{{Short description|Satellite based train location system}} {{Multiple issues| {{notability|date=May 2012}} {{primary sources|date=May 2012}} }} '''LOCOPROL''' ('''Lo'''w '''Co'''st satellite based train location system for signalling and train '''Pro'''tection for '''L'''ow density traffic railway lines) has been a project to research the integration of satellite navigation into railway networks targeting low-density track lines. It is supposed to extend the ERTMS train protection systems. The partner project '''LOCOLOC''' was looking into cab signaling and speed control measures. ==Foundation== Locoprol has its technical foundation in systems like Euteltrac / OmniTRACS from Qualcomm in use since 1991 for satellite-based fleet management<ref name="ist-2002">acroread {{cite web |url=http://www.ertico.com/download/locoprol%20documents/d2_2.pdf |title=Fail-safe, Innovative, Cost-effective, Satellite based Train protection, control and command LOCOPROL |accessdate=2010-09-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101045241/http://www.ertico.com/download/locoprol%20documents/d2_2.pdf |archivedate=2007-01-01 }}</ref> followed by APOLO (Advanced Position Locator), ECORAIL (EGNOS Controlled Railway Equipment) and the parallel INTEGRAIL project (2001–2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/esaNA/SEM22ZW4QWD_index_0.html |title=INTEGRAIL - GNSS-1 Rail User Navigation Equipment |publisher=Esa.int |date=2006-02-08 |accessdate=2012-05-22}}</ref> der ESA<ref name="navigare">{{cite web |title=GNSS and integrity positioning for railway applications |url=http://www.ion-ch.ch/media/navigare10/8-Marais_Navigare2010.pdf |website=ion-ch.ch |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525094328/http://www.ion-ch.ch/media/navigare10/8-Marais_Navigare2010.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The LOCOPROL project was funded by the 5. Framework Programme of the EU<ref name="navigare" /> just like the GADEROS project (GAlileo DEmonstrator Railway Operation System)<ref name="gaderos">{{cite web |url=http://galileo.uic.asso.fr/docs/gaderos_project_overview.pdf |title=GADEROS Project Overview |website=galileo.uic.asso.fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126111843/http://galileo.uic.asso.fr/docs/gaderos_project_overview.pdf |archive-date=November 26, 2006}}</ref> starting at the same to research the integration of satellite navigation into the ERTMS standard (project partners were INECO, TIFSA, Railways Safety, ERRI, Aena, GMV Sistemas, Sener, NSL).<ref name="ist-2002" /> The project was coordinated by Alstom.<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=PROJ_ICT&ACTION=D&CAT=PROJ&RCN=60945 "LOCOPROL : Low Cost satellite based train location system for signalling and train PROtection for Low density railway lines"], Information and Communication Technologies, European Commission</ref> ==Project partners and related projects== The LOCOPROL project partners were Alstom (Belgium), Honeywell Regelsysteme Gmbh (Germany), INRETS (France), Alstom Transport (Italy), Trasys (Belgium), Alstom Transport (France), BPV (Germany), Septentrio (Belgium), Reseau Ferré de France (France), Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges (Belgium), Northern Jiaotong University (China), European Road Transport Telematics Implementation Coordination Organisation S.C.R.L. (Belgium).
The project did officially end in 2005 however it was continued in other projects building on its results. The ESA started in 2006 the project RUNE (Railway User Navigation Equipment)<ref>[http://www.esa.int/esaNA/SEM0WDM26WD_index_0.html Railway User Navigation Equipment (RUNE)], ESA homepage</ref> to use Galileo (satellite system) to create "virtual balises"<ref name="navigare" /> and the projekt GEORAIL at the UIC continues to research satellite navigation in rail transport since 2004.<ref name="navigare" /> the 6. Framework Programme of the EU contains GIRASOLE (accompanied by GPS-LOC of the SCNF), GRAIL and M-TRADE which ran until 2007.<ref name="navigare" /> In England LOCASYS project was started continuing the LOCOPROL project with a target on dependability until 2009.<ref name="navigare" /> In Belgium the LOCOPROL pilot railway track was extended in the TransLogisTIC project between 2007 and 2009 looking into integration of railway and classic fleet management.<ref name="navigare" /> The actual usage of satellite navigation in railway systems can be currently found{{Clarify|date=March 2023}} systems like the Tr@in-MD of SCNF for dangerous goods wagons traceability and Gédéon of SCNF for tracking of freight.<ref name="navigare" />
==Results== The results of the LOCOLOC/LOCOPROL project<ref name="locoloc">[http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/NavigationProjects/Locoloc_final_presentn_dec04%20.pdf LOCOLOC - Final Presentation], Noordwijk, December 2004</ref> have shown that satellite navigation in urban areas is highly restricted by satellites in range. The project has developed algorithms to map satellite signals to a 1D flat track map that allows to check the position even with only two satellites in range (from 6 satellites required for a safe EGNOS measurement it allows 3 failures and in some cases 4 failures).<ref name="locoloc" /> Still the results have not been able to meet SIL4 safety of life boundaries (with 98% of measures successful outside tunnels)<ref name="locoloc" /> however the test model had not been conclusive regarding dependability on all system conditions.<ref name="results">[http://www.ertico.com/download/locoprol%20documents/D%205.1%20%20System%20Safety%20Report_V%202.0_20050331.pdf LOCOLPROL - System Safety Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222021654/http://www.ertico.com/download/locoprol%20documents/D%205.1%20%20System%20Safety%20Report_V%202.0_20050331.pdf |date=2009-12-22 }}, "The safety objective of 10<sup>−9</sup>/h for the LOCOPROL signalling system could only be accepted when the set of proof will take into account all the involved parameters, including common failures modes and degraded situation management, and the assessment of the dependability of the whole system.", "Therefore a full compliancy to the railway safety CENELEC standards and best practices in the railway field is clearly not achievable to this research project.", "The signalling also validated the fact the use of, at least, passive eurobalises is necessary to mitigate the risk during train position initialisation but also at singular location as points or in the vicinity of a railway station to counter the lack of accuracy of the satellite train positioning."</ref> The results indicate so far that passive (fixed data) balises are necessary in the vicinity of railway stations to counter the lack of accuracy of the satellite train positioning.<ref name="results" /> ==Potential re-evaluation== {{update section|date=January 2025}} As EGNOS certification for safety of life applications will be achieved in 2010 the LOCOPROL results may be re-evaluated with the system running in a non-prototype environment. In comparison, the North American Joint Positive Train Control system is testing with two Differential GPS receivers combined with an inertial navigation system for dead reckoning in areas with not enough satellites in sight.<ref>[http://www.tudc.cz/lis/pardubice_2005_satellite.pdf "Satellite-Based Positioning for CBTC"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718185212/http://www.tudc.cz/lis/pardubice_2005_satellite.pdf |date=2011-07-18 }}, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, 7–8 July 2005</ref> The Italian Ansaldo STS has developed a train control system based Russian entwickelte KLUB-U safety systems - the ITARUS-ATC takes advantage of satellite navigation in combination with an inertial navigation system and wheel sensors to measure the travel distance reaching a safety level ready for passenger transport in Russia - it will be deployed on the track to Sotchi up to the winter games 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eav.ru/publ1.php?publid=2009-08a28 |title=Инновационное развитие технологии управления перевозочным процессом - Транспортная газета ЕВРАЗИЯ ВЕСТИ |publisher=Eav.ru |date= |accessdate=2012-05-22}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110101203040/http://www.ertico.com/locoprol-website LOCOPROL website (archived)] * [http://www.galoroi.eu/ GaLoROI website]
Category:Train protection systems