Murom begins factory testing of 1/25 high-speed rail switch point
Developers, manufacturers and testers will verify the prototype for compliance with the design documentation approved by Russian Railways JSC, as well as for the compatibility of the switching, monitoring and locking devices assembly with the hardware-software control system for the turnout. The next stage will be operational testing at the Russian Railways test site.
Deputy CEO and Chief Engineer of Russian Railways Valery Tanaev officially launched the testing of a new turnout prototype and signed the completion certificate with the project’s developers and manufacturers, including ELTEZA JSC (a subsidiary of Russian Railways and part of the GC NPS). As part of the project for the construction of the first in Russia high-speed railway (HSR) between Moscow and St. Petersburg, the company is developing and manufacturing a wide range of unique wayside and computer-based equipment.
The total length of the 1/25 turnout is 118 meters; it has been assembled at full scale for factory testing. It incorporates innovative equipment from ELTEZA JSC: a set of switching, monitoring, and locking devices (PV-EL electric point machines, UK-EL-3 control devices and switch fittings with an external point lock) — the 'heart' of the turnout, electric heating fittings and the APK UPS hardware-software complex for controlling a switch with a small turnout angle, which serves as its digital 'brain'. Earlier, all this equipment underwent a full cycle of factory testing at the accredited testing center of ELTEZA JSC.
The main purpose of the ongoing trials is to evaluate the compatibility of the devices with the APK UPS complex, confirm their reliable and efficient performance against technical standards, determine unspecified technical parameters, and assess the overall readiness of the complex for operational testing. In addition to traditional checks of the turnout’s geometric dimensions, special attention will be paid to the synchronization of the movement and locking of the turnout’s movable parts. A critical step is simulating turnout failures to validate the fail-safe response and recovery speed. The primary requirement is ensuring train safety, given the maximum operating train speeds of the innovative turnout - 400 km/h for straight-track passage and up to 120 km/h for diverging passage.
All products manufactured by ELTEZA JSC for Russia's first HSR have been specifically developed for this project and have no domestic equivalents. The APK UPS provides control, diagnostics, and monitoring for the entire complex of switch and locking devices. The switches are controlled from the local control and supervisory system, СТС operator or automatically via the automatic dispatch control system. The APK UPS is an integral part of the computer-based interlocking system, which is a component of the Russian Train Traffic Control System (RSUDP) currently under development.
The 1/25 turnout provides the required ride smoothness both in the straight direction and when diverging, which is a mandatory requirement for high-speed train operations. To achieve this effect safely, it incorporates 8 PV-EL electric point machines and 11 UK-EL-3 switch control devices. The PV-EL is screw-type electric point machine, featuring a unique switch rail locking and position monitoring system is an innovative, patented solution developed by ELTEZA JSC that meets the highest SIL 4 safety standards. The point machines, controlled by the APK‑UPS hardware and software complex, ensure smooth and synchronized operation of the switch point movement. Their unique internal design and control algorithms provide the highest level of safety, including verification of both the point machine’s locking element and the integrity of the locking mechanism itself—a feature absent in previous generations of domestic point machines.
Within the set of switching and locking devices for high-speed lines, the UK-EL-3 units are additional autonomous control devices that are integrated into the turnout. They are installed in locations where point machines are not present. They are integrated into the computer-based interlocking system and provide information on the turnout's readiness for the safe passage of high-speed trains. The UK-EL-3 monitors the position of both switch blades against the stock rails and the movable frog point against the wing rails.
Sergey Davydov, Chief Engineer of ELTEZA JSC: “The construction of the first high-speed railway line between Moscow and St. Petersburg requires maximum commitment and cooperation from equipment developers, manufacturers, and the scientific community. An important factor was also the operational experience with the equipment and signalling systems on the active Moscow–Saint Petersburg line. Our company develops over 25 types of trackside equipment and computer‑based systems for traffic control on high‑speed railways. These are breakthrough technologies for our country that meet, and in some respects even exceed the best international standards.”