UCI’s independently developed iLRTC® CBTC system (CBTC system) underwent a 5-month trial from November 2023 to March 2024 on a test track. The trial comprehensively tested engineering applications such as functional testing, interface testing, scenario testing, and performance testing. The trial results indicate that the system’s safety, reliability and availability meet industry standards and design requirements. On April 2, Wang Linghong, Deputy Secretary of the general Party branch committee and General Manager of UCI, along with Wu Zhengzhong, UCI Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer, visited the test track to guide the work. They were accompanied by the heads of R&D Division One and the Safety Product Center.

Wang Linghong and Wu Zhengzhong first inspected the infrastructure of the test track trains and control rooms. They listened attentively to reports on the testing work. Subsequently, they boarded the test train to observe and experience the actual operation of onboard equipment. They also witnessed on-site full-auto typical scenario tests including “safety protection”, “automatic operation”, “redundant speed and positioning” and “fault switching”.

Wu Zhengzhong stated that during the intensive five-month trial period, the team successfully conducted hundreds of tests and experiments focusing on vehicle dynamic and static testing, safety function verification, core algorithm validation, and tool verification. All test items specified in the test outline were completed with high standards and quality, achieving a 100% pass rate. This significant achievement fully verified the system’s stability and reliability and fostered a team of professionals with high professional quality and strong technical capabilities in real-world scenarios. This team will serve as a solid backbone for our future project execution and delivery, ensuring that every project is successfully delivered to the highest standards.

Wu also underlined that from tramways to ART, from subways to GART, from CBTC to FAO, and now to the next-generation cloud signaling system, UCI has steadily advanced along this path of technological innovation, embodying the proverb “Honing the sword for ten years, now it shines brightly.” Over the past decade since its establishment, UCI’s persistent cultivation and innovation in the field of rail transit signaling control systems have been aimed at pursuing excellence and empowering rail transit development with technological prowess. Today, with the successful development and testing of the CBTC system, this vision is becoming a reality.

Wang Linghong warmly congratulated the success of the trial. He expressed that this success is just a small step in UCI’s path of innovation. The team should continue to maintain the spirit of “never forget why we started, and forge ahead”, taking this successful trial as the start of a new journey. They should continuously summarize experiences, optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and ensure outstanding achievements in future engineering applications.

Wang also emphasized that the road ahead remains long and challenging, therefore all departments must closely collaborate and coordinate efforts to form a strong synergy, pushing forward all aspects of the work continuously. Next, the team should accelerate the testing efforts in Chongqing and ensure efficient and orderly completion of all testing tasks. This is not only another comprehensive test of the team’s capabilities but also a critical step in laying a solid foundation for the application of the CBTC system on the Bitong Line. All employees, including the testing team, should maintain high spirits and a rigorous work attitude, striving unremittingly to achieve the company’s long-term development goals.

Previously, the UCI rail transit signaling control system, including the vehicle on-board controller (VOBC), zone controller (ZC), automatic train supervision (ATS), and computer interlocking (CI) software, successfully passed the factory acceptance test co-organized by the owner, operating entity, supervisory entity, design entity, and construction entity. During the factory acceptance test, experts from all parties conducted comprehensive, detailed and thorough testing and evaluation of the UCI rail transit signaling control system. The results showed that the system performed excellently in terms of functionality, performance, stability, reliability and safety, and fully meet relevant standards and specifications.

Moving forward, UCI will continue to focus on SIL4 cloud platform, new integrated positioning, holistic train operation sensing, intelligent scheduling, flexible train formation, and 5G communication applications. UCI aims to build a new-generation cloud signaling system, provide more advanced and superior system solutions for rail transit, and promote green, intelligent and sustainable development of rail transit.

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The test track is 2 km long and meets the testing requirements with a maximum operating speed of 100 km/h. The trial plan divides the track into three stations and two sections, and deployed the ATS system, full-electronic interlocking system, ZC system, wayside equipment (including axle counters, transponders, signals, etc.), and train-to-ground communication system. The test train is a Vehicle Style D with 8 cars, capable of reaching speeds up to 160 km/h, equipped with redundant VOBCs and driver display units at both ends.

UCI’s independently developed iLRTC® CBTC system enhances the classic CBTC architecture through integrated application of Chinese self-developed technologies, multi-sensor fusion for velocity measurement and positioning, a highly reliable and compatible safety computing platform, FAO scenario design, holistic perception, and intelligent situational awareness. This enhancement offers advantages such as low construction and maintenance costs, flexible configuration, and high intelligence. Hence the system is suitable for various transport systems including subways, suburban railways, medium and low capacity rail transit, and heavy-duty railways. The ATS subsystem utilizes a cloud platform based on Chinese self-developed hardware. This platform employs Chinese domestic processors, operating systems, databases and middleware, thereby addressing critical dependencies on imported core components and software, breaking free of foreign suppliers’ high-tech stranglehold. Trial results demonstrate that the ATS system running on Chinese self-developed heterogeneous hot standby cloud platform is stable, fully functional, and meets the requirements for engineering applications.