Ein Modellbahnzug fährt an vielen Signalen vorbei. © Dr. Igor Semechin Streckennetz Schema © EBL

About the Laboratory

The Railway Operation Laboratory is highly regarded as an academic teaching and research organisation for processes and interfaces associated with railway operation, with the possibility of realistic replication and simulation of real-time operation. 

Here you will find information about the
- model railway,
- interlocking technology,
- tasks and posts,
- laboratory control,
- vehicles and
- history
and also you get an overview of our contact persons, our calendar with event dates as well as our job offers.

read more About the Laboratory

Overview of the Important Themes

Telefon, Tastatur, Maus und Schreibblock liegen auf Schreibtisch. © Walerian Nesterenko
Contact Persons

Here is an overview of the contact persons for study, research, continuing education, technique and organisation.

Eine Uhr im Labor © Dr. Igor Semechin
Event Calendar

Our Laboratory is open to public on a regular basis to provide an insight into our work. Please find the next appointment here.

Zwei Betreuer unterhalten sich im Labor © Dr. Igor Semechin
Job Vacancies of the Laboratory

We search for dedicated staff to supervise the practical exercises and to make a contribution to our research projects. Students are welcomed to engage in the activities.

Betreuer erläutert zwei Studenten ein Stellwerk. © Dr. Igor Semechin

Possibilities in the railway operations laboratory

Training of students and business partners

  • in the operational processes of the railway
  • in control and safety technology
  • in incident and emergency management

Technical possibilities

  • Computer-aided driving with exactly dynamics control of the train and shunting runs
  • Different interlocking systems can be switched variably on every station
  • Scheduling by operations control system
  • Virtual network extension
  • Interface for testing original security systems (e.g. interlockings, operations control technology)

Opportunities for training

  • Implementation of a prototypical railway operation in a network
  • Operating and time processes in the interaction of between several stations 
  • Responding to disruptions and deviations and investigating the impact
  • Scheduling and operational management of central and decentralized operating points up to larger sub-networks
  • Running through different variants of operational management
  • Flexible configuration of different interlocking technology

Opportunities for research

  • Driving time, quality and performance studies
  • Checking the stability of timetables and deriving suitable measures and rules
  • Simulation and investigation of real systems (e.g. S-Bahn Dresden)
  • Experimenting with various interlocking concepts
  • Research and testing of new operations control systems

Excerpt from the contents

Hebel des mechanischen Stellwerks © Dr. Igor Semechin
Interlock­ing and blocking technology

With the exception of Waldhof station, the original interlocking and block technology is installed throughout the laboratory. All operating devices are present and functional. They have to be operated exactly as in reality and are also used for safety training.
Die Streckennetzkarte des Eisenbahnbetriebslabors. © Eisenbahnbetriebslabor
Lines and Stations

In the laboratory, the interaction of the technical components of infrastructure, interlockings and rolling stock and the actions of the operating and driving personnel at various types of stations can be demonstrated and understood.

Fahrzeugsteuerung © EBL
Control and technology of the installa­tion

For the operation of the EBL, a system control with networked computers was developed at the TU Dresden. The control system consists of the central computer, the station computers, the vehicle computer and the interface computers.
Gleisanlage in Zellwald © EBL
Vehicles in the lab

Currently, 35 trains and shunting departments are controlled simultaneously on the system. Driving in double traction, with lead locomotive and with push locomotive is possible due to the vehicle control system used.
Besetzung der Betriebsstellen 2 © EBL
Tasks at the stations

The training takes place at 8 stations of the railway network. Depending on the objective, certain posts and tasks may be simulated. Essentially, these are the following posts with the associated areas of responsibility.
Werkstatt und Versuchsanlage © EBL
History

In 1951, the first test facility was built in Dresden, based on the existing facility in Darmstadt (1937). It consisted of the Erika station and the Steigerwald block. The system could only be operated in one direction of travel.