Mülheim on the Ruhr, December 7th, 2005. The project encompasses project planning, supplying 135 IP communications systems throughout the transport system network as well as 5 along the main route including the necessary IP/ISDN exchange equipment, installing the entire system, and putting it into operation.

At the heart of the system is the highly advanced IP-capable ELA@GATE type public address (PA) system, which with its flexible variations in equipment features - needed to meet the individual safety requirements - and its independence of proprietary network technologies, is the ideal solution to fulfil the customer's needs. And it goes without saying that the existing PA equipment can be migrated into the new system.

Automated Passenger Information

In the Munich "S-Bahn" system, all passenger information is provided by centralised, automated, supra-regional IP-based public address systems that also allow PA announcements to be initiated manually, partially automated or fully automated.

During regular operation, the PA system, which is connected to a passenger information unit (FIA), works for the most part automatically.

The system control receives information from various data sources on the planned and actual train movements as well as possible schedule changes. Different control commands for the announcement devices are generated based on this data. An important advantage of automated PA announcements is that the quality of the announcements - especially with regard to speech quality - is at a consistently very high level.

Built-in Flexibility

Operator personnel can at all times take over control of the system via the user interface in the event of irregularities in train operations. Various (partially automated) procedures provide the greatest freedom to handle each particular situation - for example, emergency programmes allow the broadcasting of pre-recorded announcements to be initiated manually.

An additional possibility is the broadcasting of announcements that are triggered by various input signals (e.g., ZB9). This feature enables an external system (such as the train signal control system) to select a defined PA target and start the pre-recorded announcement.

Furthermore, the PA system can also be operated, as needed, in a purely manual mode where the announcer selects a PA target from his/her call station, and speaks the required announcement text (live announcement); for example, "The S1 train leaving from platform no. 1 takes you to the RailTec trade fair."

Joachim Glahn, Product Manager for Railways/Regional Public Transport says: "We developed our IP based PA system to standardise and optimise the management of public transport operations, and simultaneously with a view toward providing improved service for passengers. The MVV is in this respect certainly an innovative example that will find recognition throughout the German Federal Republic."

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