Dynamic Simulation for Real-Time Operations of ERTMS Level 3. September 2015

This document reports on progress made towards DITTO Project Deliverable 3.1, on the development and testing of a rail network simulation model and the use of the resulting model to examine the traffic management and optimal control strategies for ERTMS Level 3. Whilst the advanced technologies employed by ERTMS Level 3, moving away from trackbased detection and line-side signalling of the current system to train-borne detection and communication, offer the potential to provide a railway system with enhanced efficiency, improved safety and increased capacity, the radically different methods of operation mean that successful implementation of ERTMS Level 3 (and more advanced systems) depends on key traffic management challenges being addressed. A model of railway networks operating under the ERTMS Level 3 system is required to help design and test such strategies. We describe the effort made to date in the DITTO project in developing a railway network simulation model for the simulation of traffic performance under ERTMS Level 3. This report explains the various ERTMS Levels and identifies that a key challenge to the success of ERTMS Level 3 lies in the development of network-wide intelligent traffic management and control strategies. Microsimulation is identified as a methodology that can be used to develop tools for the development of such strategies. The state of the art in microsimulation is reviewed, highlighting its key