After a year of tests on a depot ring, Frankfurt-am-Main tramway and Stadtbahn operator VGF is to gradually digitise its current train control system using CBTC technology (GoA2) supplied by Siemens. DTC will permit enhanced headways on the Stadtbahn subway through a moving block system and reduce energy consumption by 25% through automatic acceleration and braking. On those parts of the system above ground there will be seamless integration with road traffic control equipment that uses Co-operative Intelligent Transport System technology. VGF managing director Steffen Geers said, ‘We are pioneers here and the first transport company to connect these two technologies. For VGF DTC is one of the most important innovation projects, and a technology with which we will be future proof for years to come’.
The required technology has been fully installed ones U4 and U5 in the subway between Bockenheimer Warte and Seckbacher Landstrasse and the rest of lines U4 and U5 should be completed by 2027. By 2030 the ‘A-route’ used by lines U1, U2, U3 and U8 will follow. The ‘C-route’ and tramways will follow in 2033.
A surface junction with mixed traffic that will be subject to integrated control. (VGF)
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