New Electronic Signalbox Munich Pasing Inaugurated
Wenzel Elektronik provides communications technology for one of the largest electronic signalboxes of German Rail
Pinneberg, 29 September 2011
After a short transition period of three days in mid-August, German Rail (DB) has officially inaugurated the new electronic signalbox (ESTW) in Munich Pasing which DB describes as the largest railway junction in Bavaria. Work on the Euros 130m project started in 2007 and has been completed to the great satisfaction of all parties involved.
"All the companies involved have done a top-quality job", praises Anton Zellner, project manager ESTW Munich Pasing at DB Projektbau GmbH. "The implementation of these extremely complex technical and operational measures, while respecting the protection of adjacent interfaces, was a very demanding team effort." One of the biggest challenges had been to remain in the schedule, in spite of considerable effort and without major disturbance for the travellers.
In this project several operating units has been grouped into three sub-centres and has been modernized. Wenzel Elektronik was commissioned by the DB Kommunikationstechnik GmH to extend the infrastructure concerning telecommunications to the new requirements. Norbert Müller, project manager at DB Kommunikationstechnik, expresses high satisfaction: "The collaboration with Wenzel is outstanding, not least because of the timely completion of the overall performance."
The contract called for various services. First, the existing communication facility Wenzel-MACS was extended with a series of control panels for Pasing , i.e. they were structurally and functionally integrated into the complex existing system. On the other hand, no longer needed telecommunications equipment was dismantled. Moreover, each sub-centre was equipped with an operator console for emergency purposes.
In addition, Wenzel Elektronik has implemented several modern operator consoles - with graphical user interface for easy operation - in the Wenzel-MACS system of Train Control Centre (TCC) Munich. This was necessary because the ESTW Munich Pasing is connected to the TCC Munich in order to remote control the railway operations.
It remains to mention that Wenzel Elektronik has upgraded the dispatchers to the new GSM-R technology as part of another project in the TCC Munich.
About the ESTW Munich Pasing:
The new signalbox replaces five old ones. Until now, the train operation has been maintained in relay signalboxes and mechanical signalboxes with technology that was older than 50 years. These systems no longer cope with today's high demands on a transportation hub. Therefore, the electronic signalbox Munich Pasing was built, equipped with modern technology for signals, switches and communication. Modernization does not only improve the operational quality, but also provides for high ease of use. The dispatcher in the TCC Munich controls the new ESTW, monitoring a total of 415 signals and 230 point machines.