Alstom finalised and launched operation of “Iconis” modern traffic control centre in Arad, for the Romanian national railway operator, CFR SA, part of the most representative railway modernisation project carried out in Romania so far.
This state-of-the-art traffic control centre became operational as of 1 September making Arad Station one of the largest and most-performing railway station in South-East Europe. With over 140 switch points, Arad is a very important railway centre for the Rhine-Danube Corridor (pan-European Corridor IV).
In 2012, the consortium of five companies run by Alstom began the major rehabilitation of Border – Curtici – Arad – Km 614 section measuring 41.185 km of double track. The contract included complex rehabilitation works of the railway infrastructure and superstructure, electrification, signalling and communication works, including GSM-R, as well as civil engineering. Alstom was directly responsible with the design and implementation of all works related to: traffic control centre, ERTMS Level 2 European railway Signalling System, interlocking, passenger information systems and modernisation of railway electrification systems using electric traction substations.
“Alstom is honoured to contribute to the modernisation of the national railway system through innovative technologies, such as this management and traffic control centre built in Arad, an absolute premiere in Romania. A second such centre is currently under construction in Simeria. These two centres will together manage railway traffic from the Hungarian border up to Sighișoara, which is over 350 km of double track with more than 30 stations”, declared Gabriel Stanciu, General Manager Alstom for Romania, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova.
The Iconis control centre installed in Arad integrates two Alstom solutions: traffic management system (TMS) and integrated diagnosis and support system (IDSS).
Train route management is now automated for a safer and more efficient railway traffic, while traffic capacity increases by at least 25%.
This project included equipping the railway with ETCS Level 2 signalling and control system. Border – Curtici – Arad – Km 614 section thus becomes one of the first conventional railways in the world to benefit from this modern signalling system.
“By implementing the most modern train coordination system and the inauguration of the Traffic Control and Management Centre in Arad Station, we are finalizing the most complex railway infrastructure rehabilitation programme in Romania, implemented on the Border – Curtici – Arad – Km 614 section and, at the same time, we provide transport operators with an infrastructure upgraded to European standards enabling trains to run at speeds of 160 km/h”, declared Marius Chiper, General Manager CFR SA.
Photo: Adrian Sulyok
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