SYSTRA to Supply ERTMS Signalling for the Channel Tunnel

Wedoany.com Report-Dec 17, The project aims to provide a seamless transition from the existing TVM 430 system without disruption to the 24/7 operation of the tunnel.

The teams from Design & Build and International (DB&I), SYSTRA France, and SYSTRA United Kingdom have been tasked with defining the migration strategy and implementing the project to replace the existing control and protection system in the Channel Tunnel with a state-of-the-art system based on ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System).

The migration is to be carried out without any disruption to the operational services. Eurotunnel's objective is to do the migration to ERTMS without any overlap with the legacy system. This method, known as the "big bang", means that the two signalling systems, the new ERTMS and the existing TVM 430, will co-exist during the trial period (thanks to the "Y" solution, which allows switching from one system to the other). Afterwards, the new system will be used directly and the existing system will be removed.

„The cooperation of our three Business Units DB&I, UK and France ensures that we have the best expertise and the appropriate contacts to meet the requirements of this project. It should be emphasized that we are renewing a signalling system 30 years after installing the existing one,“ said Marta Guillen Cavero, Head of International Bids, International Tenders & Services, SYSTRA SA.

The tunnel is open 24 hours a day. To minimize disruption to traffic and to improve the safety of the project, the work will be carried out alongside other Eurotunnel activities (such as maintenance or partial operations) and will be limited to two nights per week.