Project Description
Parsons is developing the system requirements and system design for driverless operation of the London Underground (LU) network. This strategic Remote Train Operation (RTO) project is contributing to LU’s vision for a 'world class metro’. RTO will improve operational flexibility and capacity, provide an enhanced service to customers and enable LU to restructure the way it manages and delivers train services.
Parsons involvement started with the initial study which identified the potential for significant improvements in journey time and capacity and a reduction in operational cost. The Piccadilly Line was selected as the first major line that could be converted to RTO during the planned upgrade works. Parsons has undertaken a more detailed feasibility study for this line using a process based on ‘best practice’ and our experience of applying driverless and communications based train control (CBTC) technologies to existing railways.
Parsons implemented a structured systems engineering process to systematically capture the stakeholder and business requirements and successively refine these by analysis to a set of system requirements which completely specify the changes to the railway. The analyses included:
- Operational analysis to assess operations in normal, degraded and emergency modes;
- Reliability, availability, maintainability (RAM) modelling to assess the impact on railway availability;
- Safety analysis to assess the change to the operational safety of the railway and define the safety requirements;
- Performance modelling to assess the performance benefits.
RTO must also be capable of being integrated into the LU network. By defining the RTO system boundary and identifying all its technical and operational interfaces, it has been possible to define the integration requirements and obtain agreement with all stakeholders.
Parsons developed a functional system design using structured modelling techniques. At this stage quantified reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) and performance analyses were carried out. A multi-train simulator was used to model the performance effects of failures identified by the RAMS analysis and the results were used to set performance and RAMS targets. A human factors analysis to assess the effects of automating the operational functions was also completed. From these analyses a complete set of sub-system requirements were developed and specifications written. These specifications will be used as the technical basis for procurement contracts with LU’s suppliers.
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