http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/articl ... 2011-04-08
New train driver simulator developed
By: Henry Lazenby
8th April 2011
Specialist rail consultancy R&H Railway Consultants reports that it has developed a new virtual train simulator for training purposes.
The simulator was delivered to the company’s offices in Johannesburg in January, commissioned in February, and officially launched at the Railways and Harbours Conference and Exhibition, also in Johannesburg, at the start of this month.
R&H Railway Consultants MD Dutliff Bredenkamp explains that, in 2009, the company implemented a previous initia- tive to enhance its train driver training with the use of a simulator.
“Locomotives are expensive capital investments and it is important that new drivers experience driving a train, before they drive a real train. “One mistake with a real train could cost the owner a lot of money, making it imperative to expose the trainee driver to an environment as close to the real thing as possible,†he says.
R&H Railway Consultants’ train simulator is an interactive virtual representation of reality and helps to develop the skills required to handle a heavy train. Bredenkamp explains that, for instance, when applying brakes on a long, or heavy, train there is a signifi- cant time delay as the brake application propagates down the train and for a few moments one may actually not feel anything happening. A technical understanding of the mechanisms involved and proper forward planning while driving the train are therefore imperative.
“Drivers need to be prepared for this, and they must develop a feel for handling trains,†he emphasises.
Further, various railway sections can be loaded into the simulator’s memory. This enables trainee drivers to learn the actual alignment of their future working environment, before they drive on the tracks. “Trains behave differently on varying alignments of a railway. For example, one part of a train may already be heading down a steep decline, while the trailing part is still moving up a steep incline, making it challenging to correctly handle a heavy train to limit in-train forces,†he says.
Further, the simulator’s controls are arranged to represent the generic layout of most diesel locomotives in use by rail transport parastatal Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and the mining industry in Southern Africa. This makes the simulator versatile and suitable for training most of the drivers of the locomotives currently in use in the region.
Bredenkamp reports the simulator was developed with the assistance of Durban-based simulator manufacturer ThoroughTec Simulation, in conjunction with an Australia-based company which assisted in the development of the software. Actual train drivers were also given the opportunity to provide input to refine the responsiveness of the simulator.
The simulator is housed in a 20 ft container, with a three-degrees-of-freedom motion base and a 270º viewport, giving the trainee a dynamic experience and surrounding view ahead and to the sides of the train. Whereas other simulators are either bulky and stationary, or only desktop based, R&H is able to save clients money by taking this mobile training facility to various locations and providing a realistic interactive and dynamic training experience.
There is also space for an assessor, while the session is recorded for future playback and analysis.
The trainee driver’s skill in coping under variable circumstances can also be tested as the simulation allows for incidents and on-track events to be programmed into the sessions.
R&H Railway Consultants subsidiary TSD Consulting Services focuses on the operational and commercial aspects of the rail solution, such as training and rail safety. The simulator will be used by this entity, which is South African Qualifications Authority and Transport Education and Training Authority accredited.
Meanwhile, Bredenkamp reports a renewed focus on capital investment in the rail industry, with Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa’s) implementation of its R95-billion national railway recapitalisation programme under way.
“In recent years, the civil construction industry was involved in the development of soccer stadiums and infrastructure for the 2010 soccer World Cup, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project and the Gautrain. “However, with the stadiums long completed, and the road upgrades and Gautrain extensions coming to a close, the next government infrastructure projects are eagerly anticipated by the industry,†he says.
He believes it is a pity that transport parastatal Transnet went through a prolonged phase without permanent management, which meant that no significant decisions could be taken.
Transnet’s new CEO, Brian Molefe, fills the position left by former CEO Maria Ramos, who left for banking group Absa, early in 2009. The post was filled in an acting capacity by Chris Wells.
However, Bredenkamp believes that this year and 2012 will see a significant increase in railway-related projects.
In anticipation of this, R&H Railway Consultants has upgraded its computer systems to be able to run some of the latest computer-assisted design software, positioning the company as a serious contender in forthcoming railway infrastructure projects.
Further, the company has invested in a railway simulation software package for use in designing train operations and fail-safe signalling control systems.
“With Prasa’s announcement in October that it would embark on the installation of the latest signalling equipment nationally, we also invested in acquiring signalling experts. “We have built a strong signalling department in anticipation of these projects,†he adds.
Prasa recently appointed Siemens South Africa the design-and-install contractor to carry out the resignalling and upgrade in Gauteng, while work in other regions will soon follow in order of priority.
There is a strong movement away from the outdated mechanical interlocking to electronic interlocking signalling systems.
However, there is not enough expertise in South Africa to undertake all the upgrade projects and, for this reason, Bredenkamp believes that R&H Railway Consultants is well positioned to execute some of the expected signalling contracts.
Edited by: Chanel de Bruyn