The Railway
Signaling, Electrification and Communication System (SEC)
The SEC project includes the renewal and automation of all the signaling system through signals and railroad switches integrated to an electronic interlocking system, all the above commanded and ordered remotely from two control centers, one in Santiago and other in Concepción.
Regarding electrification, is considers the renewal and automation of 18 electrical substations remotely operated and controlled from an energy dispatch center located in Santiago. Furthermore, the electric project considers the improvement of the contact line in the area of Concepción and the construction of it in the Concepción – Lomas Coloradas stretch for electric trains to circulate.
Communication systems comprise an optic fiber network buried underground in all the stretches of the project. They integrate a highly reliable system, being the communications medium for the project’s signaling and electrification systems as well as for internal communications of EFE.
The signaling system installed is a next-generation system and replaces the old systems from the 60s and 70s. It has a Fail Safe system (in case of any failure the system goes into safety mode and does not permit the trains to circulate). These signaling systems implemented by EFE are used in passenger trains in Europe.