Open-Standards Radio Based Train Control Proven for APMs

With the opening of the Las Vegas Monorail, the first installation of an open standards based radio train control system is in operation. The architecture of the Las Vegas Monorail train control system will be presented, and the numerous benefits of this type of system as compared to conventional track circuit or inductive loop based control systems will be examined with an emphasis on flexibility, and cost reduction. Using the IEEE 802.3 open standard for LAN based communication, and the IEEE 802.11 standard for the wayside to carborne link, the installation in Las Vegas has proven the viability and benefits of basing a train control system on open standards. An analysis of the success of the first six months of operation will be presented. By specifying an IEEE 802.3 standard interface between the train control subsystems and the communication system and using the Internet Protocol as the basis for all messaging, the layered architecture of the train control system eliminates its dependence upon a specific radio technology. The benefits of this concept will be examined. The IEEE 802.11 radios in use today provide a significantly expanded communication bandwidth, as compared to previous generation APM control systems. The benefits this added bandwidth brings to train control applications will be examined. In addition, an analysis will be made of the available unused bandwidth in the train control network for other applications such as carborne and remote wayside CCTV, enhanced diagnostics, and passenger announcement applications. Additional APM projects under development, which are using this technology will be discussed, with an analysis of their differences from the Las Vegas monorail.