The much-anticipated Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway went into operation on June 16, injecting new vitality and vigor into the formerly silent frontier desert with the whistling of trains.

Located at the southern edge of Taklamakan Desert, the second largest flowing desert in the world, the Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway starts from Hotan City of Hotan Prefecture in the west, and terminates at Ruoqiang County of Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang in the east, with length of 825 km and design speed of 120 km/h. After the operation of the railway, it connects with Golmud-Korla, Kashgar-Hotan and Southern Xinjiang railways, forming a 2712-kilometer loop line circling the Taklamakan Desert, and becoming the world's first railway loop in the desert.

Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway is the demonstration line of the application of new train control system. As one of the signaling system suppliers, CASCO provided self-developed train control center and interlocking integrated system (TIS), temporary speed restriction server (TSRS), new train control onboard equipment with BeiDou Positioning, and end of train (EOT), etc., to ensure the safe operation of trains.

It is worth mentioning that TIS system is a technical result of CASCO's 3-year research and development effort, which is train control center and interlocking integrated system with all functions of train control center and computer-based interlocking system. The system has the advantages of high integration and easy maintenance, and can interface with signals, turnouts, track circuits and other trackside equipment through full electronic execution units, which is one of the core ground equipment of signaling system.

CASCO TIS equipment cabinet

Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway is in the sandy desert area, with high altitude, large temperature difference and harsh environment. In this situation, CASCO project team overcame all the difficulties and always promoted the test and commissioning tasks with rigorous spirit and rigorous attitude. In April this year, CASCO's ATP, TIS, TSRS, EOT equipment of new train control system successfully completed the comprehensive test in Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway, laying a good foundation for the demonstration application.

CASCO staff involved in the new train control system test

In the face of the strict epidemic control policies and staff scheduling difficulty during the epidemic period, a number of CASCO employees have been stationed on the front line since the Spring Festival holiday in 2022, and successfully completed the on-site commissioning and acceptance work, escorting the smooth operation of the railway.

CASCO employee explains the use of operators to electrical service staff

CASCO supports the operation of Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway, bringing an end to the unavailability of train services in Lop of southern Xinjiang, Qira, Keriya, Niya, Qiemo etc., and contributing to further improving Xinjiang railway network. In addition, CASCO had the honor to participate in the benchmark project of research and application of new train control system in Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway, which will continue to inspire more CASCO people to continuously study new technologies, innovate new applications and contribute to the development of the railway industry.