Hitachi Rail has completed the digital interlocking at Meitingen-Mertingen which is essential for the passenger and freight traffic along the Nuremberg – Augsburg – Munich rail line on the Scandinavian – Mediterranean corridor.
The existing signalling systems and signal boxes have been replaced by Hitachi Rail’s digital interlocking (DSTW) technology based on NeuPro requirements, for greater safety, reliability and comfort in railway operations.
Hitachi Rail’s digital interlocking technology provides an enhanced solution. It reduces wayside technology and can be operated from a greater distance, is more compatible with further technological developments and is easier to maintain than the system it replaced in Meitingen-Mertingen. Using encrypted data connections, the state-of-the-art and secure computer system is connected to sensors and switches, ensuring that trains only enter free track sections.
The rail system will thus become much safer and more efficient as a result of digitalisation, without having to build a single additional kilometre of rail.
The digitisation of the control and safety technology – the conversion of the signal boxes at Meitingen-Mertingen – is currently in preproduction (phase 2).
As early as 2021, Hitachi Rail was commissioned by DB to support the monitoring of the digital infrastructure in Meitingen-Mertingen, at that time by connecting DB systems to the “Maintenance Diagnosis Management” (MDM). This system collects information about the digital interfaces (SDI – “Standard Diagnosis Interface”) and helps improve monitoring, remote diagnosis and data analysis and maintenance through their evaluation.
Hitachi Rail installed the technology along the 25 km section between Augsburg and Nördlingen and included 221 new control units. This project was delivered by Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems business (GTS) which is now part of Hitachi Rail.
The digital interlocking at Meitingen-Mertingen is the first one on a high-speed line of the Deutsche Bahn with speeds up to 200 km/h.
The project is part of Digitale Schiene Deutschland plan which is the fundamental modernisation and digitisation of the infrastructure in Germany.
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