Siemens and SBB have developed a concept for extending the service life of the microprocessor-based centralized control system

Siemens Mobility, in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), has introduced an innovative concept for extending the service life of the Simis C microprocessor-based centralized control system (MPC) installed at 45 stations across the country, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This system, implemented between 1989 and 2007, has reached the end of its normative service life and requires replacement by 2032.

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Due to technological obsolescence and the retirement of specialists with knowledge to support the MPC, the need for modernization has become evident.

Simis C is used in major railway hubs such as Basel, Zurich, Biel, and Coire, making the replacement of the system technically complex and financially costly.

Siemens and SBB have proposed a concept to preserve expensive trackside equipment, such as switches and signals, which have longer life cycles.

The essence of the solution lies in the use of special adapters that will replace outdated computers responsible for the centralized control logic with modern Simis W platform devices.

These adapters will convert information telegrams between existing Simis C platform executive computers and new Simis W devices.

Thus, the modernized system, named Simis C Plus, will operate based on existing infrastructure using new technological capabilities.

The contract for the development and implementation of Simis C Plus was signed by Siemens Mobility and SBB at the end of 2023.

The transition to the new system will occur in three stages. Initially, a pilot project will be implemented, followed by the first stage of deployment from 2025 to 2028.

The second stage, covering the remaining stations, is planned for 2029–2032. It is expected that the agreement to transition to Simis C Plus will be signed in the summer of 2024.

This innovative concept for extending the service life of the MPC will significantly reduce costs for modernizing railway infrastructure while ensuring the system’s high reliability and functionality.

By using modern technologies and retaining some existing equipment, the transition to Simis C Plus will be an important step in the development of the Swiss railway network.

The project demonstrates a successful example of cooperation between major technological companies and government institutions in modernizing critical infrastructure.

The use of adapters and the new Simis W platform provide the Swiss railway network with the opportunity for a smooth transition to modern technologies without significant operational disruptions.

As a result, this will not only improve the management of railway hubs but also ensure the stable operation of the entire network in the long term.

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