Successful Verification for GCF’s PAI-PL

Ensuring Safety at Level Crossings on the Bari-Taranto Line

A crucial verification took place last week for GCF’s PAI-PL systems, radar-based devices set to be installed along the Bari-Taranto railway line to protect six existing level crossings. The project, commissioned by Ferrovie del Sud Est and awarded to Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie, is considered strategic in ensuring the safety of both vehicles and trains crossing these intersections.

The “verification” procedure, as outlined in the contract, aims to assess the materials used in the PAI-PL system, the construction quality of its individual components, compliance with approval standards, and operational functionality.

"With representatives from FSE and Italferr’s Works Supervision present," explains Eng. Mattia Baraldi, Director of GCF’s IS, Tlc, R&D, and AT Technology Divisions, "the verification process involved a visual inspection of materials, identification of serial codes, and a series of functional tests on a PAI-PL system. The successful outcome highlights the quality and reliability of the PAI-PL system, designed and engineered by GCF at the Pieve a Nievole facility in Pistoia."

The functional tests conducted included monitoring area clearance tests, operational tests with an occupied area, telecommunication checks with the Central Supervision Station, as well as “minor failure,” “fault,” and “maintenance” tests to ensure proper system recovery.

GCF’s proprietary Level Crossing Protection (LCP) system for radar-based PAI-PL applications is a SIL 4-certified solution, fully compliant with the RFI DTCSTSSSTB SR IS 05 001 C specification and the latest RFI DT ST SCCS IT IS 092 268 A standards.

Its installation flexibility makes it suitable even for complex environments, while radar technology ensures effectiveness in extreme weather conditions. Moreover, installation does not require extensive civil works.
Within the protected level crossing area, the system detects vehicles and obstacles, automatically interacting with the signaling system by sending an “Obstructed Track” warning and stopping the train.

In its standard configuration, each system consists of two radar poles, two reference objects for continuous automatic calibration, an IP camera video acquisition system, a fiber tapping cabinet, and a main cabinet housing the subsystem that collects and transmits data from the radar and camera to the Central Station server.

The PAI-PL systems will be installed at the following locations along the Bari-Taranto Line 1:
• Conversano (PL km 25+455 and PL km 27+812)
• Castellana Grotte (PL km 38+476)
• Alberobello (PL km 63+310)
• Locorotondo (PL km 70+826)
• Crispiano (PL km 91+601)

The Central Monitoring Station will be set up at Mungivacca station for real-time supervision of all connected level crossings. If a PAI-PL system triggers the “Obstructed Track” signal, the exact crossing affected, the nature of the issue, and a real-time camera feed of the situation will be immediately available for remote assessment.

For more details: 

PAI-PL: Technology at the Service of Safety

Key Players in Level Crossing Safety

Radar Technology Ensuring Safe Level Crossings on the Bari-Taranto Line

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