From EuroNews, January 27:
At the 'Train Zero' lab in the United Kingdom, engineers test systems like signal and speed using simulation.
Recreating real-world conditions in simulationA brand-new passenger train is undergoing testing at railway manufacturer Alstom's facility in Derby, northern England. It will soon enter service on the United Kingdom's South Western Railway network.
But while the British-built Class 701 Aventra train runs through its paces on an outdoor test track, the most important work is happening inside a digital laboratory known as Train Zero.
The facility recreates an entire train in virtual form, using racks of hardware and software to simulate how onboard systems behave in real-world conditions.
"In here we are mainly testing one product, and that's called the Aventra trai,n and that is actually delivered into six different projects," said David Cox, head of train control at Alstom.
Train Zero is used to test multiple versions of the Aventra platform, including units now operating or in development for London's Elizabeth Line commuter rail service and several regional rail networks across England.
The testing environment allows engineers to validate complex changes and simulate faults before they are implemented on actual trains carrying passengers.
Train Zero allows engineers to test an entire train without needing one physically present.The testing environment allows engineers to simulate faults, recreate real-world conditions and validate complex changes before they are implemented on fleet vehicles.
Each setup is a combination of real hardware, such as buttons, relays and displays, as well as virtual systems that simulate how a full train would behave in motion.
The testing rigs are connected using physical wiring that mimics the actual configuration on board.
Each Aventra train includes more than five miles (about 8 kilometres) of cable to carry data and power between dozens of subsystems....
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