Jump to content
 

Elizabeth Line / Crossrail Updates.


Recommended Posts

17 minutes ago, iands said:

BTS = Base Transceiver Sysem (ie a radio base station) 

BSC = Base Station Controller (what groups of BTSs connect to, and interfaces BTSs with the Mobile Services Switching Centre, MSC). The above form the main building blocks of the GSM-R system (there are a few other elements required). For the UK GSM-R system, there are 2 MSCs, 8 BSCs and approx 3000 BTSs. 

 

Thank you, Ian. Jamie wasn't the only one lost in the acronym maze!

  • Like 1
  • Agree 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

On the topic of CrossRail, I live the Essex 'end' and at one point there were proposals to build a freight depot as part of CrossRail.  Initially the plans were for an area of empty land near J28 on the M25, meaning trucks could transfer their containers.  However, local complaints meant the plan was abandoned and other sites examined, though none so convenient for a road / rail link.

 

Though the line is nearing completion, the stations are re-branded and the trains are in use into Liverpool Street, the freight aspect seems to have been abandoned.

 

jch

  • Informative/Useful 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
54 minutes ago, 62613 said:

 

Thank you, Ian. Jamie wasn't the only one lost in the acronym maze!

No worries. It is perhaps a trait of most people to slip into 'abbreviation speak' and forgetting most people outside your particular industry/field/specialisation won't know what they mean. 

  • Agree 1
  • Friendly/supportive 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
22 minutes ago, jonny777 said:

 

 

Me too; except that there are still CBTC, ETCS, GSMR and GPRS to be explained. 

Hi Johnny, hope this helps;

CBTC=Communications Based Train Control

ETCS=European Train Control System

GSMR=Global System Mobile for Railways

GPRS=General Packet Radio System. 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, iands said:

Hi Johnny, hope this helps;

CBTC=Communications Based Train Control

ETCS=European Train Control System

GSMR=Global System Mobile for Railways

GPRS=General Packet Radio System. 

 

Welcome to our world

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, ess1uk said:

Welcome to our world

 

I'm pretty sure I have a had a conversation in the office that goes something like this:

 

AWS, TPWS and ATP is being replaced on the GWML with ETCS L2 Overlay as part of P2R, but with CBTC on the COS of CRL (EL), however ETCS L2 is being provided as part of WRLTH, but that must be in before the OOC Station that comes as part of HS2!

 

Clear? :) 

 

Simon

  • Like 1
  • Funny 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
59 minutes ago, St. Simon said:

 

I'm pretty sure I have a had a conversation in the office that goes something like this:

 

AWS, TPWS and ATP is being replaced on the GWML with ETCS L2 Overlay as part of P2R, but with CBTC on the COS of CRL (EL), however ETCS L2 is being provided as part of WRLTH, but that must be in before the OOC Station that comes as part of HS2!

 

Clear? :)

 

Simon

Cracking! Are you sure they didn't miss any Simon? 

Reminds me of the brilliant sketch in Good Morning Vietnam! 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
3 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

You should have shouted BINGO.

 

Jamie

Oh yes, working in mobile comms I do on occasion see if I can construct a whole sentence of acronyms, I would think most specialised jobs you can do the same. I'll usually throw a FUBAR in somewhere just for good measure. 

  • Like 2
  • Agree 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
1 hour ago, spamcan61 said:

Oh yes, working in mobile comms I do on occasion see if I can construct a whole sentence of acronyms, I would think most specialised jobs you can do the same. I'll usually throw a FUBAR in somewhere just for good measure. 

I can agree with that.  There was a favourite one in my profession (Policing) TJF and NCC but if I translated it the censors would ban me.

 

Jamie

  • Agree 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, St. Simon said:

 

I'm pretty sure I have a had a conversation in the office that goes something like this:

 

AWS, TPWS and ATP is being replaced on the GWML with ETCS L2 Overlay as part of P2R, but with CBTC on the COS of CRL (EL), however ETCS L2 is being provided as part of WRLTH, but that must be in before the OOC Station that comes as part of HS2!

 

Clear? :)

 

Simon

Makes sense to me 

I think 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • RMweb Gold
On 17/10/2020 at 09:00, iands said:

BTS = Base Transceiver Sysem (ie a radio base station) 

BSC = Base Station Controller (what groups of BTSs connect to, and interfaces BTSs with the Mobile Services Switching Centre, MSC). The above form the main building blocks of the GSM-R system (there are a few other elements required). For the UK GSM-R system, there are 2 MSCs, 8 BSCs and approx 3000 BTSs. 

Any plans to upgrade the RAN to 4G?

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

Hi,

 

Crossrail entered the ‘Dynamic Testing’ phase of testing over the weekend, they will now be running trains at 5 minute intervals for a while to shake down the system prior to trail running: 

 

 

To celebrate, they’ve released an East to West Cab ride from Abbey Wood to Westbourne Park:

 

 

Simon

Edited by St. Simon
  • Like 11
  • Thanks 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium
59 minutes ago, St. Simon said:

To celebrate, they’ve released an East to West Cab ride from Abbey Wood to Westbourne Park:

 

 

Simon

 

Right at the start, and at regular intervals, there is a sign on the left hand side, of a yellow triangle on a blue background pointing towards the track.  What is the sign indicating ?

 

Thanks

 

Adrian

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

I was going to joke that they did the run in the dark so we wouldn't notice the tunnels - then we entered one. (I assume it was to keep out of the way of other traffic on those lines in use.)

I very much hope that all those tunnel ;lights are only on because it is still the commissioning phase. Mind you in the few places where there was no external lighting the train's headlights did seem a bit weedy.

The other thing which struck me, and thinking about it is obviously true for any underground ;line, is that apart from at the stations and junctions everything looks the same and you have no clue where you are. I hope the driver's SatNav works!

Jonathan

Link to post
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, figworthy said:

 

Right at the start, and at regular intervals, there is a sign on the left hand side, of a yellow triangle on a blue background pointing towards the track.  What is the sign indicating ?

 

Thanks

 

Adrian


Hi Adrian,

 

It’s a Block Marker, the cab signalling equivalent of a Lineside Signal.

 

They are used for degraded mode working when the cab signalling (in this case CBTC, but could be ETCS or TVM430 systems*) fails. The Block Markers act as a location marker, so when the cab signalling fails, drivers are told to proceed to the next block marker from where they can pick the movement authority up again or be talked to the next block marker.

 

They don’t really serve much of a purpose when the can signalling is working correctly.


*The block markers for each system vary slightly in design.

 

Simon

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2
  • Informative/Useful 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, corneliuslundie said:

I was going to joke that they did the run in the dark so we wouldn't notice the tunnels - then we entered one. (I assume it was to keep out of the way of other traffic on those lines in use.)

I very much hope that all those tunnel ;lights are only on because it is still the commissioning phase. Mind you in the few places where there was no external lighting the train's headlights did seem a bit weedy.

The other thing which struck me, and thinking about it is obviously true for any underground ;line, is that apart from at the stations and junctions everything looks the same and you have no clue where you are. I hope the driver's SatNav works!

Jonathan


Hi,

 

Yes, I did wander whether the tunnel lights would be on ‘in service’, it does become a bit hypnotic!

 

On the train headlights, they aren’t primarily meant to used in the same way that car highlights are meant to be used (I.e. for the benefit of the driver), they are used for anyone lineside to identify a train approaching them. So they may look quite weedy from the cab.

 

Simon

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

The reason train headlights were introduced was to allow the use of reflective speed boards, instead of illuminated ones, at temp speed restrictions. I think there was a accident caused by a driver missing one that was not working or blown over, so the reflective ones were introduced that could be driven into the ground to stop this happening again. Any staff visibility was just a bonus. 

 

Although if you have ever see the angle of some headlights, they were very good at lighting up the roof of tunnels lol

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...