New automatic driving simulator

Alstom will develop an automatic driving simulator for Barcelona Metro

Alstom will develop for  Barcelona Metro operator, TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), a S9000 trains driving simulator, dedicated to lines 9 and 10, the unique driverless ones currently in operation in Spain.

The solution will consist of a training system, including a virtual reality station, that incorporate the latest simulation technologies for routes, conditions and obstacles. The simulator will create real scenarios and situations employing the virtual reality technology already used by video games developers.

This simulator, which includes a full-scale cabin reproduction of the Alstom’s Metropolis S9000 train, will allow instruct operator technicians in a quick and efficient resolution of incidents on automatic lines, where the reaction time is key to prevent the network and the service being affected.

Throughout this training, instructors will be able to simulate real traffic conditions and situations, inputting all kinds of variables, such as train faults, signalling conditions, environmental incidents, and even passenger density.

Thus, technicians will be able to practice the skills required to solve incidents and maintain railway safety, without needing to stop traffic or perform power cuts on the metro lines. The tool will faithfully reproduce specific sections of the railway network with exact replicas of stations, junctions, signals, cables, points of interest, etc.

Metro de Barcelona Lines 9 and 10 connect the city centre with other locations in the metropolitan area and the airport. The trains running on these lines belong to the Alstom’s Metropolis platform and use an automatic driving system based on CBTC technology.