Following the successful completion of the final stage of signalling work by Siemens, Norway’s metro transport infrastructure owner, Sporveien Oslo AS, has now commissioned into full service all four sheds for the new Avløs rail depot for Oslo’s Kolsåsbanen.
These commissionings marked the final phase of the ten-year Kolsåsbane project, which has delivered new metro rail infrastructure from the centre of Oslo out to Kolsås station in the city’s western suburbs.
The project saw an extensive programme of modernisation and expansion to the previously disused depot, with the main train sheds now in operational service and providing full train cleaning and maintenance facilities.
Following an extensive and successful approval process, the project also marked the first deployment in Scandinavia of Siemens’ Trackguard Westrace Mk2 system, which provides interlocking and control for the depot area. Covering a number of complex interfaces, Siemens’ work included the signalling application design, building the data templates, the provision of interlocking and signalling equipment and all installation and testing. The company also provided commissioning support to the client, as well as comprehensive, site-based training for the control centre operators and system maintainers.
Already proven in service on a number of projects worldwide (including the rail depot to the west of Reading station in the UK, the Auckland Project in New Zealand and on metro applications in Singapore), Trackguard Westrace Mk2 provides higher capacity than the Mk1 system and, with a straightforward migration path, its additional processing power delivers faster cycle times. The system architecture also allows for the distribution of input and output modules, remotely from the interlocking, together with a ‘hot swap’ capability for processor modules. For the maintainer, Trackguard Westrace Mk2 has an enhanced visual diagnostics system for maintenance and fault-reporting and its advanced design means that there is a reduced spares-holding requirement.
Train detection for the depot is by axle counters, which operate via the Frauscher Advanced Counter interface, with centralised signalling control for the whole of the metro network being provided by Siemens’ Controlguide Westcad traffic control centre at Tøyen. This has also been modified as part of the depot project, with a local Controlguide Westcad system installed in the depot.
Commenting on the programme, Adrian Stubbs, Siemens’ delivery director, mass transit and international, said; "We are delighted to have delivered this challenging programme in just 17 months, whilst meeting all the relevant programme and budget requirements.
"Siemens has a long history of successful project delivery in Norway and we are proud to have worked with Sporveien on the Oslo metro for over 20 years on programmes including the T-Banering and Kolsåsbanen. This experience has enabled us to build an invaluable knowledge of the local signalling."
"The introduction of Trackguard Westrace Mk2 was a very fitting way to conclude our work on Kolsåsbanen, with the installation of this new technology, just the latest in a long line of innovations that our UK-based engineers have developed for this network. The success of the project is a further demonstration of our team’s expertise in the design, development and installation of this latest interlocking technology and we now look forward to the commissioning of the final phase of the Lørenbane Project, with the newly constructed station at Løren opening in April 2016.