Technical advances expand the options available: urban rail operators face increased demands for greater security and safety. Advances in technology n

IF safety is seen as the guarantee of proper performance without accident, efficient signalling is the way to provide safe train organisation. If security is intended to defend against intentional and unlawful aggressions, closed-circuit television (CCTV) is a very useful tool to provide video surveillance.

Alcatel has used similar transmission technologies to combine fixed optical fibre networks and high-speed radio solutions to enhance both safety and security for urban rail. This is part of an integrated communication concept whereby a single multi-service platform supports the deployment of new advanced applications for a wide range of uses.

New digital systems have extended video surveillance from station platforms and concourses to trains on the move. Onboard equipment includes CCTV cameras, a digital video recorder (DVR), a mobile radio, and antennas. Access points at the wayside collect the video and interface it through the fixed backbone to the control centre. Thereby, on-board video is successively: