Tracking Trains in Houston | USA
train-detectionUnited States of America

Tracking Trains in Houston | USA

Operator
MTA Houston
Country
United States of America
Partner
MEC Mass Electric Corp.
Segment
Main & Regional Line
Application
Track Vacancy Detection
Products
FAdC®, RSR180
Year
2016
Scope of project
565 wheel sensors, 103 equipment locations

Houston MetroRail (METRO for short) is comprised of three light-rail lines covering 22 miles. Two-car, low-floor trainsets are powered by overhead catenary and operated on a mix of rail types, including embedded, grooved, concrete, and ballasted track. Harsh weather conditions such as extreme heat, humidity, and storms with heavy rains causing floods are typical for Houston. Combined with the variable track structure this caused significant malfunctions of the wheel sensors of METRO’s signalling system.

In order to improve the system, METRO conducted trial installations with several suppliers of axle counter solutions to demonstrate features and the overall performance of their respective products. Due to the complicated track structure and environmental conditions, Frauscher quickly understood that the required wheel sensors had to be simple to install, immune to extreme heat as well as waterproof as floods could easily occur. The trial results demonstrated that the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® met all of METRO’s requirements in terms of environmental influences, interfaces, reliability and seamless integration into the existing infrastructure.

The flexible design of the FAdC® allows efficient data transfer via relay interface to the traffic control system and interlocking. Additionally, two optional intelligent functions, Supervisor Track Sections and Counting Head Control, were used to counter the effects of unexpected influences such as metallic debris. The installed Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR180 is extremely robust and not affected by any environmental influences.

In total, 565 Wheel Sensors RSR180 were installed along the rail line, and the axle counter Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® in 103 locations throughout the network to guarantee a flawless operation of the line.

Excellent match of requirements

The Frauscher axle counting solution met all of METRO’s environmental, interface and reliability requirements. The straightforward installation and smooth transition from the existing train detection system was highly appreciated by the operator.

Reduction of costs

The new system caused a significant reduction in down time and maintenance costs, which will continue to add up over the lifecycle of the system. The additional smart functionalities that were implemented increased the availability of the system even further.

Similar Projects
This might also interest you
1/5
train-detectionUnited States of America

Reducing Delays in a Metro (subway) Environment | USA

A large metro operator was researching ways to reduce bottlenecks that were causing significant delays at a busy station. With two routes dividing in close proximity to the station and a complex auto-routing system that required the use of a 30-second timer to release switches, trains would frequently back up when approaching the station.
train-detectionSpain

Three-rail Castellbisbal | Spain

The dual-gauge system of the Spanish railway network is quite challenging in terms of track vacancy detection: Wheel sensors must be installed on two rails next to each other in tight spaces and have to detect axles reliably on the respective rail. Frauscher developed a solution which copes also with the complexity of different interlocking technology in the stations along the line.
train-detectionChina

Chengdu Tram Line 2 | China

Chengdu Tram Line, located in the capital Chengdu City of Sichuan Province, is the first tram line to be operational in the city since 2018.
train-detectionDenmark

Renewal signalling FAdC® and RSR123 | Denmark

Banedanmark, the Danish railway infrastructure owner, started replacing the existing signalling system in the Eastern region of Denmark in 2009 to implement the newest proven signalling technology, based on standard industrial hardware components and redundant system configurations. Uniform system interfaces should reduce signalling failures to provide a better reliability and punctuality of the entire network. For this project, Frauscher delivered the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® and the Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR123.
train-detectionCanada

Edmonton Metro Line | Canada

The Edmonton Metro Line was experiencing significant issues with its newly installed Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, which did not perform to the operator‘s expectations. The city was forced to run an incomplete schedule with reduced train speed and frequency which negatively affected commuters and the city of Edmonton in general. Finally in 2019, the operator decided to install a new system in cooperation with Frauscher.