Re-signalling With Communications-based TrainControl – New York City Transit’s Recipe ForSuccess

This paper provides a status report on New York City Transit’s (NYCT’s) Canarsie Line Re-signalling Project which is scheduled to enter revenue service in 2004. Re-signalling an operating mass transit railway represents many challenges, particularly when introducing new computer-based and communications-based train control technologies. This paper focuses on the project and design management techniques adopted by NYCT to ensure the project would be successfully completed on schedule and within budget – NYCT’s “recipe for success”. The paper specifically addresses the techniques used to: understand the needs, evaluate the alternatives, develop the implementation strategy, establish the technical requirements, select the preferred system/supplier, promote a partnering philosophy with the selected supplier, finalise/freeze the system design, and plan the cut-over.