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San Diego’s North County Transit District (NCTD) recently installed Digital Concepts Inc.’s Digital Traffic Control™ 6.2 system for the soon-to-be-operational SPRINTER line.

The system features DigiCon’s Advanced Movement Planning System (AMPSTM) and Proactive Traffic Management technologies, which enable fully automated operations, according to a Digital Concepts statement. With knowledge of train schedules (including both routes and station stops), Digital Traffic Control™ 6.2 identifies vehicles as they enter the mainline, route them to assigned station stops, hold trains until their assigned departure time, and automatically implement scheduled meets between east- and westbound vehicles. By automating the normal operations with “hands off” capabilities, the system will enable NCTD’s light-rail controllers and operations managers to monitor overall operations, and intervene only when necessary, Digital Concepts said.

Because NCTD’s tracks also will be used for freight trains – an issue other agencies have addressed by creating a separate infrastructure on an independent right of way, which wasn’t practical for the SPRINTER line — the SPRINTER system will enable separate freight and passenger operations during distinct time windows, Digital Concepts said.

Scheduled to open in December, the 22-mile, 15-station SPRINTER line will serve Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido.