Application of Modern Microelectronic Technology in Marshalling Process of Railway Stations

In the contemporary world of global digitalization, a problem arises concerning compliance of the marshalling process control systems with the modern requirements. To solve the problem, a Train Breaking-Up Control System “SURS GTSS” has been developed, which permits to control the hump automation and remote control devices using microelectronic technology. The system provides for safety of shunting at a gravity hump yard and improves quality of train breaking-up. At the same time, the operating expenses, engineering, construction, and commissioning periods and labor hours decrease, and relay equipment is almost missing. As a result, the preset hump capacity parameters are achieved, service and system troubleshooting quality improves. The article describes the system structure, provides a description of the system components with their functionality, and shows a block diagram of a hardware package of the Hump Microprocessor-Based Interlocking “GMC GTSS” subsystem. Remote control diagrams are also presented for electric switch machines, humping and shunting signals, hump retarders are presented. A structure of the asset controllers governing the devices is described.

I. Introduction

Shunting stations are a central component of the railway complex to process the railcar traffic volumes and make up freight trains in an optimal mode so that the presence time of a railcar at the station is as short as possible and reasonable in process terms. Shunting stations consist mostly of a receiving yard, where the trains intended for further splitting arrive, a gravity hump yard, a marshalling (hump)yard, and a departure yard, wherefrom the made-up trains depart further. A gravity hump yard is a man-made hummock to let down the railcars (cuts) uncoupled on a marshalling yard track under gravity [1]–[4].