Design of an Indonesian Train Control System

ABSTRACT

This research presents a conceptual and comparative design study of an Indonesian Train Control System (IdTCS) to improve operational safety and interoperability. This is achieved by designing a multi‐level train control system tailored to the Indonesian railway network. The proposed concept was developed by adopting and adapting train control technologies from established systems such as the European Train Control System (ETCS), Korean Train Control System (KTCS), and Chinese Train Control System (CTCS). To design the conceptual architecture, comparative studies and qualitative system analyses were conducted. These analyses evaluated both the static behavior (system architecture, components, and device configurations) and the dynamic behavior (operational message flows, response to disturbances, and signal transfers). The results indicate that the proposed architectural design suitable for application in Indonesia consists of five functional levels: Level 0, the Specific Transmission Module (STM), and Level 1–3. Furthermore, the communication technology for data transmission between trains and the control center is proposed to shift from the currently used, cost‐effective Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) to the more sophisticated 5G‐Railway (5G‐R) system. This transition maintains compatibility with real‐world Indonesian conditions and fulfills the equipment localization requirements. Although this research does not involve the physical implementation of a full system, it provides a conceptual framework for developing a modern, digital national train control system that avoids the need for complete future system replacements.