SPANISH infrastructure manager Adif has announced the start of trials under the project to develop ERTMS for deployment on low-density lines. The trial will take place on the 1000mm-gauge line between La Asunción Universidad station in León and Guardo.
The project will test ERTMS Level 2 using satellite train location and public telecommunications networks. It will also test new operating scenarios for ERTMS Level 1, including the management of level crossings.
The trials have begun with dynamic testing of the odometry or distance measurement function of onboard ERTMS equipment. During the first half of next year, ERTMS Level 1 trials will be followed by ERTMS Level 2.
Adif says that ERTMS installation on secondary and low-density lines has been limited to date, due to its high cost and the difficulty of ensuring compatibility with existing signalling equipment. The new ERTMS Level 2 variant being tested requires less lineside equipment by using the European Galileo and Egnos satellite location systems to reduce the number of trackside balises and lower operating costs.
Preparatory work for the trials includes installing ERTMS Level 1 on the La Ercina - Puente Almuhey section of the La Asunción Universidad - Guardo line, and ERTMS Level 2 on La Asunción Universidad - Boñar, which is controlled from a radio block centre (RBC) located within the control centre in León.
Infrastructure work has also included installing new lineside and station equipment, communications systems, and a new link to the control centre. Onboard ERTMS equipment has been fitted to a series 2600 DMU provided by national operator Renfe.
