Simulator trains chunnel operators

Simulator trains chunnel operators

by Greg Paula, Associate Editor

A state-of-the-art simulator with electric motors and an advanced imaging system helps prepare operators for work in the tunnel that runs under the English Channel.

Conductors operating the trains that run through the Channel Tunnel connecting England and France--the Chunnel--must deal with heavy traffic, while knowing the tunnel’s signaling systems and operating procedures, as well as safety procedures. A training simulator was necessary before the tunnel opened and remains a critical part of operations today. EBIM S.A. in Manosque, France, was chosen to supply the simulator. The main part of the simulator is the cab. A computer-controlled motion system using electric motors moves the cab, and the person overseeing the training can view the instrument readouts and see what the operator sees. The three-axis system can simulate all types of motions that the train experiences: linear acceleration and deceleration, shunting, and turning corners.

According to EBIM, the Channel Tunnel simulator is the first of its kind to have an imaging system based on synthetic images rather than real ones. The whole journey-- landscape, signals, and train crossings--has been digitized and stored in a central database. The synthetic system was less costly, and trainers can simulate almost any conditions or update the database relatively easily.

The computers for the simulator are especially critical because the entire system must operate in real time. The designer chose five low-cost personal computers connected via a local area network, using the QNX real-time operating system from QNX Software Systems in Kanata, Ontario. The PCs send signals to programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to control the motion. The PLCs also interface with all the equipment inside the cab. The design of the entire system is modular. A separate mainframe controls the imaging system.

The first simulator has been in operation for almost five years. Rail authorities have ordered several more, which have performed so well that the simulators are also used to certify operators as well as for training.

The above was adapted from an article by Greg Paula, Associate Editor. The full text may be found in the January 1997 issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine. © 1997 ASME International.© To obtain a copy of this issue, click here.