Determining train locations in railway systems using RFIDtechnology

Radio Frequency Identification system is one of the most popular automatic identification system today. Direct contact and line of sight communication is not required between the receiver and transmitter since radio frequency identification systems performs identification using radio waves. This feature makes it easy to use RFID applications and also it increases their popularity. RFID systems are widely used in many different systems and areas such as inventory tracking systems, automatic toll collection systems, libraries, logistics industry, automotive industry, military and aviation, retail, personnel attendance control systems (PACS), patient follow-up system, bank cards and rail systems. Within the scope of this thesis, automatic identification systems were examined, RFID system, being one of the automatic identification systems was elaborated and an example application was performed by using RFID system in Workshop Area located in Kadıköy-Kartal Subway Maltepe Maintenance Area which is totally underground in order to track the position of trains real time at Control Center. The reason for selecting this area is that signaling system is already installed in this area. Signaling system basically comprises of center, wayside and vehicle onboard equipments. Signaling system uses these equipments for communication. Signaling system does not run when any of these equipments is deactivated. The Workshop Area in Maltepe Maintenance Area is used as a location for performing train maintenance and repairing the breakdowns in trains. It is required to shut down the power of trains in order to perform the maintenance and repairs in a safe manner. In this case, vehicle onboard signaling equipments will have to be deactivated. Therefore, signaling system in this area will be deactivated as well even if it is installed. In this study, Motorola FX7400 readers, Confidex Survivor™ RFID tags with Class 1 Gen2 UHF feature of Confidex company and MT-242021/NV/K branded linear polarization antennas of MTI Wireless Edge company were used. Thus, an alternative train tracking system was formed for the trains tracked manually for Workshop Area where no signaling equipment is present so that staff could perform train maintenance easily. Therefore, the risks that may arise in connection with manual train tracking are minimized and effective train operation will be provided since it is possible to track on which line the trains are within the Workshop Area.