Compact control for the rail network in Baselland

Wherever you see a tram stop, a level crossing or a rectifier in the canton of Basel, there is bound to be a control cabinet with AirSTREAM wiring nearby. Behind these installations are the specialists from BSR Automation AG and their excellent working relationship with the cantonal transport-authority.

The Baselland Transport AG (BLT) tram fleet consists of just over 100 articulated railcars, transporting around 35 million passengers annually across the entire Basel region. To ensure that these passengers always travel safely and on time, the mobility service provider invests heavily in its network infrastructure.

“The control cabinets for the BLT’s remote-control systems are at the heart of it all. We've been building, installing and continuously upgrading them since the project launched in 2018,” says Kevin Gehri, hardware planner at BSR Automation AG and responsible for implementing these systems. This systems and electrical engineering company based in Kriens near Lucerne, Switzerland, delivers solutions such as complete PLC control systems with drive technology, as well as IT services. Cabinet construction and industrial installations are handled by their subsidiary, BSR Eltec AG.

The remote control systems used in tram operations monitor and control various components, operating conditions and any potential malfunctions across the network. This means BLT’s central control system always has full visibility of switching states, operating modes, positions and safety devices. The control system also receives data on current, voltage, temperature, and humidity. The clear benefit: operational disruptions are detected quickly, thus reducing the response times for service technicians and reducing the downtime of tram lines.

The close collaboration between BSR and LÜTZE has played a major role in the success of the

remote-control system project. Since the very first control cabinets, the automation specialist BSR has been building them with the AirSTREAM wiring frame.  Currently, that’s 72 cabinets. As the rail operator is constantly optimizingits electrical infrastructure and undertaking structural modifications from time to time, BSR performs wiring or retrofits components directly on-site. For larger upgrades - such as with the rectifier systems - BSR replaces existing cabinets with two-meter-high versions equipped with matching AirSTREAM frames. There’s always something to be done.

Why AirSTREAM?The main reason is space savings and room capacity for the future. Initially, the cabinets were relatively small with high component density - making them ideal for the cable duct-free AirSTREAM frame, which is up to 30% more compact than conventional back panels. Over the years, both the number and size of integrated components have increased significantly, driving the need for larger cabinets and wiring frames.

To simplify servicing, BLT uses the same components and parts across all cabinets. Here, too, the LÜTZE frame proves its worth: modifications, rewiring or troubleshooting “are quick and easy because there are no cumbersome cable ducts in the way,” says Kevin Gehri. He cites current examples: “All new cabinets are equipped with surge protection. That requires entire rows of terminals and a cable with an 80 mm diameter and steel sheath. That takes up a lot of space, including the need for a vertical rail.” Expansion and retrofitting remain ongoing challenges, as more and more components for remote monitoring are being added. The work on the 72 cabinets being upgraded at BSR is progressing well. Gehri notes how fast and cleanly his colleagues in the workshop manage the wiring. The modular system also simplifies inventory management, with a manageable number of parts and article numbers.

Due to the special safety standards required for public transport and the increasingly high summer temperatures, the control cabinets are equipped with powerful air conditioning systems. AirSTREAM naturally supports this through its optimized airflow design, unhindered by cable ducts.