International Transportation (68) 1 | 2016 26 PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS Traic Processes Bangkok’s Purple Line on-the-way Standard system solution for complete planning of rolling-stock and staf The new metro line in Bangkok opens in just a few months’ time. The irst test trains have been running on the Purple Line since December 2015. Furthermore, the operating company, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM), started planning the required resources in April to ensure that everything will run smoothly when the irst passengers board one of the modern trains in August 2016. To-this end, they are using the integrated standard system IVU.rail from Berlin-based IT specialist IVU Traic Technologies AG. I VU and BEM are long-standing partners. The Bangkok-based metro company has been performing all planning processes for the Blue Line, Bangkok’s irst metro service, with the IVU system since back in 2003, now it is going on with the complete planning for the Purple Line (igure 1). Extensive infrastructure programme The line was built from scratch in the last few years. It is part of an extensive infrastructure project with which the Thai capital is overhauling its public transport system. Designed as an elevated railway system, the metro will link Bang Yai in the north-west of Bangkok with Tao Poon station in the centre when it oicially opens on 12 August 2016. A total of 16 stations serve the 23-kilometre route. There are already plans in place to expand the Purple Line further. In December 2015, the Thai government approved construction of a 19.8-kilometre extension southwards, serving a further 16 stations. A new 27-kilometre section of the Blue Line is currently under construction. This will join up the existing line to form a closed loop. Completion is planned for 2019. Two monorail lines are also to be opened the year after, followed by a further metro line - the Orange Line - in 2022. Integrated planning system IVU.rail ensures lean processes and eicient planning of all transport operations on the Purple Line and the Blue Line and has a modular structure that enables BEM to keep its worklow entirely digital. For instance, the network and timetable can be planned jointly in the planning module of the IVU solution. The system maps the routes between the network points down to the last detail and takes into account attributes such as the expected passenger volume. To ensure optimum connection of the train control systems used, IVU.rail has various interfaces. The system supplies the trains on the Purple Line, which are controlled using the Bombardier Citylo 650 system, via the data exchange format RailML. For the trains on the Blue Line, there is a proprietary interface to Siemens VICOS. In both cases, IVU.rail provides regular export of the essential timetable data for signalling. In addition, all timetable data is automatically available to the schedule and stafroster planning modules in IVU.rail. To simplify processes, BEM can store all existing statutory and operational requirements directly in the system by means of a lexible rule editor. On the basis of these rules, IVU. rail suggests duties and vehicle schedules and calculates changes of direction, empty runs and maintenance times, ensuring optimum use of all resources. Expansion options BEM also has the option of using further modules from IVU.rail, including staf dispatching. The dispatchers use the solution to deine weekly schedules and personnel rosters for the train staf, to assign employees to duties and to approve holidays. The software assists them with intelligent suggestions for balanced, rule-compliant working hours for the employees. As well as improving employee satisfaction, this also makes the planning process much more streamlined. Staf dispatching can also be enhanced by a mobile employee portal that allows drivers to conveniently view duty schedules and submit duty or holiday requests online - a key element in keeping worklows lean and making life easier for dispatchers in a growing company. With the modular structure of IVU.rail, these enhancements can easily be implemented in the existing coniguration. In this way, with the software solution from Berlin, BEM is ideally equipped for possible future line expansions resulting from the ongoing extension of the Bangkok metro network. ■ www.ivu.com Figure 1: IVU Traic Technologies AG delivers its standard solution IVU.rail for all planning processes for the new Purple Line in Bangkok Source: BEM