AGORA Workshop in Vienna at TSA

In our second AGORA workshop in 2023, we were cordially invited to Vienna by the terminal operating company of ÖBB AG Terminals – Terminal Service Austria.

Once again, a variety of technical topics awaited us, this time the focus was, among others, on new and expansion plans of our Austrian members. Furthermore, we discussed important future topics such as the use of VR glasses in the training of crane operators as well as the use of AI assistance for internal transfer vehicles to avoid collisions. Furthermore, a recent survey among AGORA members on the functionalities of Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) was presented, the increasing support of automation functions as well as the advancing interface development between TOS and crane management systems became clear.

More serious topics such as action plans at AGORA terminals in a “black-out” case were also on the agenda. The maintenance of an emergency operation for at least 24 hours up to the regulated shutdown and restart of the regular operation can be found in the plans, the lively exchange will certainly lead to a review of the plans at one or the other terminal operating company.

In a guest lecture, a representative of Rail Net Europe introduced the Terminal Information System (TIS). In particular, the possibilities of integrating CT terminals as subsidiary locations were presented in order to obtain access to train running information on the one hand and to feed timetable data and actual train dispatching data in the terminals, which up to now are a black box, into the TIS on the other hand.

In another guest presentation by the consulting company HPC from Hamburg, the dynamic simulation of terminal processes for decision support in new construction and expansion plans was presented. In contrast to static calculations with the use of average parameters, a dynamic simulation is characterized by the visual process display as well as the realistic mapping of the terminal operation. However, it is crucial for a good simulation that the model parameters are represented as realistically as possible.

Of course, a terminal visit at the end of the successful workshop was not to be missed. Given the very warm temperatures, any shade – even if it was a lamp post – was very welcome. We learned a lot of details about the special features of terminal operations at the terminal Wien Süd site from the terminal operations management, many thanks for that!