The importance of distributed intelligence traffic control systems in secondary railway transport

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges in modernizing secondary line rail transport is the high investment cost of safety and traffic control systems. The currently used centralized train control systems (e.g. Electra II., GSM-R) require significant infrastructure and maintenance costs, which are uneconomical on lowtraffic, low-load railway lines. The research examines the applicability of a distributed intelligence, decentralized traffic control system. In this system each network element has its own processing unit and decision-making authority. It has modular structure and operates without a central computer, relying on the cooperation of autonomous devices. The RFID and LORA-based communication architecture enables real-time vehicle identification, monitoring of track element status, and local fault management. The economic advantage of the distributed intelligence structure is that it significantly reduces cabling, installation, and maintenance costs while increasing system reliability and scalability. The proposed solution offers a cost-effective and safe alternative to traditional centralized train control systems, especially for branch line railways, promoting the preservation of sustainable regional rail transport.