Blocking signals : The impact of block section designs for ERTMS/ETCS Level 2 under non-disruptive and disruptive conditions

The Dutch rail network is nearing capacity, while demand for freight and passenger transport continues to rise. To address this issue, the Dutch government is implementing ERTMS/ETCS Level 2. This study evaluated the performance of five block section design strategies under ERTMS/ETCS Level 2 in both normal and disrupted conditions. Key Performance Indicators were identified through a literature review and validated via interviews with stakeholders. Under normal conditions, the following indicators were examined: capacity, travel time, travel time deviation and infrastructure costs. During disruptions, resilience (recovery and disruption period) and the Weighted Travel Time Extension were evaluated. Simulations using OpenTrack were conducted on three corridors with varying traffic volumes. The results show that during non-disruptive conditions, ERTMS/ETCS Level 2 improved capacity and travel time on high-traffic routes compared to the NS'54/ATB-EG system. However, the benefits are limited on low-volume routes due to conservative braking curves. Strategies involving short blocks performed best under normal conditions. Two disruptions were investigated: train failure and communication failure. During train failures, short blocks improved recovery. The use of many Stop Marker Boards (SMBs) worsened recovery during communication failures. Using Location Marker Boards (LMBs) mitigated this issue by allowing trains to continue without requiring dispatcher intervention.