First ERTMS technology outside Europe

Ansaldo STS (Union Switch & Signal) is setting a new benchmark for rail safety with India's first train protection warning system on the Chennai-Gummudipundi line in the Southern Railway sector.
The breakthrough technology reduces the probability of driver error and enhances passenger safety by using the latest European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) technology to warn drivers of changed conditions ahead. The system's ability to support incremental technology upgrades is enormously significant as it opens the way for Indian Railways to continue to introduce new technological elements -- such as train location and detection technology.
Ansaldo STS was contracted by Indian Railways in April 2005 to survey, design, supply, install, test and commission a train protection warning system for the Chennai Central/Chennai Beach-Gummudipundi section of Southern Railway. An estimated 60,000 passengers use this service, one of the south's busiest suburban services, each day. There are approximately 150 signals that train drivers are required to observe and pass, along the 50-km section. The implementation of the train protection warning system ensures that drivers are prepared for unexpected changes in conditions, are travelling at the correct speed, and are prevented from accidentally passing a red signal.
This is the first time ERTMS technology has been applied outside Europe and is a significant achievement for Ansaldo STS and Indian Railways. Lyle Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific Region, Ansaldo STS, said the importance of efficient, reliable railway infrastructure in the day-to-day business of countries worldwide was forcing major technologically driven change in the rail industry.
Jackson said that by being first to introduce ERTMS technology to the Indian rail market, Ansaldo STS was well positioned to maintain its strong market position in this country. This would mirror Ansaldo STS's successful introduction of Solid State Interlocking (SSI) technology to the Indian rail market in 1987. Ansaldo STS is now the lead supplier of SSI to India's rail sector.
Since being awarded the Rs 46.7 crore contract for Southern Railway, Ansaldo STS has also been contracted to implement a train protection warning system on the Delhi-Agra section of Northern/North Central Railway. Work continues on this Rs 51.1 crore project.
Ansaldo STS (Signalling & Transportation Systems) group of companies are world leaders in the design, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning of signalling, communications, automation and control equipment and systems for the railway and mass transit industries. It has been serving the rail industry for over 150 years.

What is ERTMS?

ERTMS, the European Railway Traffic Management System, has two basic components:
u ETCS, the European Train Control System, makes it possible not only to transmit permitted speed information to the train driver, but also to monitor constantly the driver's compliance with these instructions;
u GSM-R, based on standard GSM but using various frequencies specific to rail as well as certain advanced functions. It is the radio system used for exchanging voice and data information between the track and the train
Features: Interoperability, highest speeds up to 500 km/hr, automatic train protection (ATP), smaller headways, and moving block operation (level 3).