The new ATC system with an autonomous speed control with on-board equipment

The paper introduces a new digital ATC (automatic train control device) system developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). In the current ATC, the central ATC logic device calculates permissive speed of each blocking section and controls speed of all trains. On the other hand, in the new digital ATC, the central logic device calculates each position to which a train can move safely, and sends the information on positions to all trains. On each train, the on-board equipment calculates an appropriate braking pattern with the information, and controls velocity of the train. That is, in the new system, the device on each train autonomously calculates permissive speed of each train. These special features realize ideal speed control of each train, making full use of its performance for acceleration and deceleration, which in turns allows high-density train operations.