Signalling
Tram & light rail signalling: Advanced assistance for operations and safety
Tramway & LRV signalling at a glance
- Tram protection and assistance functions
- Overlay or standalone safety solution
- Deployed in Brussels, Constantine, Marseille, Nice, Rouen…
Transport authorities today set ambitious service regularity and punctuality objectives to maintain passenger satisfaction. To meet these goals whilst maintaining impeccable safety standards, our light rail signalling solutions provide valuable operational and driving assistance for drive‑on‑sight trams and Light Rail Vehicles (LRV), helping maintain robust and reliable service even in challenging urban contexts.
For hazardous environments
Alstom's automatic train protection system for light rail vehicles aims to improve the safety of on-sight driving and provide driver control and assistance functions compliant with CENELEC standards (European committee for electro-technical standardisation).
Safety is of paramount importance when trams circulate on a single track, on curves or slopes, or in tunnels.
The system supervises speed and braking to ensure consistently safe operation and maximise service availability.
Speed and braking
Driving on sight entails significant responsibility and autonomy on tram and Light Rail Vehicle drivers, especially regarding overspeed and compliance with signals.
With a tachometer and event recorder fitted on board, it calculates and records speeds and distances, also managing four speed thresholds. Interacting with wayside beacons, the system can slow a tram down in the event of overspeed or even apply emergency braking if there is a risk of a signal being passed at danger. In addition to these automatic train protection functions, it can control the pantograph, side door opening, and greasing and sanding processes, assisting drivers in their tasks.
Ease of deployment
Our tram safety package is modular and scalable, designed to fit all client requirements and evolve alongside the development of the line or network. It is provided embedded in our Citadis vehicles (as in Nice and Avignon), and easy to install on other light rail vehicles. It can be deployed on the trackside as a safety overlay to a signalling system on new or existing lines. Trackside beacons are wireless, reducing infrastructure costs and risks (damage, vandalism) and on-board equipment is compact.