The existing urban transport infrastructure demands major upgrades to meet the permanently increasing mobility demands. Over the last decades, expectations and demands have grossly changed and the citizens require a higher quality of services. Consequently, next to infrastructure investments, it is essential to obtain funds for adapting transport to latest communications technologies capable to optimise operational efficiency by improving information collection. This will help adopt better and more important decisions in the transport activity.
In May, Bucharest Surface Transport Operator (RATB) faced a tram collision which resulted in several injured and although rail transport is, in general, very safe, the accident was a challenge for increasing the safety level and creating the premises necessary for the development of a fast, modern and high capacity tram network.
Thus, in order to optimise traffic frequency, the flawless coverage of communications along the line, for delivering performing and efficient services and delivering, without delay critical information in case of emergency, the public transport system requires the implementation of the latest communications solutions with two main applications: voice and data. Voice applications permit the real time information of the dispatcher and of the other public transport drivers about field situation and permit the dispatcher to organise traffic depending on the events (congestion, accidents etc.) by supplying an efficient control of traffic, frequency and vehicle operation. Data communication has a more important role in the automation of traffic control and increasing the performance of public transport. “We can elaborate a series of analyses and reports serving to making the route efficient which means less costs and improved performance using special application and data collected from vehicle sensors. Moreover, we can automatically change the routes of the transport means in case of events and all affected drivers are informed in real time about the change of route, which is difficult to apply using just a voice communications systems”, declared Octavian Brezoi, Sales and Support Engineer, Romkatel.
To avoid traffic problems and ensure safety, the implementation of digital systems is vital, “as they are superior to analogue systems permitting not just voice but also data communications. This has a broader range of applications. Voice communications are more efficient and the communications system is superior within the same resources of spectrum, while communications quality is improved. Analogue systems are thus outrun by digital systems and the proof is the current si-
tuation of RATB”, explains Brezoi. Between the two types of communications systems there is still a difference of cost, but this is important only in the case of developing a separate digital communication network of RATB, which is not the case. The operator can use the networks of phone operators or even the existing TETRA network. Unlike voice communications, data communication systems require not only equipments, but also special applications to increase efficiency. However, benefits are visible.
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