For smooth rail operations, it's essential to have a good overview of the traction power supply

For smooth rail operations, it's essential to have a good overview of the traction power supply.

This is becoming increasingly difficult with the expansion of railway lines, increased traffic and the introduction of new electrical rolling stock. With Sidytrac Live, operators get the real-time transparency and predictive analysis they need to boost efficiency, improve safety and support delay-free operations.

Staying ahead of the curve

One of the main challenges for railway operators is the unpredictability of failures and disruptions, often caused by issues in the traction power supply network. Early warnings and detailed insights on these systems can help operators attain higher levels of reliability, availability and utilization rates.

Sidytrac Live enables the transparency and forecasting needed to anticipate component failures and train operation disruptions before they escalate into major problems. It does this by simulating the current and future traction power supply of railway networks based on known and incoming data. Essentially, it visualizes electric switching states from SCADA and other interfaces in a digital twin to which it then applies insightful prediction models.

After configuration, Sidytrac Live provides a clear and easy-to-understand dashboard that anyone can read at a glance.

Connecting the dots to make accurate simulations: Live forecasts derive from a digital twin of the network that combines data from operations and the electrical system, displaying updates and insights on the dashboard.

A customized digital twin

The solution works with a digital twin of the existing traction power network. Christoph Hinze, System Engineer at Siemens Mobility, explains, "our engineers virtually rebuild the entire rail network in order to simulate its power supply in real time. Then, based on the network's prevailing physical principles, it is able to calculate how the power supply currently stands, as well as forecast how it will be in the near future, such as 30 minutes from now. It's like casting light into the future, which is otherwise mostly dark for operators today."

Through these forecasts in the traction power supply, Sidytrac Live enables better demand planning. For example, when a track suddenly becomes unavailable and trains need to be rerouted. The solution helps them to make informed decisions. Other practical uses range from supporting optimized energy utilization to improving the availability of heavily used networks in which small deviations can lead to a major breakdown if not handled in a timely manner.

Hinze emphasizes, "power supply availability is the end-all be-all for electrified rail networks. Without power, there is no operation. If there's a disruption, it results in delays, customer dissatisfaction or even safety problems, such as on a major city's metro where vast numbers of people may become stranded at stations."

Thanks to Sidytrac Live, these worries can become a thing of the past.

Another set of eyes – into the future

Sidytrac Live comes packed with a range of functionalities designed for easy and intuitive functionality.

Features include:

Flexible Information Display

Operators can customize views based on their specific needs

Adjustable Train Operations

Impact on power supply system can be adapted to changing demands seamlessly

Supply Voltage Monitoring

Calculates voltage supply quality for the forecast time window and depicts minimum and maximum voltage in easy-to-understand diagrams

Component Load Window

Monitoring of the thermal load of components, ensuring they operate within safe limits

Protection Stability Check

Safeguards the entire system by ensuring the functionality of protection functions

Sidytrac Live offers operators solutions for real-time transparency, predictive analysis and the ability to make informed decisions promptly. By improving energy utilization, anticipating failures and enhancing overall efficiency, Sidytrac Live can contribute greatly to the reliability and sustainability of railway operations. Read all about it in our exclusive report.

www.mobility.siemens.com

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