WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 1 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:02.820 - If you want to learn to drive a train, there are simulators. 2 00:00:02.820 --> 00:00:05.510 A screen, a set of controls, it's pretty realistic. 3 00:00:05.510 --> 00:00:09.050 But that's not the only safety-critical job on the railway that needs training. 4 00:00:09.050 --> 00:00:12.310 The signalers who decide where trains go are just as important, 5 00:00:12.310 --> 00:00:14.530 making sure that every train goes down the right track 6 00:00:14.530 --> 00:00:16.260 and dealing with disruption when it happens 7 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:18.770 so that passengers can still get where they're going. 8 00:00:18.770 --> 00:00:21.730 You could simulate that in a computer, sure, 9 00:00:21.730 --> 00:00:23.530 but there is a more physical approach. 10 00:00:23.530 --> 00:00:25.430 Here in Darmstadt, Germany, 11 00:00:25.430 --> 00:00:28.580 there is the world's most useful model railway. 12 00:00:28.580 --> 00:00:34.530 - In this place, we started in 2006 at the Technical University in Darmstadt. 13 00:00:34.530 --> 00:00:38.010 We had a similar facility since 1936. 14 00:00:38.010 --> 00:00:40.970 We have about 500 square metres of space available 15 00:00:40.970 --> 00:00:43.350 for the trainings, and a track laid out. 16 00:00:43.350 --> 00:00:47.810 It's a fictional layout, 1.2 kilometres. We have some fictional names. 17 00:00:47.810 --> 00:00:51.100 Some of the stations are named after persons 18 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:53.940 that helped developing this facility. 19 00:00:53.940 --> 00:00:57.320 We are training actual signalmen here. They are taking exams here. 20 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:01.380 - So these are the oldest systems on the Deutsche Bahn network? 21 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:04.440 - Okay, yeah, it's right. It's mechanical interlocking. 22 00:01:04.440 --> 00:01:06.360 Everything is worked manually. 23 00:01:06.360 --> 00:01:09.990 The blue levers are for the points, the red levers are for signals. 24 00:01:09.990 --> 00:01:11.833 - And that's our train? - Yeah, that's our train. 25 00:01:11.833 --> 00:01:14.730 - And it's going that way. - This way, right track. 26 00:01:14.730 --> 00:01:16.350 - Not into that tiny train. 142 00:01:16.350 --> 00:01:16.350 - That's right. - Can come in, okay. 49 00:01:16.350 --> 00:01:17.260 - Yeah, that's it. - Okay. 29 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:20.970 - So I have to know which points have to be turned. 30 00:01:20.970 --> 00:01:25.077 It's point number one and two. So if you want to try it. 31 00:01:25.077 --> 00:01:28.220 - So, yep. - You have to take it and turn it around. 32 00:01:30.477 --> 00:01:31.890 - All the way down. - Just to lower position, yep. 33 00:01:31.890 --> 00:01:33.640 - And, oh! 34 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:16.350 - It's turning over there. 49 00:01:16.350 --> 00:01:17.260 - Yeah, that's it. - Okay. 36 00:01:35.613 --> 00:01:39.460 - So we have also point number 7, 8, 9, and 10. 37 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:41.650 - Okay, so every time I do this... 38 00:01:41.650 --> 00:01:42.750 - One point will turn. 39 00:01:44.810 --> 00:01:46.608 Just a simulation. - Yes. 40 00:01:46.608 --> 00:01:49.900 But it's an accurate one. - But it works like a real signal box. 41 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:51.800 - 'Cause in the real world, I would be pulling that 42 00:01:51.800 --> 00:01:53.780 and that will be pulling through pulleys and levers 43 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:55.210 and actually physically switching the point. 209 00:01:55.210 --> 00:01:55.210 - Yeah. - Making sure that 151 00:01:55.210 --> 00:01:56.390 - That's it. - All right. 46 00:01:56.390 --> 00:01:59.640 - So here we just have a computer who is turning the model points. 47 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:01.500 - Right, so you lock that into place, 48 00:02:01.500 --> 00:01:16.350 it detects that I've done that, and the computer goes "pht". 49 00:01:16.350 --> 00:01:17.260 - Yeah, that's it. - Okay. 50 00:02:05.580 --> 00:02:09.043 So we've set the points, the next is safety interlock. 51 00:02:09.043 --> 00:02:10.263 And that's a German thing? 52 00:02:10.263 --> 00:02:13.920 - This is a German thing. Well, it's just common in German. 53 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:16.560 We have what we call a route locking. 54 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.620 So we want to open a special signal, so we have to take the right route lever, 55 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:22.120 which is called P2. 56 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:23.837 - Because it says 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 57 00:02:23.837 --> 00:02:24.670 which is what I've just moved. - Yep, that's it. 58 00:02:24.670 --> 00:02:26.763 - So do I pull up, down? - Down, down please. 59 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:31.056 - So this lever checks if all the points are set correct, 60 00:02:31.056 --> 00:02:34.100 and second thing, he will lock all the points. 61 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:35.630 So we can't move them back. 62 00:02:35.630 --> 00:02:37.360 - What happens if I were to pull the wrong lever? 63 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:38.400 - Just try it. - Right, okay. 64 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.830 - Try it, it won't work. 65 00:02:39.830 --> 00:02:39.830 - Oh! - Just put it down. 66 00:02:39.830 --> 00:02:40.663 - Oh! - It's closed. 67 00:02:40.663 --> 00:02:42.780 - It's a physical lock. - Yep. 68 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:44.480 - I kind of assumed that was just going to beep at me 69 00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:45.899 or complain, but that's an actual 70 00:02:45.899 --> 00:02:47.570 physical interlock. - This is real, physical. 71 00:02:47.570 --> 00:02:50.423 - Right, so now I can't even- - Yeah, try it. 72 00:02:51.670 --> 00:02:40.663 It's not possible to pull them back. - You can't even close the lever. 214 00:02:40.663 --> 00:02:56.010 - All at the same time. - Yep. 74 00:02:56.010 --> 00:02:58.000 - Yep. - Wow, okay. So that's- 75 00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:59.500 - So this is an old computer. 76 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:02.600 It checks if everything is set at the right position. 77 00:03:02.600 --> 00:03:03.740 - Wow, okay. 78 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:07.150 So we have put the points in position, 79 00:03:07.150 --> 00:01:16.350 interlocked everything to make sure it's safe. 142 00:01:16.350 --> 00:01:16.350 - That's right. - Can come in, okay. 81 00:03:09.770 --> 00:03:10.840 - And then we just- 82 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:13.413 - Last step is put the signal to an off position. 83 00:03:13.413 --> 00:03:15.990 It's P2. - Which is going to be... 84 00:03:15.990 --> 00:03:18.790 - The P2. - P2, all right. 85 00:03:18.790 --> 00:03:22.414 - Just like point levers to an off position. 86 00:03:22.414 --> 00:03:23.640 [machine beeping] 87 00:03:23.640 --> 00:03:25.547 And now the train driver sees a green signal, 88 00:03:25.547 --> 00:03:27.040 and he can move on. 89 00:03:27.040 --> 00:03:30.200 - But it takes a few seconds and the computer kind of simulates... 90 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:33.270 - It's a simulation, because he has to release his brakes 91 00:03:33.270 --> 00:03:35.030 before he can start. 92 00:03:35.030 --> 00:03:36.240 - So what's the last thing we need to do? 93 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.250 - So now we have to lock the line so another train can't follow. 94 00:03:39.250 --> 00:03:42.503 So we have to tell us and the next signal box 95 00:03:42.503 --> 00:03:44.120 there's a train on the line. 96 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:48.520 So we have to put down the button and to produce some electricity. 97 00:03:50.245 --> 00:03:52.829 - Pull it down. - And 10 times, please. 98 00:03:52.829 --> 00:03:55.412 [box whirring] 99 00:03:56.530 --> 00:03:59.630 - So that would have sent a bell ringing or something 100 00:03:59.630 --> 00:02:23.837 in another signal box saying we've got a train coming. 101 00:02:23.837 --> 00:04:02.373 - Yep, that's it. 102 00:04:02.373 --> 00:04:05.700 - So that's the manual ones. What came next? 103 00:04:05.700 --> 00:04:07.740 - Interlocking, which is called electromechanical. 104 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:10.376 That's the next thing, which was about 50 years later. 105 00:04:10.376 --> 00:04:12.070 - All right, let's do that. 106 00:04:12.070 --> 00:04:14.380 - We've got the next station, which is an all-electric 107 00:04:14.380 --> 00:04:17.250 interlocking from the 1950s. 108 00:04:17.250 --> 00:04:19.600 Our train is coming, we see the red arrow. 109 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.880 It's a train intersection marker. 110 00:04:22.880 --> 00:04:25.310 Train will stop at the entry signal of the station. 111 00:04:25.310 --> 00:04:27.510 - Because that's a red and green light, and there's a red light there. 112 00:04:27.510 --> 00:04:30.330 And this is the station. These are all the tracks, okay. 113 00:04:30.330 --> 00:04:31.990 - So we can see all the tracks. 114 00:04:31.990 --> 00:04:35.640 You can see in the direction of the points. 115 00:04:35.640 --> 00:04:39.590 And now we want this train to enter into track number two. 116 00:04:39.590 --> 00:04:44.170 So, now if you want to operate a point, we have to do a two button operation, 117 00:04:44.170 --> 00:04:47.920 which means you have to push the button of the... 118 00:04:48.753 --> 00:04:50.573 - And second one is this blue one. 119 00:04:50.573 --> 00:04:53.620 Now it starts to blink. The point is turning. 120 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:55.660 And now it's on the left. 121 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:56.493 - And now it's on the left. 122 00:04:56.493 --> 00:04:58.700 So the train is now going the right way. 123 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:00.330 So if there's nothing else in this section, 124 00:05:00.330 --> 00:05:01.560 you can then turn that to green? 125 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:05.690 - Yep. So, we have to make an entry-exit operation. 126 00:05:05.690 --> 00:05:07.720 We are starting at the entry signal 127 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:09.500 and we want to move into track number two. 128 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:11.090 There are two buttons. 129 00:05:11.090 --> 00:05:11.090 - Right. 130 00:05:11.090 --> 00:05:12.810 - Right. - Try it. 131 00:05:12.810 --> 00:05:14.580 - So I have to push that one? 132 00:05:14.580 --> 00:05:17.010 - Yep, and same time track number two. 133 00:05:17.010 --> 00:05:19.784 - These two. - Yep, and nothing happens. 134 00:05:19.784 --> 00:05:21.410 - Okay! 135 00:05:21.410 --> 00:05:25.470 - Because we are missing two another points. 136 00:05:25.470 --> 00:05:28.098 We have a flank protection, which is missing. 137 00:05:28.098 --> 00:05:30.500 There might be a train waiting here 138 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:33.500 and he might just start to roll into our train. 139 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:34.530 - And he'll, right. 140 00:05:34.530 --> 00:05:37.430 So I need to change that one as well. 141 00:05:37.430 --> 00:01:16.350 So now there's no way that a train coming the other way- 142 00:01:16.350 --> 00:01:16.350 - That's right. - Can come in, okay. 143 00:05:41.770 --> 00:05:46.140 - And second point, we have to operate as point number one, 144 00:05:46.140 --> 00:05:48.210 which is called the overlap. 145 00:05:48.210 --> 00:05:52.100 So if a train won't stop at an exit signal... 146 00:05:52.100 --> 00:05:54.550 - Yep, it'll derail there at the moment, won't it? 147 00:05:54.550 --> 00:05:57.490 - Yes, and maybe he could hit another train, 148 00:05:57.490 --> 00:06:01.010 so we have to reserve this space also for the train. 149 00:06:01.010 --> 00:06:03.130 - Okay. So that one? - Yep. 150 00:06:03.130 --> 00:01:55.210 Which is called the overlap. 151 00:01:55.210 --> 00:01:56.390 - That's it. - All right. 152 00:06:04.020 --> 00:06:06.730 - All right. - So, now try it again. 153 00:06:06.730 --> 00:06:10.010 Entry exit operation. - Entry exit. 154 00:06:10.010 --> 00:06:12.220 Lights up? Green light. - Lights up green light. 155 00:06:12.220 --> 00:06:15.710 Train will enter in the next, I don't know, one, two minutes. 156 00:06:15.710 --> 00:06:17.380 - And somewhere out there on the big model, 157 00:06:17.380 --> 00:06:19.123 a train has started moving. 166 00:06:20.250 --> 00:06:21.650 That's lovely. So that's the 1950s, 159 00:06:21.650 --> 00:06:24.720 And this is all electrical circuits. 160 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:27.980 This isn't microcontrollers, this is all physical wiring. 161 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:29.420 - Or relay interlocking. 162 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:32.690 - There is really something in having that view 163 00:06:32.690 --> 00:06:35.480 of what you're doing versus a screen 164 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:37.740 and a vague idea in a diagram. 165 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:20.250 Like, I can see the train pulling into the station. 166 00:06:20.250 --> 00:06:21.650 That's lovely. So that's the 1950s, 167 00:06:43.350 --> 00:06:45.540 and there's still some of this equipment out there. 220 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.620 - Of course. - That were being done 169 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:48.230 What's the most modern version? 170 00:06:48.230 --> 00:06:51.400 - That's the computer interlocking. And now I will show you. 171 00:06:51.400 --> 00:06:52.233 - Lead the way. 172 00:06:53.290 --> 00:06:55.040 - All of the interlockings that you used today 173 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:58.040 are still in use in the German rail network. 174 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:01.160 The numbers, for example, of the mechanical interlockings 175 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:03.350 are dwindling at the moment. 176 00:07:03.350 --> 00:07:05.610 In the future, all of them will be replaced 177 00:07:05.610 --> 00:07:07.810 by electronic or computer interlockings. 178 00:07:07.810 --> 00:07:09.870 The physical railway that you crash 179 00:07:09.870 --> 00:07:12.350 will always stay in your mind, 180 00:07:12.350 --> 00:07:14.490 even if it's a model train! 181 00:07:14.490 --> 00:07:17.300 And you have the ability to get an overview 182 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:20.770 about the situation during any sort of disruptions, 183 00:07:20.770 --> 00:07:23.549 not only the really focused view that you would have 184 00:07:23.549 --> 00:07:25.500 during this disruption. 185 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:27.750 - So this is the future? - Yep, that's the future. 186 00:07:27.750 --> 00:07:29.607 - So which train are we moving? 187 00:07:29.607 --> 00:07:32.350 - We are try moving a train which is called 201. 188 00:07:32.350 --> 00:07:33.730 - 201, okay. Yeah, I see it. 189 00:07:33.730 --> 00:07:38.320 - So all you have to do is an entry exit operation, with a mouse. 190 00:07:38.320 --> 00:07:41.670 - Oh, so just the single button push from earlier? 191 00:07:41.670 --> 00:07:42.656 Everything else is automatic? 192 00:07:42.656 --> 00:07:44.545 - Everything else is going automatically. 193 00:07:44.545 --> 00:07:47.470 So first thing is you have to move the mouse pointer 194 00:07:47.470 --> 00:07:51.020 to the red triangle on the right side, please. 195 00:07:51.020 --> 00:07:53.020 It's the exit signal for the station. 196 00:07:53.020 --> 00:07:55.693 And now move on to just one mouse click. 197 00:07:56.900 --> 00:07:59.805 And now next train, please, on the right. 198 00:07:59.805 --> 00:08:01.810 - The blue- - The blue one to the right. 199 00:08:01.810 --> 00:08:03.150 That's the exit. 200 00:08:03.150 --> 00:08:05.010 - And click that? - Click there. 201 00:08:05.010 --> 00:08:06.080 - I don't know why I'm being so nervous. 202 00:08:06.080 --> 00:08:09.210 It's a model train set. But in my head, this is serious. 203 00:08:09.210 --> 00:08:12.390 So it's just done all the button pushes that I did earlier. 204 00:08:12.390 --> 00:08:13.750 All the lever pulls. - Yep. 205 00:08:13.750 --> 00:08:14.583 - Two mouse clicks. 206 00:08:14.583 --> 00:08:17.140 - At the moment, nothing has operated. 207 00:08:17.140 --> 00:08:22.790 It's just, "I want to go," from track number five onto the line. 208 00:08:22.790 --> 00:01:55.210 - And it's doing all the interlocking? 209 00:01:55.210 --> 00:01:55.210 - Yeah. - Making sure that 210 00:08:25.475 --> 00:08:26.308 nothing's in the way. - And now have to tell 211 00:08:26.308 --> 00:08:27.795 the computer, "Okay, I want to do it." 212 00:08:27.795 --> 00:08:31.600 There's a button which is called in German "Verarbeiten" which means OK. 213 00:08:31.600 --> 00:02:40.663 And after you push it, all the points are moving. 214 00:02:40.663 --> 00:02:56.010 - All at the same time. - Yep. 215 00:08:36.245 --> 00:08:37.697 And the signal is going to... 216 00:08:37.697 --> 00:08:38.910 - And the signal's gone to green. 217 00:08:38.910 --> 00:08:39.790 - Yep. That's it. 218 00:08:39.790 --> 00:08:44.140 - It absolutely makes sense, but also it seems so much easier. 219 00:08:44.140 --> 00:06:45.540 I know it's not. You've got exactly the same checks here. 220 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.620 - Of course. - That were being done 221 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:52.790 by the systems, that were being done by the circuits 222 00:08:52.790 --> 00:08:55.130 and then being done by the physical interlocks. 223 00:08:55.130 --> 00:08:57.810 But here it's code and we can see the train progress. 224 00:08:57.810 --> 00:09:01.370 Like, the lights go red when there's a train in the section. 225 00:09:01.370 --> 00:09:02.340 That's so clever. 226 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:06.608 - Big difference is I do have to operate 2, 3, 4, 5 stations. 227 00:09:06.608 --> 00:09:08.260 [Tom laughs] 228 00:09:08.260 --> 00:09:11.010 So it's not as simple as it looks like. 229 00:09:11.930 --> 00:09:13.200 - You know the computer game? 230 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:17.220 - You have to do the same amount of work, just over a much bigger area. 231 00:09:19.690 --> 00:09:21.290 Thank you so much. - Thank you.