The Northeast Corridor – from Washington, DC, to Boston, MA – serves more than 100 million passengers per year and is the most heavily used passenger train corridor in the United States. Along with other major carriers, Amtrak operates intercity commuter rail service over this corridor with modern trains operating at speeds up to 150 MPH. Today, Amtrak’s centralized monitoring and control is conducted from facilities located in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, respectively controlling the southern, central, and northern territories of the corridor. These facilities, and the systems that monitor and control train and traction power operations, have been in service for many and need to be modernized. Amtrak engaged Macro to conduct a comprehensive study of both the systems and control center facilities in use today, and recommend ways to improve operations, enhance security, and reduce maintenance costs.

Macro conducted extensive interviews with Amtrak employees responsible for operations, security, maintenance, and management of the agency’s systems to determine needs for new system functionality and operational improvements. Departments interviewed included C&S, ET, Transportation, Amtrak Technology, Maintenance, and the CETC program staff. Macro also evaluated alternative control center sites and developed backup plans to use in the event of an emergency requiring evacuation. All conclusions, recommendations, and cost estimates were summarized in a comprehensive planning report that was presented to Amtrak Management. Going forward with this project, Amtrak extended Macro's contract to include preparation of a technical design specification for a new train control system that will replace the three aging systems currently monitoring and controlling Corridor service. Macro also supported Amtrak with selecting a supplier for the new system and is currently engaged with technical support during system implantation. When completed, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service will realize the benefits of a modern train control and traction power SCADA system with improved functionality, simplified maintenance, and improved  communication with neighboring railroads. 

SEPTA engaged Macro Corporation to design a state-of-the-art Railroad Division Control Center (RRDCC), centralized traffic control (CTC) system, and a new traction power control (Power SCADA) system. Prompting this undertaking was SEPTA’s desire to retire field towers and centralize their operation. An engineering study was initially conducted, which examined existing conditions, defined future operations, and considered future expansion of the rail territory. The study included a conceptual design and addressed the following key issues:

• Evaluation of alternative sites for a new RRDCC facility; this analysis also included the location of an Emergency Backup Control Center.
• Development of functional requirements for the CTC and SCADA systems.
• Integration approaches to the existing wayside equipment for centralized operation.
• Communications requirements of the RRDCC including an extension to and alternate path routing of SEPTA's fiber optic network to support the RRDCC operations.
• Design of an Integrated Communications Switch system to consolidate all telephone, radio, public address, and visual messaging systems.

Macro continued to work with SEPTA’s engineering staff to design the RRDCC theater layout, considering the CTC and Power SCADA system requirements and staffing solutions. The RRDCC control room theater includes two rear projection status boards totaling 26 screens, which depict the operation of trains over the Regional Rail territory and the status of the traction power network. Macro also assessed the number of operational positions needed in the RRDCC, the quantity and usage of consoles and facilities for support personnel. Particular emphasis was given to a host of ergonomic considerations, as these design elements are crucial to the successful use of the facility. Macro has completed three sets of procurement specifications – one for the RRDCC facility, one for the CTC and Communication system, and one for Power SCADA system. The CTC and Communication system were awarded to ARINC who managed the project and who engaged multiple subcontractors to supply portions of the contract. The SCADA system was awarded to QEI. Macro has recently successfully completed our assistance to SEPTA on these important projects. The RRDCC was commissioned in 2006.

The Toronto Transit Commission chose Macro to conduct the full range of design and construction management services associated with a new CA $75M operations control center. The Transit Control Center accommodates the expansion in the TTC's rail network and modernizes all control center facilities associated with the existing 70-station Metro network. Macro's contract included the design of the new facility from which centralized monitoring and control functions related to train control, traction power, fire/life safety, security, communications, ventilation, and mechanical systems would be performed for subway, surface, and automated rail routes. Macro's services include preparation of planning reports, design requirements, purchase specifications, bid evaluation, construction management, and field startup of:
 

• Site selection and design of a new control center building;
• 120 new SCADA RTUs and 30 new field code units including installation and wiring details;
• New systems for SCADA, train control, and integrated communications;
• Analysis of the integration needs of many support systems that present information and effect control over the field facilities, with emphasis on the user interface;

The complete human interface including consoles for all users and an extensive group of status boards that use projection technology. The design that resulted from our efforts accommodates nearly 30 users in three major operational areas: transit, power, and dispatching. This is one of the largest transportation projects undertaken by Macro and is among the most comprehensive transportation control centers in North America. Macro has successfully completed our work and the systems and facility are completed and commissioned for full operation.

In 1999, San Diego County’s Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB), then the parent organization of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System now incorporated under the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), engaged Macro to provide a feasibility study for a new Central Control Facility (CCF) for its Trolley operations. The new CCF was required to have full train tracking capabilities over the entire territory and be able to monitor traction power and passenger station facilities. The primary goal of the study was to determine the facility design and equipment requirements for a new control center that would use modern technology to support the San Diego's expanding rail operations.

To support this goal, Macro screened several candidate sites to determine which would be suitable facilities for the new control center. A secondary goal was to determine the future computer and communications projects that would be required to modernize monitoring and control of the rail network. The first aspect of this study was to perform extensive on-site interviews with client personnel including management, operations and maintenance staff. As a part of this effort, the operating philosophy of SDTI was studied and documented. In order to provide a complete understanding of SDTI’s philosophy, an extensive on-site review of the dispatch and control center was conducted under various operating conditions. Flowing from that early work, San Diego Transit now enjoys a modern control center and will soon take delivery of a new CTC/SCADA system that will fully support the staff's operational needs.