202410 – Heibel – Back to Basics for CBTC

Based on the theme of this conference, ‘Back to Basics’, this paper discusses the risk of choosing the wrong basics in times of fundamental technology change, for example when replacing conventional fixed-block signalling with Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC).

A case is made that backwards-oriented basics attempting to handle CBTC in the same way as previously conventional signalling is not helpful at best and outright counterproductive to successful CBTC application at worst.

Alternatively, the paper suggests three examples of basics that are more conducive to CBTC implementation. Following a ‘PSD formula’, the three example basics refer to Project objectives, Solution objectives and Delivery objectives. ‘Back to Basics’ for those three areas will lead to a better outcome of introducing CBTC, not just in Perth where this conference is held but in any city replacing conventional signalling with high capacity CBTC technology.