Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
but without raising far too high expectations about when this will be accom-
plished.). That means, in order to achieve interoperability by using a single
technical solution: This new system has to cope with various operational
regimes for the foreseeable future. Beside this, for more than a decade there
will be hundreds of transition points between track sections equipped with
ETCS and sections with one of several different legacy systems. This will
cause an additional increase of functional complexity for onboard devices.
1.3
Technology is not the Limiting Factor
With state of the art microcomputer technology, from a technological point
of view, this degree of complexity will most likely not cause any performance
problems since the enormous increase in performance of microcomputer tech-
nology in recent years can provide more than su
cient computing power and
storage capacity at an acceptable cost level; to master complex algorithms
and a huge amount of data.
The real limiting factor here is the “human brain power”. In the end it is
the human mind, which has to specify these functions consistently and com-
pletely, then provide for correct designs, implement them and ultimately make
sure that the system is fit for its purpose and can prove its safety and security.
The tremendous increase in complexity, absorbing large numbers of engineer-
ing hours is one reason why we are observing cost figures for R&D, testing
and homologation of the software components in various ETCS projects that
have surpassed all other cost positions for hardware design, manufacturing
and installation. This has caused a substantial cost increase for the new on-
board equipment compared with legacy systems of similar functionality and
performance.
Normally we would expect from any new technology a much better price
to performance ratio than for the legacy technology to be replaced. Due to
the fact, that this is obviously not the case for ETCS, makes it less attractive
for those countries and infrastructure managers, who have already imple-
mented a reliably performing and suciently safe signaling and train control
system. In addition there is no improvement expected for ETCS with respect
to performance and safety compared with service proven systems like LZB
and PZB. In order to reach the goal of EU-wide interoperability soon, the
EU Commission has implemented legal measures, regulating member state's
policies for infrastructure financing and vehicle homologation. While in the
long run, ETCS can lower the cost for infrastructure operators, especially
for Level 2 implementations making conventional line signals obsolete, the
burden of cost increase stays with the vehicle owners and operators.
Therefore it became an important issue for vehicle operators to identify
potential cost drivers and options for cost reduction measures, so as not to
endanger the well-intentioned general goal of unrestricted interoperability.
