Why is European Train Control System (ETCS) signalling technology crucial to the management of tunnel traffic?
The new ETCS Level 2 train protection system is used in the base tunnel in order to achieve the high speeds – up to 250kmh – and short headways necessary to implement the intended timetable. In this standardised European system, travel commands are no longer given by external visual signals, but are transmitted directly to a display in the driver’s cab using the GSM-R digital radio network. The base tunnel is totally reliant on ETCS Level 2: there is neither a fallback system, nor are there optical signals. How are other tunnel assets controlled? Operators control the tunnel’s systems remotely via a tunnel control system from the operations control centre in Spiez. The systems include: · Ventilation systems for fresh and exhaust air · An air-conditioning system in the containers and cabinets · Sluices, doors, sliding doors, railway tunnel doors · Water supply and removal (fire, cooling, service and wastewater) · Fire alarm system (fire, flood and gas detection, fire extinguishing syste
