Our Case Studies
Supporting more than 7.85 million daily commuters
Overview
Trains are one of the most commonly used modes of transport for commuters shuttling between their homes and workplaces. Owing to the large volume of passengers traveling daily, it is critical to ensure both safety and timeliness.
We designed and engineered a mission-critical application that networked 22 suburban stations to support the daily transit of over 7.85 million commuters.
The Task
We were entrusted with the responsibility of setting up a failsafe communication backbone to provide connectivity across 22 suburban stations as part of the Train Management System (TMS). The networking had to support the integrated management, and monitoring of train movements. This involved signaling as well as planning of routes, diversions, and also preparing recovery measures in the event of a disruption of services.
The intricately designed nature and interconnectivity of the railway networks posed to be challenging, as we had to ensure that it was ultra-reliable and the overall passenger experience was seamless.
The Challenge
Transporting more than 7.85 million commuters daily demanded ultra-reliable train management, built on a system where an innumerable number of complex arrays of data are carried on a 24×7 basis across the rail network. This also had to account for the various possible scenarios and inconveniences that could arise, such as downtime and disruption of service.
The challenge was to establish and monitor a robust communication network across 22 stations, (some of which did not have the required infrastructure) in a seamless, fail-safe manner with the help of world-class equipment that ensures longevity and maintainability.
Furthermore, the necessary provisions for passenger safety and experience were to be maintained so as to ensure secure and effortless travel.
The Solution
We provided a communication infrastructure that was based on Nokia Siemens Networks Dynanet Primary add/drop multiplexers and a network management system. The equipment was interfaced with the TMS network elements.
Some stations that were not equipped with the requisite infrastructure to support the fiber network were connected through copper wire on line drivers to the adjacent stations, facilitating uninterrupted communication. This workaround allowed for provisioning of the management system without increased amounts of expenditure and construction in building from scratch.
A robust communication system was set up by providing a protected path on fibre as well as microwave network.
The Highlights
- The system we provided was deemed the most commercially viable and technically sound solution designed to provide high availability required for such applications.
- The solution offered, not only met all the technical requirements, it also gave new life to the rail network communications which are still up and running and will remain so for the years to come.
The Benefits
The field-proven reliability of Nokia Siemens Networks solution offered the mission-critical support required for smooth operation of the Train Management System. Furthemore, their reputed technology protected important data and ensured optimum redundancy. This was a further reinforcement to our long association with the world-renowned Nokia Siemens Networks.
The end-to-end solution also reduced project management costs and risks. The high availability of the communications system reduced the project’s maintenance and spares stock costs for the future. The successful completion of the project and its crisis-free operation stands testimony to the trust reposed by customers and associates and reaffirms our expertise in mission-critical applications.
