ICT InTraffic Assists ProRail with a Well-Functioning Route and Track Occupancy Plan

“Feniks was a project aimed at replacing two systems,” says Erwin Dekker, Product Owner at ProRail. “The project has now been completed, and Feniks is running as intended. The first system we replaced was called TRON, which was developed to support train traffic controllers in Non-Centrally Controlled Areas. It was designed to register track occupancy and routes. The second system we replaced was the Rail Management System (RMS). RMS addressed a longstanding issue: the lack of visibility in track occupancy planning across all infrastructure.”

Registration tool

TRON and RMS have been merged into a single solution within Feniks. The two components serve different user groups both inside and outside of ProRail. The Route Management component (formerly TRON) supports train traffic controllers in Non-Centrally Managed Areas (NCBG) and provides a tool for registering track occupancy and train movements. Non-Centrally Managed Areas refer to tracks where train occupancy is not automatically measured and where signals and switches cannot be operated remotely. This includes shunting yards, industrial tracks, and freight terminals. Naturally, collisions must also be avoided in these areas, but because the tracks are not visible in real-time to traffic control, every movement must be coordinated manually between the train driver and the traffic controller. “For every type of movement, prior permission must be requested from the traffic controller,” Dekker explains.

The Track Occupancy Planning component (SBP, formerly RMS) provides train traffic controllers, traffic managers, and planners with insight into the scheduled occupancy of tracks in both Non-Centrally Managed and Centrally Managed Areas. For part of the infrastructure, this planning information is also available to freight operators via Spoorviewer.

“Moreover, the TRON and RMS systems were based on older technology and were managed by minimally secured systems. ProRail wanted to move away from that. The systems needed to be modernized and digitized. On the other hand, we recognized the added value of these systems developed on the work floor. In the end, we turned that into a successful project, which resulted in the product Feniks.”

- Erwin Dekker

Added value

What was RMS’s role in this story? Dekker has a good example. “In the past (before 2007), we were located at the Kijfhoek control post, and every day around three in the afternoon the yard would be completely full. We couldn’t accommodate the freight operators, even though trains were on their way to the yard. This was because at that time we had no insight into the capacity we had promised to our customers, nor the actual available space at the yard. RMS solved this problem, at least specifically for Kijfhoek. It gave us visibility into the available infrastructure, allowing us to reliably assess orders.” Feniks’s track occupancy plan builds directly on this. “We wanted to roll this out nationally,” Dekker explains. “Moreover, the TRON and RMS systems were based on older technology and were managed by minimally secured systems. ProRail wanted to move away from that. The systems needed to be modernized and digitized. On the other hand, we recognized the added value of these systems developed on the work floor. In the end, we turned that into a successful project, which resulted in the product Feniks'', explains Dekker. Within this system, everyone now has the same interface in front of them, carriers, traffic controllers, and planners. Feniks has been used nationwide since February.

National Insight

What ProRail’s train traffic controllers also wanted clear insight into were the maintenance activities taking place on the tracks. These play an important role in planning, possible routes, and the track occupancy plan. Dekker nods: “The Work Protection Instructions (WBI’s) are delivered directly to us from our planning system, the BTD planner. These coordinate the track closures. This is very important to us because if a track is out of service, no trains can be routed to or from it.” Within Feniks, switching between all yards is possible. The product provides nationwide insight into the planning, enabling ProRail to offer alternatives when desired or necessary. “At Waalhaven, for example: a very busy yard, a traffic controller or planner sometimes receives requests they simply cannot accommodate. There’s just no room for another train. In that case, the carrier is asked for an alternative plan, where the traffic controller or planner can offer suggestions, such as rerouting the train to another yard where there is space, or arriving at a different time. These were typical situations we continuously faced in the past. Back then, we didn’t have this overview and couldn’t reliably accept orders as ProRail. Fortunately, we can now.”

“Of course, over time you encounter all kinds of user requests that you can’t yet implement because you’re still focused on the bigger picture.”

- René Oenema

Integrate user needs

An ICT product is never truly finished, and Feniks is no exception, it continues to be further developed. “The users are satisfied,” says Dekker. “Feniks has brought significant improvements on the infrastructure configuration side. What train traffic or signal room staff now see on their screens fully matches the infrastructure configuration as it appears in all other systems and even externally. Moreover, we have delivered a better product where all the details can be visualized more clearly, while the design has also been greatly improved. This isn’t about aesthetics, but about how colors can be used to clearly and immediately convey important information.” “Of course, over time you encounter all kinds of user requests that you can’t yet implement because you’re still focused on the bigger picture'', explains Oenema. “Now that the system is up and running, we are working on developing and implementing those user requests. Additionally, we are integrating Feniks into the basic training program for future train traffic controllers, so they can start learning to use it right from the start of their education.”

Successful PITP project

Feniks was a project developed by ICT InTraffic in collaboration with ProRail. “Initially, Ordina, now known as Sopra Steria, had started Feniks, but after the PITP transition, it came under our responsibility,” says René Oenema, Project Manager at ICT InTraffic. “During that transition, various ICT projects from ProRail were redistributed among different partners. In January 2023, we began the transition of the project to ICT InTraffic. This process took about six months, during which a full team was trained and gained all the necessary knowledge for successful further development. The product is now established, and we have taken over management and maintenance.”

All in all, ProRail and ICT InTraffic consider it a successful PITP project. “Feniks is the mythological bird that rises from the ashes and comes back to life. That’s exactly what we did: we set two products on fire and rebuilt a beautiful new product in return,” concludes Erwin Dekker.