CITEF will be developing the Granada Metro Driving Simulator

Doctoral Thesis by Cesar Soto Ocampo, Development of a monitoring system for rotating machinery – Application to railway axle support bearings, with which he has been granted the title of PhD in Industrial Engineering with the maximum qualification of Summa Cum Laude.

The new Training Simulator for operators of the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) Control and Command Centre (CCM) was commissioned in April 2023 and is now in use in its hall at Sagrera Station.

Metro Washington Drivers Enhance their Training with New Simulators Developed by CITEF.

The CEFF (Centro Europeo de Formación Ferroviaria) increases its already extensive practical simulation training capacity by incorporating new Simulators for Training Train Drivers in the ERTMS/ETCS system, installed in its headquarters back in June and developed by CITEF. This project positions CEFF as the first private training Centre in Spain to have an ERTMS/ETCS system simulator, which is evidence of CEFF’s commitment to innovation for the constant improvement of its students’ training. The training system comprises eight portable driving stations, geared towards self-learning, which require a minimum intervention of the instructor and generate automated performance reports that can be consulted by the trainer. Within CITEF’s continued innovation strategy, the driving stations have been developed as a web application which renders them more portable, intuitive and easy to use. In terms of rolling stock, the simulator has a detailed model of a high-speed train with the main driving controls and is focused mainly on driving with the ERTMS/ETCS system. The controls are integrated into two ergonomic arms, easily removable and portable, which contribute towards achieving an optimal immersive sensation for the highest quality training. As this system is mainly focused on the ERTMS/ETCS system, it also includes a detailed simulation of the main trackside and on-board equipment. The on-board equipment simulation includes the main driving modes both at Levels 1 and 2, following the Baseline 3 Release 2 specifications. It also includes a reliable simulation of the driver machine interface (DMI) to familiarise students with the environment as if they were driving in a real train. As for the line, over thirty kilometres of fully functional double tracks and two stations have been simulated, plus the functionalities of the Radio Block Centre (RBC) and the interlocking. In terms of training, twenty exercises covering most functional scenarios, both basic and advanced, that can be encountered in real operation have been designed and will be included in student training from now on. A reduced Control Station has also been included. This allows students to practice elementary scenarios such as the request to override a signal without the intervention of the instructor. All this is connected to a three-dimensional graphical environment that allows students to travel on the track with a visual reference from the driving cabin, seeing the state of the signals and switches, positions of the beacons or the speed limit or pantograph lowering signs, among others.  With this project, CITEF continues to reinforce its presence in the Spanish Railway Training Centre sector with simulators already developed for CEFF itself, Transfesa, and ALSA.

The Barcelona Metropolitan Railway’s new Comprehensive Simulator for Driving, Breakdown Repair and Operation – SICRAO – was installed between October and December 2020 and is currently in use at TMB’s (Barcelona Metropolitan Transport) training centre at Hospital Clínic station. This represents a new and important step forward, following years of collaboration between TMB and CITEF (Railway Technology Research Centre).  The facility is composed of a comprehensive driving and traffic control simulator, enabling training exercises with simultaneous interaction between several drivers and the CCM (Operations Control Center) operators, which CITEF has been developing over the last 15 years (Simulators of Lines 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 in Madrid, as well as the Madrid Light Metro; Simulators of Lines 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Santiago Metro). The system is equipped with a design, planning, monitoring and analysis system, which is made up of a toolkit that includes a simulator exercise designer and a training platform created in Moodle and which comprises all the simulator tools. This integration with the Moodle platform’s e-learning tools allows for theoretical training and online testing, among other features, complementing the practical training plan taught with the simulator. The training centre is set up across different spaces, allowing the user to take full advantage of its capabilities: Simulation room: this space contains different simulation roles that can work independently or in conjunction: Three cabs for the S6000/S5000 series that circulate on three lines (L1, L3 and L5) under two ATP/ATO signalling systems (Bombardier and Dimetronic) Two cabs for the S4000/S3000 series that run on lines L1 and L3 with ATP/ATO Bombardier signalling. Three versatile CCM stations, which include a realistic interface for traffic control, radio communications with the train and which will integrate the traffic regulation application. An Instructor role: allowing the user to assign exercises to students, set the pace of training, follow the progress of students, interact with the different simulations and carry out evaluations. Through a webcam, a virtual reproduction of the desk, the 3D visualization of the line and a line map, the progress of the exercise can be checked and its conditions varied. Observation room: This 12 person capacity classroom allows students to gradually familiarize themselves with the training content. Using two large screens, the instructor can display theoretical content, project recordings of the exercises carried out or share the progress of a simulation in progress. Administrator station: where the exercises and training content are designed and the progress of students is monitored. The driver cabs faithfully reproduce the driving space of a real train. They feature highly realistic state-of-the-art visuals, based on a Unity engine, allowing students to immerse themselves in the scenario. Also available to the student on an additional touch screen, through an intuitive and didactic interface, are all the circuit breakers, valves, doors and cabinets of the train unit which a driver needs to use and be familiar with, as well as operations such as cab changes. The signalling systems have been created with great accuracy to provide an authentic experience for both the driver and the control centre, in both normal and degraded operations. A wide collection of breakdowns and incidents are available, both on the train and on the line, allowing staff to be trained in a broad range of situations not easily reproduced on the real line, enabling a quick and decisive reaction when they occur in real situations. In addition, the system is equipped with a series of evaluation tools to assist the instructor and facilitate the automation of the analysis of the student’s academic results, so that the generated reports can be easily analysed. INSTRUCTOR Y SALA

We have just received the certificate issued by CERTIFER BELGORAIL for our IPC software

Alstom’s new S7000/8000 train for Barcelona’s Metro now has its own simulator.