New rail guidance system: this should be better for rail customers
On Sunday morning, one of the biggest IT changes at Deutsche Bahn went unnoticed. The new software should improve a number of things.
Deutsche Bahn network control center in Frankfurt am Main
(Image: Deutsche Bahn AG / Dominic Dupont)
Over the weekend, Deutsche Bahn switched its rail operations scheduling from decentralized software systems to a standardized digital control system. According to DB subsidiary InfraGO, this was one of the largest and most technically demanding IT projects in recent years.
What sounds abstract at first glance should also have a positive effect for rail customers: With the help of the new system, alternative routes can be found more quickly in the event of problems such as roadworks, broken trains and severe weather conditions. In general, rail employees should get a better overall picture. Ideally, this could lead to fewer delays because problems can be identified and resolved earlier. It should also make customer information more reliable.
Postponed several times
The introduction of PRISMA (Program Re-Design Information Systems Operation and Modernization of Architecture) had to be postponed several times. Originally planned for September 2022, the changeover has been postponed a total of five times. Since Sunday morning, train control decisions are now based on a standardized, network-wide real-time overview of the infrastructure status. The changeover was preceded by months of tests, checks and training. A fallback plan was in place in the event of an emergency.
The changeover also had an impact on the numerous rail transport companies operating on the German rail network. According to a survey conducted by the rail blog DB-Watch.de, those affected were overwhelmingly positive about the course of the changeover and the changes. There were only a few isolated problems with the interfaces.
Videos by heise
Implementation of new EU requirements
According to Deutsche Bahn, the PRISMA program was divided into 13 sub-projects. The previously used software, which was replaced, dated from 1999 to 2004 and was considered technologically outdated and no longer suitable for further development. PRISMA serves to implement the EU's TAF/TAP TSI requirement and is intended, among other things, to enable a new, standardized communication channel for train path registration and the unique identification of trains and train paths, including across borders.
(mki)
