Target 190plus Synthetic Environment for the Design & Test of Signalling Solutions (Phase 2 & 3)

The railway faces a major industry challenge, where the cost and volume of future signalling renewals is unsustainable. Over the next 15 years there is a need to deliver an increase of over 50% of the signalling renewals work at half the current price to achieve a sustainable, affordable railway that can meet customer needs and expectations.

Britain must have a reliable, high performing railway that’s fit for the future, delivers financial value and provides operational performance in a safe and sustainable way. To reduce costs and increase access on the railway we are creating new ways of working and introducing new technology. The use of digital technology will improve the services to freight and passenger customers, causing less delays due to signalling failure and track closures for access to complete repairs and providing the opportunity for more trains to run where needed.

We’re working across Industry to build a new approach for balancing research and development and engineering solutions with the needs of end users and customers.

The Target190Plus (T190Plus) Programme was set up to identify options to reduce the current average European Train Control System (ETCS) Signalling Equivalent Unit (SEU) cost of £315k to below £190k, without increasing whole life cost. The aim is to achieve this through applying the digital technology and process changes set out in the Future-Control, Command and Signalling (F-CCS) Strategy Document [R1]. The projects under the Programme focus on enhancements to the tools, processes, systems, and policies underpinning signalling renewals and asset management.

The Synthetic Environment (SE) is a key enabler of the F-CCS Strategy [R1]. It will provide a virtual representation of the rail network where designers and other stakeholders can develop and integrate designs and perform testing and validation, using simulation and emulation. The aim is to provide a more efficient overall design, integration, test and validation process. The T190Plus SE system scope is to support all Design and Validation of an F-CCS system and support future user training needs.

Synthetic Environment Phase 1: concerned the development of detailed requirements for the SE, completed.

This procurement event will seek a suitable supplier to deliver Phase 2 and 3 of the Synthetic Environment Project:

Phase 2: Development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for SE and shadow mode running

Phase 3: Development of the full SE v1.0 capable of delivering the technology and scope options for F-CCS projects

Detailed requirements within the published tender documents.