http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2021/0718/c1004-32161148.html

By Li Qiaochu (People.cn), Beijing, July 18 New technology enables traditional infrastructure to improve quality and efficiency. The transportation sector also offers a broad scenario to apply the new technologies. At present, smart travel represented by intelligent connected vehicle is speeding up its implementation. Meanwhile, smart urban rail solutions suitable for more application scenarios are also "quicken the pace" in the field of public transportation.

Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as TCT) is registered among the first 25 companies listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board. TCT specializes in the field of urban rail transit control systems. A few days ago, TCT announced the first application of its independent innovative moving block system in heavy-haul railways, marking technological breakthroughs in key fields of the train control system, which attracted high attention from the industry.

A few days ago, the application of moving block systems in heavy-haul railways would certainly bring a brand new 100 billion-level market for TCT, Gao Chunhai, Chairman of TCT said at an exclusive interview with People.cn. As the construction of a modern comprehensive transportation system continues to deepen, construction of smart urban rail by developing intelligent systems has become an important development direction in the future.

As we know, a modern rail transit line is made up of infrastructures (line bridge and tunnel), moving bodies (rolling stock) and signaling systems. "This signaling system primarily aims to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of trains on the line. We commonly call it the ‘brain and nerve’ of rail transit. It determines the daily operation and frequency of trains on existing tracks." Being solely controlled by foreign companies for long, China rail transit signaling system are lack of key technologies. In order to solve this "stuck neck" problem in the rail transit signal system, TCT undertakes a fund project of Beijing Jiaotong University to a technological research plan and gradually develops itself into a listed company that is deeply engaged in urban rail transit signaling systems, Gao Chunhai said.

This June, the release and opening ceremony of Shuozhou-Huanghua Railway heavy-haul moving block technology was held by National Energy Group in Shijiazhuang, which signifies Shuozhou-Huanghua Railway has become one of the heavy-haul railways in China that applies moving block systems. TCT is the leader of such technology and able to provide the core technology.

As we know, with the application of moving block system technology, the average train departure interval could shortened from 11 minutes to 7.3 minutes, down by 34%. The annual transport capacity of Shuozhou-Huanghua Railway could improved by 40 million tons upon completion of the moving block transformation on the entire line. Besides, the total maintenance cost of signaling system equipment would be cut down by around 20%, which is conductive to lowering the workload of operators and maintenance personnel.

"The international heavy-haul line transformation market value is about 200 billion yuan. China has taken the lead in the attempts and successful application of the Shuozhou-Huanghua Railway transformation. This is bound to produce a demonstration and leading effect, which is of great significance for promoting the technological progress of heavy-haul railways in the world." Gao Chunhai said.

"Nowadays, the era that sells a technology or a product for ten or twenty years has passed. TCT should continuously iterate the technologies and keep a running pace to forge ahead. Gao Chunhai said.

September 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission released the list of national engineering laboratories. The "National Engineering Laboratory for Train Communication and Operation Control of Urban Rail Transit" undertaken by Traffic Control Technology was on the list. Over five years, the laboratory has basically completed the construction of inter-generational system of China's urban rail transit signaling system.

Innovation should also focus on the pain points of the industry and assist in the sustainable development of the industry. In Gao Chunhai's opinion, huge investment is currently a concern of top priority for the rail transit, and the key to solve the problem lies in cost reduction and efficiency improvement. The intelligent solutions invested and researched by TCT is the right way.

"The subway is a big electricity consumer in every city. The intelligent control system is effective to optimize the utilization in the peak periods and other periods, achieving the effect of energy saving. The intelligent means will enable the urban rail transit to start exploring customized services, like specific services such as urban freight in idle period. It will also promote the urban rail transit to create new value and further increase the utilization of lines." Gao Chunhai said.

In the 14th Five-Year Plan period, TCT will continue to pursue independent innovation and apply new technologies such as 5G + AICDE to the rail transit field. It will empower the industry, facilitate the industry towards digital, intelligent and smart information-based development, Gao Chunhai said when talking about the future development.