Analysing and predicting failures in signalling and points machines using only simple time based data

The author briefly describes the Tsar (Train Signalling Analytical Reporting) system which is written in MS ACCESS/EXCEL. Data is taken from Trackwatch Controllers and dumped into CSV files. Tsar can then sort this information, to save time consuming manual searches. One of the Tsar filters is used to search the relevant information surrounding incidents. It will quickly provide the following information (1) Was the signal off? (proved up to HR relay which is shown in filter). (2) Was the route set? (3) What was the exact time that the incident happened? (4) Clear understandable report printed for Railtrack. With Trackwatch and Tsar information, the time taken to get the signal back into working order is greatly reduced. Another way in which Trackwatch/Tsar is used is to quickly find the cause of green to reds on signals where nothing has been seen on the panel that would have caused the fault. Identifying this type of fault quickly and accurately can save up to 30 hours in testing depending on the amount of controls in the route