Engineering Standard - Design

Signalling & Operational Control Systems

MSST 060000-01

COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR

SIGNALLING

Version: 2

Issued: April 2016

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 STANDARD
COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR SIGNALLING
MSST 060000-01
Version: 2 Effective from: 8th April 2016
L1-SIG-STD-001

Approval

Amendment Record

Approval Date Version Description

Initial issue detailing the communication links requirements for
20/12/2012 1
signal interlocking and train control system.
08/04/2016 2 Updated

Approving Manager: Chief Engineer Approval Date: 08/04/2016 Next Review Date: 08/04/2019
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 STANDARD
COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR SIGNALLING
MSST 060000-01
Version: 2 Effective from: 8th April 2016
L1-SIG-STD-001

Table of Contents

1. Purpose ........................................................................................................................... 4

2. Scope ............................................................................................................................... 4

3. Abbreviation .................................................................................................................... 4

4. Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 4

5. References & Legislations ............................................................................................. 5

6. Related Documents ........................................................................................................ 5

7. Responsibilities .............................................................................................................. 5

8. Background ..................................................................................................................... 5

9. Performance Requirements ........................................................................................... 6

9.1 Availability Performance ................................................................................................... 6
9.2 Bit Error Rate Performance .............................................................................................. 6
9.3 Latency Delay ................................................................................................................... 6

10. IP Addressing Requirements ......................................................................................... 6

11. Installation Requirements .............................................................................................. 6

12. Fault and status monitoring ........................................................................................... 7

13. Design Review by Head of Engineering ........................................................................ 7

14. Procurement of Services ................................................................................................ 8

15. Testing of Signalling Communication Links and Routes............................................. 8

16. Records ........................................................................................................................... 8

Approving Manager: Chief Engineer Approval Date: 08/04/2016 Next Review Date: 08/04/2019
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 STANDARD
COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR SIGNALLING
MSST 060000-01
Version: 2 Effective from: 8th April 2016
L1-SIG-STD-001

1. Purpose
This document is to specify the minimum requirements acceptable for the Signalling
communications network within MTM Metropolitan Rail Network.
This standard is to identify the design, installation and performance requirements.

2. Scope
The Metropolitan Rail Network signalling system requires communication links between
interlocking systems, train control and monitoring system (TCMS), operator workstations,
object controllers and CIS interface.
The content of this document is to be incorporated into all signalling design works involving
the provision or re-configuration of any of the above mentioned equipment or systems
associated with signalling.

3. Abbreviation
ARO Accredited Rail Operator
CBI Computer based Interlocking
IP Internet Protocol
MTM Metro Trains Melbourne
HoE Head of Engineering, Metro Trains
OCS Operational Control System
CIS Customer Information System
RAMS Reliability, Availability and Maintainability
SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
TCMS Train Control and Monitoring System
TSA Telecommunications Services Agreement between MTM and VicTrack
VRIOG Victorian Rail Industry Operators Group

4. Definitions
Shall Is used as the descriptive word to express a requirement that is
mandatory to achieve conformance to the standard.
Should Is used as the descriptive word to express a requirement that is
recommended in order to achieve compliance to the standard. Should
can also be used if a requirement is a design goal but not a mandatory
requirement.

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 STANDARD
COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR SIGNALLING
MSST 060000-01
Version: 2 Effective from: 8th April 2016
L1-SIG-STD-001

Test Test is the verification method used to verify requirements by

exercising or operating the system or a part of the system using
instrumentation (hardware and/or software) or special test equipment
that is not an integral part of the system being verified. The test method
by its nature generates data, which is recorded by the instrumentation,
test equipment, or procedures. Analysis or review is performed on the
data derived from the testing.
VicTrack OCS Telecommunications Service Provider

5. References & Legislations

The following documents are referenced by this standard:
VRIOGS 012.3 Computer Based Interlocking
L1-CHE-PRO-001 Standard Waiver Procedure

6. Related Documents
The following documents are related to this standard:
L1-CHE-INS-012 Design Practice Note – CBI to CIS Telemetry Interface
L1-CHE-POL-017 Router, Switch and Firewall Security Policy
L1-CHE-POL-016 Remote Access Policy

7. Responsibilities
Designers shall be responsible for ensuring all relevant system designs adhere to this
standard.
Project Managers, Contractors, and Service Providers shall be responsible for
conformance to this standard.

8. Background
VRIOGS 012.3 defines signalling communications as any data transfer between the
interlocking equipment, the train control and monitoring systems (TCMS), the operator
workstations and the object controllers concerning the detection of signalling object states,
operation of signalling objects and signalling system inputs and outputs, where this
information is used for the running of trains. It also includes the transmission of train and
signalling related information for the purpose of overall Metro operation.

When any of the signalling interlocking systems, TCMS systems and / or object controllers
are located remote from one another, the communication links and routes are required to
be procured from VicTrack (under the conditions of the TSA), while local communication
routes within the site are usually constructed specifically for the project as part of the
signalling system provision. Ownership and ongoing maintenance of the local
communication optical fibre shall transfer to VicTrack at the completion of the project.

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 STANDARD
COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR SIGNALLING
MSST 060000-01
Version: 2 Effective from: 8th April 2016
L1-SIG-STD-001

The signalling system is designed to incorporate redundancy and diversity so far as

reasonably practicable, a requirement that shall also apply to the signal communications
network.

9. Performance Requirements
The following set of MTM requirements shall become the basis for design and provisioning
of entire signalling communication links and routes including the associated communication
equipment.

9.1 Availability Performance

The design of these communication links and routes shall meet the VRIOGS 012.3
requirement of a category 1 system as they serve as the primary communication backbone
for signalling and in no case lower than an availability of 99.97%.

9.2 Bit Error Rate Performance

Communication links shall have a bit error rate better than 1 X 10-7 as required in
VRIOGS 012.3.

9.3 Latency Delay

Latency delays between redundant communication links and routes shall be within the
tolerable limits of the signalling equipment to be provided and stipulated by the
manufacturer, and in no case shall exceed 70ms.

10. IP Addressing Requirements

10.1 MTM OCS Engineering is responsible for defining and maintaining the IP addressing
scheme for all signalling networks. The designer shall liaise with MTM OCS Engineering to
obtain an approved IP address range for the project.

11. Installation Requirements

11.1 Redundancy and diversity shall be provided for all communication links to avoid any single
point of failure.

11.2 Redundant communication links shall not be carried over the same conduit, cable route or
hardware including lead in cables where practical

11.3 The physical cable routes shall maintain a minimum of 3 metres separation between these
diverse routes throughout.

11.4 Note: Limitations due to physical constraints that impact on the diversity in routing are to be
documented and approved by MTM in accordance with MTM Standard Waiver Procedure
prior to any installation works commencing.

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11.5 Diverse routed dual redundant dedicated “dark” fibre optic communication links shall be
provisioned between the interlocking system and the train control system located remotely
at the train control centre or train control room,

11.6 Diverse routed dual redundant dedicated “dark” fibre optic communication links shall be
provisioned between the interlocking & wayside signalling equipment.

11.7 In circumstances where dark fibre is not feasible between the interlocking system and the
train control system, diverse routed dual redundant and protected communication links
provided by VicTrack as a managed service may be considered provided there is good
justification. A standards waiver shall be necessary for this.

11.8 Where a communication link provided by VicTrack as a managed service is utilised for the
diverse route they shall be secured in a manner approved by MTM via the standards
waiver. Implementation of a VPN ‘tunnel’ over the managed service is MTM’s preferred
solution for this requirement.

11.9 Where new dedicated “dark fibre” optic communications links are provisioned by others
these shall be constructed to VicTrack standards. Prior to commissioning into operational
service the ownership and maintenance of the “dark fibre” shall be transferred to VicTrack,
acceptance criteria provided by VicTrack.

11.10 Existing routes based on copper cables, shall be upgraded to meet the diversely routed
links requirement.

12. Fault and status monitoring

12.1 For dedicated dark fibre, all associated communication equipment shall be continuously
monitored and reported to an MTM designated location including notification of the failure
of a redundant path

12.2 For communication links provided via VicTrack managed services, links and related
transmission equipment shall be continuously monitored by the VicTrack management
system and fault logs stored for retrieval at any time. Active network equipment maintained
by MTM shall be continuously monitored and reported to an MTM designated location.

12.3 Fault logs shall be maintained for a minimum period of six months at the time of retrieval
for any type of system implementation.

13. Design Review by Head of Engineering

13.1 The overall communications network design shall be subject to acceptance and sign off by
the HoE OCS.

13.2 Acceptance of VicTrack proposals shall require sign off by the HoE OCS

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 STANDARD
COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR SIGNALLING
MSST 060000-01
Version: 2 Effective from: 8th April 2016
L1-SIG-STD-001

14. Procurement of Services

14.1 Procurement of all services shall be via VicTrack as per Clause 3.6, part (b) of the TSA.

14.2 The project may elect to install “dark fibre” cabling for signal use as an alternative to the
provision of dark fibres by VicTrack. In this case 11.9 shall apply.

15. Testing of Signalling Communication Links and Routes

15.1 Signalling communication links and routes, both main and standby, shall be tested and
verified for all the above requirements. Fail over and recovery between main and
redundant communications paths shall be tested and demonstrated at an overall ‘system’
level.

15.2 Latency delays between the redundant communication links shall be verified for each type
of link.

16. Records

16.1 VicTrack Service Acceptance Records consisting of service performance test results shall
be signed off by the testers, witnesses and the Head of Engineering OCS, and shall be
submitted to MTM for future reference as part of the ‘as in service’ drawings and records.
As built drawings shall specifically identify the VicTrack service number and service
description.

16.2 Device IP addresses shall be clearly identified on ‘as in service’ records and drawings.

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