Capacitor failure causes havoc for Sydney railway

Capacitor failure causes havoc for Sydney railway

Australia’s Electronics News (www.electronicsnews.com.au) recently reported that capacitor failure was partially to blame for the major railway system delays in Sydney on April 12, 2011.

According to NSW’s Railcorp, two electrolytic capacitors in a LAN switch for the Sydenham signal box failed, resulting partial switch failure and a loss of signal communication for all areas that the box controlled. Railcorp reported that 847 trains were delayed and 240 trains were cancelled during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

The Sydenham LAN’s Advanced Train Running Information Control System (ATRICS) software also failed to properly respond to the partially failed switch, which repeatedly attempted to reconfigure itself in response to the operational or non-operational state of the switch.

The switch, capacitors included, was manufactured in late 2001, and installed late 2003. At the time of failure, it had been in use for 8 years, 34 weeks and five days.

Railcorp’s full report can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/6gz28qu