The Ministry of Construction is collecting feedback on a draft set of national standards (TCVN) for urban railway control systems in order to unify the technical framework and ensure interoperability and operational safety. This standardization will help Vietnam reduce dependence on foreign technology and create a foundation for technological autonomy in developing modern railway networks in major cities.
Standardization in Urban Railway Operations
The TCVN set titled “Railway applications – Urban guided transport management and command/control systems (UGTMS)” establishes a unified technical framework for the management, control, and monitoring of operations on urban railway lines, aiming to ensure compatibility, interoperability, and interchangeability among train control and transport operation systems.
The Ministry of Construction is currently seeking opinions from agencies and experts on the draft standard set “Railway applications – Urban guided transport management and command/control systems”, with the aim of building a unified technical framework for urban railway management and operations.
According to the Ministry of Construction, worldwide railway systems in general and urban railways in particular are designed, built, and operated based on detailed technical standards to ensure compatibility, safety, and coordination among systems throughout the transport structure.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, train control systems on the existing network are generally outdated, mainly using semi-automatic or manual signaling equipment, and there is still no unified technical standard applied to control, monitoring, and train operation management systems.
In recent years, Vietnam has put into operation the first three urban railway lines, including the Cát Linh - Hà Đông and Nhổn - Ga Hà Nội lines in Hanoi, and the Bến Thành - Suối Tiên line in Ho Chi Minh City. However, these projects apply different technical standards provided by foreign contractors, such as Chinese, European, or Japanese standards.
The common point is that these standards are all built based on the international standard IEC 62290, but Vietnam still does not have a corresponding national standard set, leading to a lack of uniformity among projects and difficulties in long-term operational management.
Practical implementation shows that the lack of technical standardization directly affects technology transfer, operation, maintenance, and human resource training. Urban railway lines use different design philosophies, system structures, and technical interfaces, making integration and interaction between lines nearly impossible.
In addition, complete dependence on contractor standards makes it difficult for Vietnam to develop its own technical autonomy and to establish a future standardization roadmap.
According to the unit drafting the standard, the lack of technical standardization is directly affecting technology transfer, operation, maintenance, and workforce training. At the same time, total dependence on contractor standards also creates difficulties in building domestic technical autonomy.
Moreover, Vietnam’s urban railway network is expected to continue expanding in the coming years. Current planning envisions the development of urban railway systems in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh, with Hanoi expected to have 14 lines and Ho Chi Minh City 8 lines plus three additional planned routes.
Therefore, the development of the TCVN standard for Urban Guided Transport Management and Command/Control Systems (UGTMS) has become urgent.
This standard set will define system requirements, train control functions, technical interfaces, and functional architecture based on the international standard IEC 62290, while also being adjusted to suit Vietnam’s specific operating conditions.
Establishing a Unified Technical Framework
According to the draft, the TCVN set “Railway applications – Urban guided transport management and command/control systems” establishes a unified technical framework for the management, control, and monitoring of operations on urban railway lines, aiming to ensure compatibility, interoperability, and interchangeability among train control and transport operation systems.
The scope of the standard includes descriptions of functional requirements, system requirements, interface structures, and fundamental design principles for UGTMS deployed on urban railway lines or line sections.
The standard set consists of three main parts and is expected to be expanded with additional interface guidance to complete a system of standards aligned with the international IEC 62290 standard. In particular, Part 1 specifies system principles and basic concepts; Part 2 provides technical guidance on functional requirements; and Part 3 defines technical guidance on system requirements.
The standard will apply to organizations and entities involved in the design, construction, installation, operation, and management of train control and operation systems in Vietnam’s urban railway sector, including urban railway transport enterprises, state management agencies, project investors, consulting units, equipment suppliers, contractors, and technical inspection and assessment organizations.
According to the Ministry of Construction, issuing this set of standards will contribute to ensuring safe and unified operation of urban railway systems, while creating a technical foundation for the development of a modern and sustainable urban railway network in the future./.
VPDA ĐS-TECCO1
Source: tapchixaydung.vn