In October, Banedanmark started replacing the old signalling system at Aarhus Central Station with a new, fully digital signalling system, designed to make train traffic flow more smoothly, meaning passengers can expect fewer delays and shorter journey times.
“Aarhus Central Station is what we call a ‘terminus station’. Every train entering or leaving uses the same route, which presents challenges – for every train arriving, another must depart. Reconfiguring the tracks and implementing the digital signalling system allows us to manage this effectively,” Jan Hertzberg, project manager at Banedanmark said.
Using track-based components, trains can communicate directly with the control tower, where traffic controllers monitor movements in real time. The system provides traffic controllers with a clear overview on screens, showing whether trains are in the right place at the right time. This allows trains to operate closer together safely, as the digital system calculates safe distances dynamically and more accurately than before.
the current system will be replaced with passive and active components, such as balises and axle counters, and cable ducts will be dug with cables installed to power the new system. The iconic old signals will soon be history, reducing delays caused by worn equipment. Trains will soon operate entirely on the new digital system, forming a vital foundation for the future of rail operations.
According to the plan, train operations using the new digital system will begin early next year. Track upgrades on the second half of the station will then commence, allowing the passive and active components to be implemented there as well. By 2027, Aarhus Central Station will be fully equipped with the new digital signalling system.
In the future, when passengers travel by electric train to and from Aarhus Central Station, it will be guided by this new digital signalling system, which acts as the “brain” behind traffic management. Instead of relying on physical signals along the track, the digital system uses wireless communication to instruct trains on how fast to travel, where to go, and when to stop.
It has now been six months since Banedanmark started work on transforming Aarhus Central station. New platforms and tracks are currently taking shape at the station. The entire project is expected to be completed in two years.
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