Train event recorder

Juridical Recording (orange) Blackbox as part of an ETCS equipment

Indusi I60 ER24 control device with the DSK recorder inside

A train event recorder (also called On-Train Monitoring Recorder [OTMR] or On-Train Data Recorder [OTDR] in the United Kingdom, Event Recorder System [ERS], Event Recorder Unit [ERU], or simply Event Recorder [ER]) is a device that records data about the operation of train controls and performance in response to those controls and other train control systems. It is similar to the flight data recorder found on aircraft.

Functions

Because event recorders are integrated with most car-borne systems, they are an attractive target for enhanced diagnostic and control functions. Some event recorders feature outputs controlling penalty brake or emergency brake (train) systems, and speedometers.

Data storage can be provided by magnetic tape, battery-backed RAM and, more recently, non-volatile EEPROM or Flash Memory overwritten in a FIFO continuous loop. The data is intended for use in the investigation of accidents and incidents but is also used to monitor traction unit performance, the competence of drivers, and general state of the train over a period of time.

Development

A suggestion in The Times of 10 October 1853, commenting on a a rail collision near Portarlington station, Great Southern and Western Railway, on 5 October that year, called for a paper-roll recorder to be carried in a locked box on trains, recording wheel revolutions against time, the record to be removed and stored by station masters at the destination station. A similar proposal came from Charles Babbage, arising from his work for the Great Western Railway on dynamometer cars, in 1864. No action seems to have been taken in either case. The earliest event recorders were the mechanical "TEL" speed recorders of 1891, which recorded both time and speed. The TEL's manufacturer, Hasler Rail of Switzerland, remains a leading producer of train event recorders.

France developed the Flaman Speed Indicator and Recorder. In Germany, the Indusi train protection system had included recording equipment from early on using a ticker tape on paper. For I60R a generalized recorder system was installed (Datenspeicherkassette [DSK] / data storage cassette) that allowed to enter the train number, driver info, train weight along with the driving events. The standardized DSK black box allows for approximately 30,000 km of general recording data and 90 km of detailed recording data. Later models of the DSK are electronic especially since the introduction of the computerized PZ80/PZB90 train protection generations. Modern Train Event Recorders follow International or National Standards like IEEE Std. 1482.1-1999, FRA 49 CFR Part 229, IEC 62625-1 etc. specifying the digital and analogue data to be acquired, recorded and transmitted for further analysis. The need for event recorders to sustain an accident has led to companies like Faiveley (France), Hasler Rail (Switzerland), Bach-Simpson (USA), Saira Electronics (Italy) [previously FAR Systems], MIOS Elettronica (Italy) to develop crash protected memory modules as a part of their event recorders. These new generation event recorders have growing demand both for rapid transit systems and mainline trains, in Europe, United States,India, etc.

Regulations

Canada

Canadian regulations provide in the "Locomotives Design Requirements (Part II)"

"12. Event Recorders. 12.1 Controlling locomotives other than in designated and/or yard service, shall be equipped with an event recorder meeting the following minimum design criteria: The event recorder shall record time, distance, speed, brake pipe pressure, throttle position, emergency brake application, independent brake cylinder pressure, horn signal and Reset Safety Control function"

United States

U.S. regulations define event recorders as follows: (CFR 49 Ch II 229.5):

"(g) Event recorder means a device, designed to resist tampering, that monitors and records data on train speed, direction of motion, time, distance, throttle position, brake applications and operations (including train brake, independent brake, and, if so equipped, dynamic brake applications and operations) and, where the locomotive is so equipped, cab signal aspect(s), over the most recent 48 hours of operation of the electrical system of the locomotive on which it is installed. A device, designed to resist tampering, that monitors and records the specified data."

The Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) "Final Rule 49 CFR Part 229", (revised June 30, 2005) requires that event recorders be fitted to the leading locomotives of all US, Canadian and Mexican trains operating above 30 MPH on the US rail network including all freight, passenger and commuter rail locomotives but does not apply to transit running on its own dedicated tracks.

The new ruling applies to locomotives either ordered before Oct 1, 2006 or placed in service after Oct 1, 2009 and included:

• Improved crash worthiness by means of a "hardened" memory module able to withstand:
  • Fire resistance of 750 °C for 1 hour, this test simulates the temperature of burning diesel fuel
  • Impact shock of 55 g
  • Static crush of 110 kN for 5 minutes, this test simulates a locomotive derailment and blunt object impact
  • Fluid immersion in Diesel, water, salt water or lube oils for 2 days
  • Hydrostatic pressure equivalent to immersion to a depth of 15 m in water for 2 days
• Recording of additional information to enhance the quality of information available for post-accident investigations including the following "safety-critical" signals:
  • Speed
  • Direction of travel (Forward or Reverse)
  • Time
  • Distance
  • Throttle position
  • Operation of brakes
  • Status of Headlights and Marker Lights (On or Off)
  • Operation of Horn
  • Status of Cab signals
• Store the last 48 hours of safety-critical train data. This is to prevent over-writing of the crash data if the loco is used for the subsequent "clean-up" of the crash scene.
• The phasing out of the old magnetic tape models over a four-year period due to their vulnerability to data loss in the event of a crash.

United Kingdom and Ireland

All trains operating on Network Rail controlled infrastructure are required to be fitted with an event recorder complying with GM/RT 2472. Ireland has also adopted this regulation.

Crash protection requirements:

• Fire resistance of 700 °C for 5 minutes
• Impact shock of 100 g, three times on each of its six sides
• Static crush of 20 kN for 1 minute, to all edges and faces
• Fluid immersion in water, AFFF or R134A for 1 hour
• Magnetic field produced by a current pulse of 0 to 64 kA, rising at 10⁷ A/s, at a distance of 1 metre

The UK approach is similar to US requirements, but the list of required signals is more comprehensive. This reflects, in part, the prevalence of passenger trains and the inevitable possibility of incidents involving access doors.

Signals to be recorded include:

• Brake demand including operation of all Brake Controls and other brake activations
• Power notch
• Wheel speed
• Speedometer, both signal sent to speedometer and indication displayed to driver
• Automatic Warning System (AWS) operation
• Driver reminder appliance (DRA) operation
• Vigilance Operation
• Passenger Emergency Systems (PES)
• Override of any Safety System
• Horn
• Door signals
• Door inter-lock
• Wheel slide protection (WSP)
• Tilt, if fitted
• Speed supervision & Control, if fitted

Switzerland

Speed recording equipment has been used by Swiss Federal Railways for many years.

See also

• Black box (disambiguation)#Transportation
• Tachograph - largely defunct, used on locomotives and automobiles
• Flight recorder, Flight data recorder and Cockpit voice recorder - used on aircraft
• Event Data Recorder - used on automobiles
• Voyage Data Recorder - used on ships
• Data logger