Taking a ride on the TRANAVI Qiji, Shanghai Metro Line 3/4 is getting an upgrade! Recently, CASCO has won the bidding for the renewal of the signaling system of Shanghai Metro line 3/4 and will equip the project with CASCO's self-developed TRANAVI Qiji™ train autonomous circulation system (TACS).
Shanghai Metro Line 3 started its phase one operation in 2000, with a total length of 40.7 km and 29 stations, making it an important north-south vertical line in Shanghai metro network. Line 4 is the only loop line in Shanghai metro network, which was put into operation at the end of 2005. With a length of 22.3 km and 17 stations, it shares part of its operation line (approximately 10 km) with Line 3, including 9 stations (from Baoshan Road to Hongqiao Road).
As two of Shanghai's earlier metro lines, Lines 3 and Line 4 have been dealing with the pressure from heavy passenger flow. With the longtime service, the aging of the equipment and the continuous growth of passenger flow (it is estimated that in the long run the passenger flow will increase by 43% on the shared section of Lines 3 and 4) will further increase the operational pressure on both lines, making it imperative to upgrade the existing signaling system. CASCO's new-generation TRANAVI Qiji™ TACS system was selected for the signaling renovation project, thanks to its advantages of shorter headway, larger capacity, and greater flexibility.
The TRANAVI Qiji™ TACS system is a new generation of TACS system developed by CASCO after 10 years of independent R&D which is the first in the industry. Compared with traditional CBTC systems, TRANAVI Qiji™ TACS, through three key innovations, i.e. platform optimization, system simplification, and resource refinement, can realize more remarkable performance under the same conditions, such as realization of autonomous train resource management and active distance protection, shorter headway, and further enhancement of safety protection through simplification of system structure and functional applications, etc.
What's more, the TRANAVI Qiji™ TACS system can provide more flexible operation solutions such as returning at any point, shuttling between any stations, and two-way operation on a single-line in response to various scenarios, thus significantly improving key performance indicators such as train tracking, turning back, entering and exiting the depot, diverging and converging. In addition, the system is easy to deploy and can reduce the workload of installation and commissioning through "onboard centralization and trackside simplification", which gains a natural advantage for the successful implementation of upgrade of Line 3 and Line 4.
As Line 3 and Line 4 shared a common section and are built in stage, the renovation project has to be carried out with minimal coupling between the old and new systems. Using the TRANAVI Qiji™ TACS system can maximize the disconnection between the old and new systems, making manageable the project schedule and the risk of reversal and minimizing the impact on regular operation.
In the field of rail transit signaling renovation, CASCO, well-known as "brain replacement specialist", has successfully implemented different modes of "signaling renovation surgery" for Beijing Metro Line 1 and Line 2, Beijing Batong Line, and Shanghai Metro Line 1 and Line 2, and has accumulated rich project experience. CASCO will continue to do its best to create another benchmark project for the industry with a more innovative "surgical solution" to the signaling renovation of Shanghai Line 3/4.
In addition to the application of the existing lines for renovation and upgrade, previously, Shenzhen Metro Line 20, a new line under construction, also chose CASCO TRANAVI Qiji™ TACS system. The first phase of this line is currently undergoing dynamic testing, and will officially go into operation at the end of this year.
In the future, CASCO will continue to lead innovation breakthroughs in more core areas of rail transportation in response to the call of national industrial policy, thus helping China realize the layout and development of intelligent rail transit as soon as possible.
