Stemming from this, ERB Technologies, a supplier and installer of technologically advanced railway signaling, trackside and communication products and systems to both South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, has responded. ERB has developed a new, advanced electronic level crossing system in collaboration with leading foreign companies. This system ensures safety, is cost effective, and complies with the new regulations. In particular, it meets the requirements of SANS 3000-2-2-1, the new railway standard for level crossings that was introduced in 2012 and which makes reference to European IEC standards and CENELEC.
Excellent visibility and control thanks to HIMA's Safety System
Unlike most of the existing level crossing systems which are relay based, ERB Technologies’ design uses electronics technology to provide superior visibility and control. Their solution is based on HIMA’s HIMatrix Safety System, which they found to be the market’s best-suited product, meeting all requirements. It is South Africa’s first COTS level crossing system to meet CENELEC SIL 4. A successful pilot project has been completed, based on the first level crossing system installed at BMW’s plant in Rosslyn, South Africa.
The ERB/HIMA system offers many advantages to rail operators. While being cost-effective and readily available due to its COTS status, the HIMA hardware’s SIL 4 (CENELEC) certification meets the EN 50126, 50128, and 50129 standards. This certification is backed by a proven track record in rail and other industries.
Considerable savings through fast troubleshooting and simple maintenance
Operators also enjoy great flexibility and freedom, as the HIMA system complies with open standards for easy interface with another vendors’ equipment, while avoiding vendor lock-in. The system is modular and configurable, and with an MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) of over 100 years, it is highly reliable, helping to reduce costs throughout the operating life. Further savings are achieved as the system is easier and faster to troubleshoot, while being easy to maintain – unlike relay systems, which required extensive physical work. During operation, Sequence of Events can also be automatically recorded.
Reliability is further enhanced through ERB Technologies’ extremely sturdy, vandal-resistant, steel cabinet design, which features a double skin and forced air cooling.
