed of a vehicle in a maneuvering area can be limited to a given speed, for example a speed between 10 km / h and 50 km / h.

The station area may be an area defining a railway station. The speed of a vehicle in a station area can be limited to a given speed, for example a speed between 10 km / h and 50 km / h. In particular the station area can be provided to accommodate at least two railway vehicles.

The maneuvering area may be an area near a station area.

The theoretical position of a vehicle in a station or maneuvering zone may be the current position to which is added, in the direction of movement of the vehicle, a predetermined constant distance. This distance can be between 10 m and 2 km.

In an advantageous embodiment, if the current position is in a maneuvering zone or a station area, then the method according to the invention can comprise, for at least one vehicle, the following steps:

identification of a next maneuvering zone, referred to as the next maneuvering zone, according to the theoretical position by consulting the database, and

- When said next maneuvering area is occupied, triggering a braking of said vehicle.

In a particular embodiment, the method according to the invention may comprise a step of updating a state of occupation of at least one maneuvering zone according to the current position, from the theoretical position of the least one vehicle and / or a characteristic of said vehicle, in particular its length. A maneuvering zone can be considered as occupied if the current position, and / or the theoretical position of the vehicle, is in said maneuvering zone, in particular considering the length of said vehicle.

A maneuvering area can be released when a vehicle leaves the limit of said maneuvering area.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the database may be at a remote site, the method according to the invention comprising a data transmission between said remote site and at least one, in particular each, vehicle .

According to an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the database can be stored in storage means arranged in the remote site, for example a remote server. Advantageously, the step of determining the current position of the vehicle may comprise the following steps:

- determination of the current position of said vehicle by satellite geolocation, and / or

determination of the current position of said vehicle by odometry. In particular, the method according to the invention may comprise a step of determining the current position of the vehicle by receiving a geolocation position by satellite, in the case of presence of the satellite signal.

The method according to the invention may also comprise a step of determining the current position of the vehicle by measuring a distance traveled, by odometry, from a known position, or from a position determined previously by satellite geolocation.

The method according to the invention therefore does not require track circuit installations, axle detectors, etc. The method according to the invention is thus less complex and less expensive to implement.

In particular, the method according to the invention may further comprise a step of memorizing a current position of at least one, in particular each, vehicle and / or a theoretical position of at least one, in particular each, vehicle , especially for verification purposes, statistics, etc. According to an embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one current position and / or a theoretical position may be recorded in a storage means arranged in at least one, in particular each, vehicle.

In particular, the storage means may be removable.

Preferably, at least one step of the method according to the invention can be repeated at each predetermined time interval, or at a predetermined frequency.

The time interval can be constant and between 0.1 s and 2 min.

The time interval may be variable depending on a speed of at least one vehicle and / or a number of vehicles traveling on the track and / or a number of cantons and / or areas of said track .

In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention may comprise a step of displaying or entering information relating to the occupation of a block or zone, and / or to a braking trigger.

The display step may be performed on board at least one, in particular each, vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a rail traffic management system on a railway comprising means arranged to perform all the steps of the method according to the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, a railway vehicle is provided with:

a system according to the invention, or

means for implementing the method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examining the detailed description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first example of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a second example of the method according to the invention; and

- FIGURES 3a and 3b are schematic representations of implementation of the second example of the method according to the invention in the context of two configurations of a vehicle on a railway.

It is understood that the embodiments which will be described in the following are in no way limiting. It will be possible, in particular, to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the art. This selection comprises at least one feature preferably functional without structural detail, or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a first example of the method according to the invention.

The method 100 according to the invention is provided to manage the movement of at least one vehicle on a railway track broken down into cantons stored in a database.

The method 100 comprises for at least one, in particular, each vehicle traveling on said track, a step 102 for determining the current position of the vehicle.

Step 102 may comprise a step of determining the current position of said vehicle by receiving a satellite location position, in the case of presence of the satellite signal. The method according to the invention may also comprise a step of determining the current position of said vehicle by measuring a distance traveled, by odometry, from a known position, or a position determined by geolocation by satellite.

The method 100 further comprises a step 104 of estimating a theoretical stopping position of said vehicle further function of said current position, the speed of said vehicle and a braking characteristic of said vehicle.

Then, the method 100 comprises a step 106 of identification of the next block, according to said theoretical stopping position by consulting the database.

The method 100 also comprises a step 108 for determining the occupation of the following block, by reading in the database of a state of occupation of the following block.

The method 100 further comprises a step 110 of triggering the braking of said vehicle if the following block is occupied.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a second example of the method according to the invention.

The method 200 comprises the same steps as the method 100 of FIGURE 1.

The method 200 further comprises a step 202 of determining whether the vehicle is in a maneuvering area or a station area.

If the current position of the vehicle is included in one of these zones, then the method 200 comprises a step 204 for estimating a theoretical stopping position of said vehicle, furthermore depending on said current position and a predetermined constant distance. , in particular between 10 m and 2 km.

Then, the method 200 comprises a step 206 of identification of the next maneuvering zone, according to said theoretical stopping position by consulting the database.

The method 200 also comprises a step 208 for determining the occupation of the next zone, by reading in the database a state of occupancy of the following block. If the next zone is occupied, the method 200 executes step 110 of triggering the braking of said vehicle.

The method 200 may comprise a step of updating the database of a state of occupation of at least one maneuvering area and / or at least one block according to the current position, the position theoretical of at least one vehicle and / or a characteristic of said vehicle, in particular its dimensions.

FIGURES 3a and 3b are schematic representations of implementation of the second example of the method according to the invention in the context of two configurations of a vehicle on a railway.

FIGURE 3a is an implementation representation of a step 300 of updating a database 302 in a first configuration of the vehicle on a railway line 306.

The database 302 stores blocks 304i-304 ₅ of the track 306 on which a vehicle 308 is traveling.

The vehicle 308 comprises satellite geolocation and odometry means. The vehicle 308 may also comprise means for memorizing a map of the railway track 306 and / or a railway network comprising said track 306. These means make it possible to determine the current position 310 of the vehicle 308 on said track 306.

In addition, a theoretical stopping position 312 of the vehicle 308 can be determined according to an estimated stopping distance 314 of said vehicle 308. The estimated stopping distance 314 is determined according to at least one of the following parameters:

an acceleration of said vehicle 308,

dimensions of said vehicle 308,

a deceleration gamma of said vehicle 308,

a direction of movement 316 of the vehicle 308, and / or

- at least one meteorological condition.

The theoretical stopping position 312 is transmitted to the database 302. The blocks 304 ₂ and 304 ₃ comprise the current position 310 by adding the length of the vehicle 308. The block 304 ₄ comprises the theoretical position 312. The blocks 304 ₂ to 304 ₄ are thus updated as being occupied in the database 302.

FIGURE 3b is an implementation representation of a step 300 of updating a database 302 in a second configuration of the vehicle on a railway line 306.

The railway 306 further comprises a maneuvering area 318 and a station area 320 stored in the database 302.

The current position 310 is in the station area 320, the theoretical position 312 is therefore estimated from the current position 310, a constant predetermined distance 322 and the direction of movement 316.

The predetermined distance 322 may be constant and between 2 m and 2 km.

The theoretical position 312 is at the limit of the maneuvering area 318. Accordingly, the maneuvering area 318 is updated in the database 302 as being occupied.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

A method (100; 200) for managing railway traffic on a railway track (306) broken down into blocks (304) stored in a database (302), comprising at least one iteration of the following steps, for at least one vehicle (308) traveling on said railway track (306):

determining (102) the current position (310) of said railway vehicle (308) on said railway (306),

estimating (104) a theoretical stopping position (312) of said vehicle (308) as a function of said current position (310) and the speed of said vehicle (308),

- identification (106) of the next block (304), said next block, according to said theoretical stopping position (312) by consulting said database (302),

reading (108) in said database (302) a state of occupation relating to the presence or absence of a vehicle (308) in said at least one following block (304), and

when said next block (304) is occupied, tripping (110) of a braking of said vehicle (308).

Method (100; 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the theoretical stopping position (312) is further determined according to at least one:

- estimated braking distance, or

- constant predetermined braking distance.

3. Method (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step (300) of updating a state of occupation of at least one block (304) by a function of the current position (310), the theoretical position (312) of at least one vehicle (308) and / or a characteristic of said vehicle (308), in particular its length.

4. Method (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step (202) determining whether the current position (310) is in a zone (318), called a maneuver, or a zone (320), called station, by consulting the database (302); if the position current (310) is in a station area (320) or a maneuvering area (318) then the theoretical position (312) is determined according to the current position (310) and a predetermined distance (322).

5. Method (200) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that if the current position (310) is in a maneuvering zone (318) or a station area (320), then said method (200) comprises, for at least one vehicle (308), the following steps:

- Identification (206) of a next maneuvering area (318), said next maneuvering area, according to the theoretical position (312) by consulting the database (302), and

when said next operating zone (318) is occupied, tripping (110) of a braking of said vehicle (308).

6. Method (200) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a step (300) of updating a state of occupation of at least one maneuvering zone (318). ) as a function of the current position (310), the theoretical position (312) of at least one vehicle (308) and / or a characteristic of said vehicle (308), in particular its length.

7. Method (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the database (302) is at a remote site, said method comprising a data transmission between said remote site and at least one , in particular each, vehicle (308).

The method (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of determining (102) the current position (310) of the vehicle (308) comprises the following steps:

determining the current position (310) of said vehicle (308) by satellite geolocation, and / or

determining the current position (310) of said vehicle (308) by odometry.

Railroad rail traffic management system (306) comprising means arranged to perform all steps of the method (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Railway vehicle equipped with:

a system according to the preceding claim, or

means for implementing the method (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.