Hitachi Rail integrates CBTC with 5G, begins development of next gen rail battery through public-private partnership

Hitachi Rail is integrating communications-based train control (CBTC) with 5G communications and working with a public-private partnership to develop the next generation of battery train technology.  

The CBTC 5G integration is being launched on New York City’s Crosstown Line while the collaboration is creating a new lighter, smaller battery pack to be installed on commuter and suburban trains.  

CBTC integrates with 5G  

Hitachi Rail says combining 5G capabilities with SelTrac™ technology for train to ground communications will provide performance improvements, reduce investment and lifecycle costs, enhance actionable insights from data and future proof train networks.   

Hitachi Rail’s SelTrac™ CBTC solution with the advanced 5G communication system will be deployed in two different metro networks. In New York, Hitachi Rail is implementing a private 5G network for the Crosstown Line, which transports 70,000 passengers daily, and in Hong Kong, where the operator is implementing a 5G overlay network onto an existing SelTrac™ solution within the International Airport’s Automatic People Mover. Hitachi Rail says these projects will be one of the first to incorporate 5G connectivity for mission-critical signaling applications. 

“Our first-of-its-kind 5G solution is a game changer for the urban rail market. The new 5G system plays a critical role in delivering reliable and high-capacity CBTC operations to metro operators,” said Ziad Rizk, managing director of urban rail signaling, Hitachi Rail. “We offer different deployment options that best suit the customers’ needs, as seen with our two references. We are proud to deliver this transformative technology to our customers and the benefits it will deliver to passengers.” 

SelTrac™ CBTC is an advanced digital signaling solution, which uses train to ground telecommunications to support traffic management on a line. The technology, deployed across new metros and light-rail systems, is increasingly used for re-signaling on existing networks.   

While CBTC technology is helping to improve performance on rail services, it currently relies on the installation of legacy communication technology (radio, Wi-Fi) to enable train to ground communications. Hitachi Rail says its solution with 5G removes the limitations of prior technologies and instead leverages public or private networks. The 5G solution reduces the trackside infrastructure, as the number of 5G radio access points needed decreases relative to the existing Wi-Fi solution. 

The other benefits of 5G include continued high-performance connectivity in challenging environments such as tunnels. The increased 5G bandwidth also enables the use of advanced digital asset management solutions. By providing real-time reporting of the train’s data, systems can optimize operations and maintenance of both the train and the track. 

Operators of 5G can also expand their network capacities to deliver a range of additional services without installing new radio infrastructure and with confidence of future 5G technology iterations (e.g. 6G) and backward compatibility. 

Next generation battery train technology 

Led by Hitachi Rail, a public-private partnership is developing the next-generation in battery train technology. The collaboration is creating a new battery pack that is lighter and smaller so it can be installed on commuter and suburban trains while maintaining necessary power.  

The battery pack will build upon and complement the intercity battery technology that is currently being trialed on the Transpennine route and adapted for a regional train. The battery being developed will be 40 percent smaller and deliver a 22 percent improvement in energy density, according to the company. 

The collaboration is working with Tunrtide Technologies to use cutting-edge lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry to achieve a smaller battery without decreasing in power capacity. Hitachi Rail says a smaller battery is essential to achieve inclusive design for lower floor trains and level access at platforms. Lower floors provide less space for batteries, making this project an important next step in promoting train accessibility, according to the company. 

Hitachi Rail says a smaller and powerful battery can further reduce weight and make maintenance and the industrial retrofitting process easier. These benefits and learnings will also be incorporated into the intercity battery train product that is being trialed.  

DB ESG are supporting the project by leading the design of the battery enclosure to house the battery, including fire protection, cooling capability and electrical integration. Building on the knowledge gained in designing the enclosure for the intercity battery trial, the battery enclosure has been designed to make maintenance simpler and more efficient. 

“DB ESG already has considerable expertise in the field of battery housing design. For the previous two years, we have been working with Hitachi Rail to create a battery system for their intercity battery trial,” said Nick Goodhand, managing director, DB ESG. “This new project has enabled us to build on this experience to develop a new battery design solution for the low floor commuter train. Lowering the floor has halved the available space, but our design optimizations have enabled the required power capacity to be achieved.” 

The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) at the University of Birmingham is optimizing the design and usage of the battery with railway simulations to validate the battery performance on representative UK routes, including railways in the North of England. 

The partnership will allow BCRRE to further enhance the capability of their existing railway simulator, improving the knowledge and skill base for future students and graduates at the university. 

“This proposed project includes a comprehensive research program aimed at optimizing the design and the usage of the battery when the train travels in the non-electrified parts of the network,” said Professor Pietro Tricoli, lead in power electronics at the BCRRE at the University of Birmingham. “We will provide our expertise with railway simulations to investigate the routes for which batteries are the most effective in replacing diesel trains. This will accelerate the decarbonization of rail transport in the regional sector, benefiting many passengers in the UK who use the train for work and for social activities.” 

The £1.4 million (US$1.9 million) R&D comprises of match funding from both the private sector and public sector, with Innovate UK co-funding the project to encourage new UK battery innovation, inclusivity in the railway and combined with enabling new skills and experience at University of Birmingham. 

“The acceleration of battery innovation is incredible. This is why at Hitachi, we use our expertise from Italy, Japan and the UK to ensure our partners remain at the forefront of battery technology,” said Koji Agatsuma, chief technology officer of vehicles, Hitachi Rail. “This continuous improvement means we are always working on the next generation of smaller and more powerful batteries to reduce costs on railways by negating electrification infrastructure spend or removing diesel engines entirely. Meanwhile, our partnership with Innovate UK and University of Birmingham means Hitachi is playing an active role in growing new skills in the British battery sector while also developing battery solutions that can be used on railways across the globe.”  

Hitachi is also fully digitizing its battery solutions for rail. This provides data to optimize battery use, emissions reduction and life-cycle asset management. This enables Hitachi to offer a battery-as-a-service that can be tailored for customers’ needs.