A new approach to model signalling systems on railway networks

SCIRONET, an integrated simulation environment for the analysis of the railway network operation, has been developed in order to evaluate the mutual interaction between the signalling system and the network capacity. It provides the train circulation simulation on a set of interconnected railway lines taking into account signalling system, different supervision modes and track-to-train interfaces. The major development effort has been devoted to the full modular structure of the integrated simulation environment, which is the result of the application of Object Oriented Analysis and Design techniques. The full modular structure enables to add or modify functions and features easily, in order to extend the application to new signalling systems. Through the parametric description of each system component the user can better tailor the different simulator module to the needs of all the life cycle phases, especially during the design and the traffic operation planning.