Welado has helped Infranord to fit its motorised trolleys with ETCS equipment so that they can operate on railways fitted with the ERTMS signalling system, which is being gradually rolled out on the Swedish rail network. In this article, we’ll tell you a bit about the project, and we’ve also spoken to both Welado’s project manager and the client about how the project has gone and what lessons we’ve learnt for future projects.
Infranord builds Swedish railways
Let’s start by telling you about the client. Infranord is a state-owned company that builds and maintains railways in Sweden and Norway. They have a large fleet of various types of work vehicles and transport vehicles to carry out a wide range of tasks in railway projects, ranging from simple transport vehicles to advanced track-laying machines.
It is, of course, important that these vehicles can operate on all the necessary railway sections, and this requires the on-board signalling equipment to be compatible with the trackside systems on those sections. One of the sections on which Infranord needs to be able to operate some of its vehicles is the Malmbanan line between Riksgränsen and Luleå, which is currently being fitted with the European signalling system ERTMS.
The motorised trolley – the railway’s workhorse
Infranord decided to install ETCS equipment on two of its six so-called motorised flatbed trucks, manufactured by Kockums. These are used as load-carrying vehicles and can transport materials and equipment to the track worksite. The motorised flatbed trucks are fitted with a lifting mechanism and can also change direction using a turntable that lifts and rotates the vehicle. In summary, this is a very important and versatile vehicle for Infranord.
Welado’s contribution
Welado has assisted Infranord with the process of having the ETCS system installed and approved, and Welado’s contribution can be summarised as follows:
- procurement of the installation
- testing of the installation against the requirements specification
- specification of vehicle adaptation
- preparation of all necessary documentation in accordance with an established process – including verification documents, risk analyses, drawings, requirements documents, and compiled documentation from various parties
- dialogue with stakeholders, namely the authorities involved in the approval process, the installer, the supplier, the independent assessor and the customer
- operation and commissioning of the system.
As this is the first ETCS installation for a vehicle type – a so-called ‘First of class’ – it requires a relatively large amount of documentation; in this case, around 80 documents needed to be produced. For subsequent vehicles of the same type (so-called series vehicles), the process and the volume of documentation are less extensive.
The roles and tasks undertaken by Welado have been:
- project manager
- application design
- electrical drawings
- software specification
- testing and verification
- safety analyst
- configuration management
- documentation
- independent safety validator.
Result: approved for service
In the summer of 2023, all type tests were carried out, including static and dynamic tests in the depot, at the marshalling yard and out on the track. Following this, all documentation was finalised, enabling the customer to obtain approval from the Swedish Transport Agency for the vehicle to operate on ERTMS-equipped lines.
The project manager: “collaboration as a key to success“
We asked Frank Steiner, the project manager at Welado, a few questions about the project.
What were the biggest challenges of the project?
To keep to the schedule, it has been important to coordinate the resources of the various stakeholders to ensure the project made progress. It is always more complex when there are several different stakeholders involved.
One challenge of a more technical nature has been that it is possible to change the direction of this type of vehicle using a turntable that lifts and turns the vehicle. It took a bit of extra thought and engineering to come up with a sound technical solution that meets safety requirements.
Finally, we had to put a great deal of effort into addressing all the requirements set out by European and Swedish regulations and demonstrating that these have been met.
What have been the key success factors for the project?
We’ve had a good mix of both expertise and personalities in our team. It’s very important to build a strong team that brings out the best in one another and drives the project forward. There’s also been excellent collaboration between the various stakeholders involved, and here I’d particularly like to highlight the client, who has provided us with clear requirements and also shown confidence in our knowledge and capabilities.
What will you take with you to the next project?
This isn’t really anything new to this particular project, but it has once again demonstrated just how important it is to create effective teams with a clear division of responsibilities. There has also been a lack of pretension in the project, which I’ll take with me.
We at Welado have also had confirmation that we have a sound process for this type of project, and we’ve been able to refine it further in terms of both administration and technology.
Infranord: “Welado contributed with valuable experience and expertise regarding ETCS“
Johanna Kvist is a machinery specialist at Infranord and has been involved in the project.
What is your role at Infranord?
I am a machinery specialist; this role involves developing maintenance processes for rail-mounted machinery, as well as drawing up and publishing machinery-specific regulations, instructions and governing documentation. My role in this project is primarily to support Infranord’s machinery management function in matters relating to machinery technology and administration.
What has Welado contributed to the equipment project?
Welado has primarily contributed expertise on ETCS, both from a purely technical perspective and regarding the approval process itself. STHK has driven the process and liaised with the various stakeholders, such as suppliers and regulatory bodies, ensuring that all parties have the information they need.
How has the collaboration with Welado worked?
Very well. They have been communicative and always available to answer our questions – to which we’ve received good answers – and they have guided us through the process from installation to approval. I think it has been a good and down-to-earth collaboration.
Welado can help you install ETCS!
Welado manages several installation projects for ETCS equipment in rolling stock, following a tried-and-tested process that we know works to keep the project on track and results in an approved product. We assist our customers with procurement, requirements specification, vehicle adaptation and approval.
Please get in touch with us if you need help with your ETCS project. Jan Paul Lundgren, jan-paul.lundgren@welado.se, is the Business Unit Manager for Rail and will be happy to help you!