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Operations Control Centers for Freight, High‑Speed, and Metro Rail in India: A Comparative Study of DFCCIL, NHSRCL, and Ahmedabad Metro
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Railway Signaling
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719698
Abstract
In this study, three OCC types are compared across different railway systems, focusing on their system design, control methods, subsystem integration, and operational performance. It uses official project documents related to the railway standards (EN 50126/28/29, IEC 61508, IEC 62290) and OEM material. The DFCCIL Operation Control centres serve as logistics-centric command nodes, integrating inputs from Train Management Systems (TMS), the Dedicated Freight Information System (DFIS), and a real-time monitoring architecture. These integrated subsystems are programmed to accommodate heavy freight traffic loads of 25-32.5 Tonnes with an operational speed of 100 km/h. In contrast, the proposed OCC of NHSRCL in Sabarmati should be driven by Shinkansen technology (as in Japan), with European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signalling and SIL 4 safety protocols to ensure safety at high speeds of 320km/h. Ahmedabad Metro’s OCC is a CATC/CBTC-based control room focused on passenger trains, with a 90-second headway. The paper compares current OCCs based on various parameters, as tabulated, such as throughput, latency, availability, and safety integrity levels. This comparison is based on published corridor capacities and ETCS/CBTC design references. The paper concludes with lessons for OCC design, cyber-physical integration, and RAMS engineering across freight, high-speed, and metro areas.
Keywords
Operations Control Center (OCC), DFCCIL, NHSRCL, GMRCL, Train Communication
How to cite this paper
@article{1719698,
author = {Aarnav Agarwal, Vishnuprasad Mannadiar},
title = {Operations Control Centers for Freight, High‑Speed, and Metro Rail in India: A Comparative Study of DFCCIL, NHSRCL, and Ahmedabad Metro},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {1937-1949},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719698.pdf},
abstract = {In this study, three OCC types are compared across different railway systems, focusing on their system design, control methods, subsystem integration, and operational performance. It uses official project documents related to the railway standards (EN 50126/28/29, IEC 61508, IEC 62290) and OEM material. The DFCCIL Operation Control centres serve as logistics-centric command nodes, integrating inputs from Train Management Systems (TMS), the Dedicated Freight Information System (DFIS), and a real-time monitoring architecture. These integrated subsystems are programmed to accommodate heavy freight traffic loads of 25-32.5 Tonnes with an operational speed of 100 km/h. In contrast, the proposed OCC of NHSRCL in Sabarmati should be driven by Shinkansen technology (as in Japan), with European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signalling and SIL 4 safety protocols to ensure safety at high speeds of 320km/h. Ahmedabad Metro’s OCC is a CATC/CBTC-based control room focused on passenger trains, with a 90-second headway. The paper compares current OCCs based on various parameters, as tabulated, such as throughput, latency, availability, and safety integrity levels. This comparison is based on published corridor capacities and ETCS/CBTC design references. The paper concludes with lessons for OCC design, cyber-physical integration, and RAMS engineering across freight, high-speed, and metro areas.},
keywords = {Operations Control Center (OCC), DFCCIL, NHSRCL, GMRCL, Train Communication},
month = {July},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719698}
}