Siemens Mobility and the Frankfurt Transport Company (VGF) have announced successful testing of the city metro’s new Digital Train Control System (DTC).

The tests, which have taken place on the test ring of VGF’s central urban train depot, have seen a converted prototype U5 type train communicate continuously with VGF’s infrastructure and reach Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2).

VGF and Siemens Mobility present milestone in track equipment with CBTC

© VGF

VGF is set to digitalise its current train control system in 2027, allowing trains on the network to communicate with the track infrastructure via radio, utilising a Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology.

The technology enables a moving block system which in turn automatically maintains braking distances between the trains, eliminating the need to operate in block sections.

The move will allow trains to run at shorter intervals, expanding services without the modification of existing infrastructure such as track of stations.

Wolfgang Siefert, Head of Mobility, said:

I am pleased that the DTC digitalization project has reached this milestone, and we will now see in practice what we’ve been discussing in theory for years.

This is good news for Frankfurt: The automated prototype tests show that the digital transformation can drive urban mobility. Specifically, DTC will make public transportation more efficient, reliable, economical, environmentally friendly, and even more comfortable.

DTC testing has been performed in tandem with urban project Frankfurt MIND(+) (Multimodal, Intelligent, Sustainable, Digital), which utilises C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport System) technology. Interfacing between the two projects was performed successfully for the first time on VGF’s test ring.

VGF Managing Director, Steffen Geers, said:

We are pioneers here and the first transport company worldwide to connect these two technologies. For VGF, DTC is one of the most important innovation projects, and a technology with which we will be future-proof for years to come.

With required technology now fully installed on lines U4 and U5 in the tunnel between Bockenheimer Warte and Seckbacher Landstraße, static system tests are now being conducted throughout September and October, with the first test runs without passengers planned to take place in January 2026.

Lines U4 and U5 are scheduled to be completed by 2027, with the A-Route (Lines U1, U2, U3 and U8) set to be complete by 2030. The C-Route and tram will follow in 2033.

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source= https://railway-news.com/siemens-reaches-grade-of-automation-2-with-new-cbtc-system-for-frankfurt/